The new age. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1902-190?, 1902-09-20

His Just 9
Reward " g a"

BY NJ. MacL. Helliuell
Copyrt0ht. nos.
BIZ the & = NJ,

tae'-the little silver bag which bod
uangieu from her belt whom she s,ar.
Gu out some hours earlier was now
eone ana with it all her money her
watch the key of her trunk and vori
GUS little odds and ends dear 70 h.
heart. ~ ner
stranded on the exhibition grounds
miles from her hotel and her cbaperon,
ms was her punishment for fivin, ,r
lhe race Of conventionality as personi.
neu by Aunt Urania. She did nor NJ.
tempt TO retrace her steps in search Of
IL She knew it would be useless
A sudden realization came 70 har
that she was deadly tired and borrihlv
not ana hungry. She rose with tho
sudden lmpetuous little movement So
characteristic of her.
And at that moment a man who bod
been watching her intently from the
next bench rose also and approached
her. hat in hand.
AS she was thus suddenly brought
race to face with him she started for.
ward impulsively with outstretched
hand, but almost Immediately her hand
iell 10 her side as with a cold half
bow she turned away.
But the man was not TO be so eosilv
repulsed.
Good morning." he said pleasantly.
surely even mere acquaintances NAV
exchange few words when they han
pen TO meet by chance in q place like
this. is Miss Carson with your" And
he fell into step beside her. apparently
unconscious of her frigid bearing.
A direct question cannot be ignored
by any one with the least pretensions
to good breeding; therefore Mildred.
after u seconds hesitation, was con-
strained to answer coldly:
Aunt Urania is at the falls. But I
must ask you to excuse me. Good
morning.
She half turned. but the man laid
OBTAINING hand upon her arm and.
dropping his half bantering tone. said
seriously:
Look here, Milly-yes. | may call
you that by right of old friendship, so
don't blaze! ! am here by myself. and
am deuced lonely. When we last
parted. you said you had wiped out all
memory of that-that other business.
but you said nothing of our good fell
lowship of year ago. Let us go back
to where we were last January-jolly
good chums-and let's put in our day
together"
Mildred hesitated. She. too, If she
would but confess it. was "deuced
lonely" and tired and hot and hungry
into the bargain. Still. some things.
despite what one may say to the con-
trary. are not wiped out of remem-
brance by q word.
81 think that would be impossible"
she said freezingly. IL am going to re-
turn to the falls now. Good morning"
"Well. you're not going to shake me
like that anyway he cried cheerfully.
81 am going to put you on your car at
least"
But Mildred, in the awful conscious |
ness of her'penniless condition, flushed |
scarlet. If he insisted upon putting |
her on the car. the conductor would |
just as firmly insist upon putting her
off when he came TO collect the fares. |
In her desperation and exhaustion she |
dropped down upon a bench they hap |
pened to be passing.
I'm tired" she said. digging little |
holes with her umbrella in the gravel |
faIy ret
| don't want to be rude. Mr.. Gaveston, |
but think ! wished you good morning |
some time ago"
The man. undaunted, seated himself |
beside her with smile.
look here, Milly." he said decidedly.
''You are too tired TO start on that long |
Journey. AS your brothers closest |
friend | cannot permit it, ] ON ex-
ceedingly hungry. May | have the |
pleasure of your company TO luncheon:
would greatly enjoy it, and If you
ind it so distasteful to eat at my ex'
you may liquidate your
share. Only let us have it together"
Mildred'g face was burning. She was
,eized with n strong desire TO shake
he aggravating smile from the teasing
ACE beside her.
81 don't care for anything to eat
he fibbed defantly. The only thing !
lesire at present is solitude"
Il am really not asking much. MI
ired You lunch without thought
With dozens of other fellows. Why not
With meY
81 must draw the line somewhere,
he answered coldly.
$50 you draw ii just in front of your
,rother's chum. Poor old Tom! Hell be
ut up when ! tell him. for be asked
ne particularly TO have an eye on you
Do YOU remember when be hrsi
,rouqbt me home with him at the end
2 orr freshman year? You had short
kirts and curls then. and ! called yoC
lilly as a matter Of course. You rath'
r liked 10 lunch with me in those days [
dildred."
Mildred flushed uncomfortable.
"WeU. IL you insist upon my leaving (
,oup-be rose as he spOke-"Of course
must but I'll be writing to Tom 10 /
,ipbt. and I'm afraid he'll take 1t nara {
rban ne hears that you have shaken
No this way. | never told OF that (
thor business, but be may as wei
now now
Mildred arose.
"Tben if you'll promise not to 90
hof why. TlI-I'Il take luncheon with ,
ON and-you may pay for it, she