Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1901-10-10

about her. What can have happened
between Austin and Clarice? DID ne
gee her? / must go there and md OUT
from Susan as much as she knows. IL
is too late to-day, but early tomorrow
i viii go. IT will PERHAPS help me 70
the best course to pursue"
In order TO have p Netter opportunity
Of observing Shirley, Mrs. Martin in
vited him to dine with the family that
evening; and. much as he would nave
preferred TO b. alone, he felt con-
strained TO accept the invitation
After her exceptional, indeed. extra
ordinary. kindness, toward him., II
would have been the most Chur!ish III
gratitude TO refuse. He even eNerted
himself TO be entertaining 10 his most
ess and her two pretty daughters; ana
Mrs. Martin felt obliged TO admit 10
herself that Bertha or any other XouhS
girl might easily lose her heart 10 such
a man.
Besides being in appearance and man
ner calculated 10 fill the very ideal o. a
girls fancy, he was both interest nS anu
bright: his voice was deep Il musical:
his manner toward Ome had the gem
tie Difference which seemed to imply
that the particular woman TO whom he
smoke was the only one in the world, so
far as he was concerned; and. added 70
all. he had the interesting pallor OF Ill
ness. and the girl whom he now ad-
dressed and on whom his gaze dwelt
most frequently had devoted herself 10
the care of him during that Illness.
Mrs. Martin caught heIsalf wishing
that she had such a son. n when she
was alone with Bertha that night. sh9
kissed the girl in a that seemed
like a congratulatiOn to Bertha.
The young man is charming. dear"
she said. You are quite right about
that: and. whatever the state OF his
heart may be. it does not prevent him
from admiring you"
Bertha bIushed like a rose. and fling
ing her arms about her mother. Rugged
her in a genuine schoolgirl embrace.
For the moment Mrs. Martin hoped
that Austin might eve again see
Clarice. AS for the rest of the family,
they were all delighted with Shirley.
The boys treated him like an elder
brother; Robert Grayson thought him
the most genuine and intellectual
young man he a ever met, and Lefty,
who had long ago guessed her sisters
secret, whispered that she could fall in
love with Mr.. Austin herself, If her
heart had not been otherwise disposed
of.
Bertha went to bed a happy girl, n
dreamed all night of Shirley.
Early on the following day Mrs. Mar
tin went to call on Clarice. The door
was opened by Susan, instead of the
special servant who generally attended
on it, and there seemed an air of sup
pressed excitement in the house, al.
though everything was very quiet, n
all the inmates appeared to be attend
ing to their business with close atten-
ton.
Has anything happened? ?" MIS-. Mar
tin asked, giving her card, with its half
inch mourning border, to Susan. Il
would like TO see Mrs. Grayson, if pos
sible."
(which I suppose you can. ma'am;
an, anyhow, I'll go an ask, to be sure"
returned the girl, with a mysterious
toss Of the head. II suppose she'll be
let to see o ma'am, though It's
mighty queer doings altogether that's
goin' On here, late an early, now"
She preceded Mrs. Martin to the re-
ception room for callers, and was about
to turn away. when that lady detained
her.
"I am in no hurry, Susan. Tell me
what o mean"
Susan briefly related how Mr.. Now
bray had taken a letter from her, and
the subsequent scene when she had
brought VI Mr.. Austin's card.
aAB pnYtof SOW noabaYr ~ uyapf RI
my heart 10 give such a message to the
young gentleman, though some do say
as twas him tina killed Mr.. Grayson,
Begin pardon, ma'am, for naming 1t.
But, anyway, the missus don't think so,
or don't care. 'Twasn't her message.
though I as bid to say so, out that
overbearin' father o. hers, that's just
the master of every one here. An as to
the letter, I'm sure twas your hand
writin', ma'am; an whatever he did
with it, Mrs. Grayson never saw the in
side of it, or, If she did, her papa saw 1t
first, I'll go bail for that, ma'am."
mo matter, Susan" Mrs. Martin an
swered, with a strange throb at her
heart; she could scarcely tell whether
she felt pelased or disappointed that
her letter to Clarice had miscarried.
II can write to Mrs. Grayson again. IL
necessary, and I'll give the letter TO you
to place in her own hands. You know
Mr.. Austin was formerly the sweet
heart of Mrs. Grayson; but, as she loses
everything under my brothers will If
she marries again, of course Mr.. Now
bray has his own object in keeping
them apart"
TIC be sure, ma'am; we can all see
through that plain enough. But the
surprisin' part of the business TO me is
how the missus couldn't get a message
to the young gentleman by her waitin'
maid, Mam'selle Leonce, for she did
seem devoted to her. But there-that's
the most queer Of all!
About an hour or so after I'd sent
Mr.. Austin away yesterday, we were all
startled by the violent ringing Of Mrs.
G~rayson's bell. Now, twas the bust
ness OF the French maid to answer that
bell, Of course. So. after we'd all given
a start al looked up at the bell, we
went on talkin' an eatin' our lunch, as
we all happened to be doin' at that time.
About a minute passed, when cling
a-clang went the bell ag'in, ringin' like
mad, an no sign Of anyone answerin' II.
We all looked at a other, an I start
ed up. for ! was the one that sometimes
answered missus' Se:, . the French