The pioneer press. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 1893-190?, 1902-12-11

cups and plates, few egg shells and
some dry toast.
Julia looked In and said. sneeringly:
Ralph. see you haven't gotten
over your fine, gentlemanly notions.
But then, tbs not everyone who can
have his mother for his servant. Hur-
! ~ her up, II she's not quick enough;
/ but, above all things, fee her. for she
needs little cash"
Ralph kept up an appearance or good
| temper.
Thank you for your kind advice, my
| dear" he said Let US take stroll
after have broken my fast, and will
discuss with you plan by which we
may come to position where we may
| be able to fee some one again"
81 shall be very happy to take such
a walk" she said. with strong tone
of incredulity in her voice.
very well, then. shall be ready in
half an hour. do not feel the calls of
appetite very strong this morning"
Julia left him and went on with her
household work, which she always did
with an inward, and very often, an out
ward protest.
Ralph was probably only giving
vent TO one of his odious jokes" she
thought. as she swept. He won't
work long, and that is the only way
for us ever to get any money-since i
can't see man outside OF this village
and rich men don't abound here. I'm
not sure but 1t would be good in
vestment for Ralph to take me to the
city and give me chance. Perhaps
that is what he is thinking of"
She went up stairs to hel, own room,
put on her hat and wrap. and though
both had cost her but little, she wore
them with the air OF an empress. ITO
lie across her shoulders made a WOOL
en- wrap have the air of cashmere.
She strolled along the grassy car
rage drive until her brother joined
her; then the two went in the direc-
ton of the wood, which had once been
longed to the domain OF the Caryls, but
had been sold, like nearly everything
else. by their father.
Its horrid to walk about here!"
petulantly exclaimed Julia, 'for you
can only go on land that once belonged
to us; there's nothing here but re-
minders of our poverty"
"True though" replied her brother.
slowly putting at his cigar, "but feel
more hopeful than ever that we can
buy back some of these acres before
the yesr Is out"
Julia looked at him quickly and ca
gerly.
Howl" she asked, drawing nearer.
well, I have a plan; but fear IL
can never amount to anything If you
| don't become partner In 1t"
''Tll become partner in anything
that will bring money" was the imme-
date response.
Ralph looked at her with a kind of
| admiring scorn.
you are like the rest of this branch
of the Caryls, aren't your So beauti-
| fully devoid of scruples. It's pleas
ure to contemplate the fact"
"a characteristic which you share
with me, my dear brother. But let us
suppose you are on the trail of anoth-
er heires5, eh?"
Precisely, oh, astute relative!"
"Pshaw! that's nothing new. This
must be the seventh or eighth since
you were grown. Somehow, despite
| you face and figure, which are good"
"Thanks!" murmured Ralph.
"And your address, which must say,
WhSh Jou piSdoO, 10 iSdliy AdoSlhdI-
| ing"
ooh, most discerning sister," from
Ralph again.
Il say. despite all these things, you
! have hitherto failed to secure your
| heiress."
Most true-cursedly truei"
well, what's the reason? Do you
! wonder that | rather sniff at the heir
ess idea?"
| NO; don't wonder; but you should
never sniff; it isn't ladylike. Besides,
I do you forget how many times Bruce's
| spider tried that little trick with the
| web, and what lesson 1t should teach
F! to such as you and me? My dear Ju-
| liza, let us remember Robert Bruce and
| the spider"
You can talk nonsense as much as
| you please" returned Julia THE fact
remains the same that you can't seem
| to secure an heiress."
aThe fact remains that never have,
| but | shall"
Ralp bit his cigar somewhat vicious
| ly as he spoke
Time will show" still un5elieving-
ly.
| Eyes, time will show, oh, ye of little
! faith! But the special object for
which solicited the pleasure of your
! company this morning was to ask IL
| you would be willing, for a fair com
! pensation, to aid me in my great work
| for this time Ralph Caryl gets an heir
ess or dies in the attempt!"
"A forlorn hope. indeed! But how
I in the world can I help?"
Il must say there's a rival in the
| fielda rival who has great lever TO
/ bear up his interest Then. there's
another fellow who may prove to be
| yet more dangerous in the same line;
| but, as he is now sick, and besides. is
| already engaged, his entering the lists
/ Is doubtful"
81 begin to see. You wish me to oc-
cupy the attention, perhaps to win the
| love of the rival, and thus leave you a
fair field. Have | guessed rightly?"
You have. Do you see In what a
high estimation hold your powers 2"
For which am grateful"
BIT lot me warn you that the fellow
Is not, In your sense, a gentleman
wouldn't he be raging to hear me?--
and he is 3 terrible logged specimen.
and fully believes he's In love with the
girl, and the difficulties he has met