The Aberdeen Democrat. (Aberdeen, South Dakota) 1???-1909, 1903-10-02
A servant brought a note to Mrs

in Jimmie's direction. She then gave,
somewhat precipitately, the signal for
rising.
AS Mrs. Eanderveer passed down the
room she paused long enough to muir
muir to Jimmie: Make an excuse to
come to the drawing room in ten min
utes. / wish TO see you particularly"
When the ladies had gone George
Nesbitt asked, as he lit a cigarette by
the candle flame: Well Garretson.
what do you think of Mrs. LIE Clair?'
Il don't know which is she. | was
just going to ask YOU
"To ask me-what do you mean?
You've been sitting beside her all the
evening"
"Nesbitt-you can't mean" JIM
mic felt himself turning green.
Certainly l do. A pretty young
woman, don't you think? Of course,
it was an ordeal, but everybody is very
considerate. Mrs. landowners a
trump"
"Nesbitt, for Heavens sake don't
say another word! You don't know
what I've done-what I've said to
her"
"Why you seemed to be chatting
most amicably when | looked around
Jimmie sat m~otionless for a few min
utes while he went over in his mind
the story he had told the dark lady.
His cheeks burned as he remembered
it. How dense he had been. Mrs.
Nanderveer had, of course, returned
TO her original idea regarding whom
he was to take out, and he had never
considered even the possibility of his
companion being Mrs. lie Clair.
He sprang up and fed to the draw
ing Dom He looked in vain among
the ladies for Mrs. Vanderveer. She
was not there, but near the piano, at
which the second Miss Nesbitt was
playing softly, stood the dark lady
with the diamond in her hair. She
smiled brightly at Jimmie.
The young nan walked straight up
to her. Before he could speak she
said: The ending is at ~hand-aren't
you wild to know what it is?"
Il know MY own ending" ile rs
piled; that is, my finish is apparent.
I am overwhelmed with shame at nav
ing spoken as l did. My only excuse
is l did not know"
Make no apologies she said, still
smiling, for did l not listen all
~through?'
You did, indeed-you might have
stopped ME at once said Jimmie,
feeling real resentment.
Therefore I am as bad as your"
she asked, gaily. We'll, l admit it,
for I profess openly to hate gossip,
while you, perhaps. Go not. In that
case | am worse. My excuse is that
the story was interesting"
Jimmie could not make her out. II
cannot believe you found it other than
revolving. 1t is most delicate of you
to spare me-"
But the ending-you do not know it
YETI"
No; may it be for the best happi-
ness of so noble and beautiful u wom-
an-an ending only of the chapter of
her sorrows, the beginning of the
book of joys"
h was very we'll said. You are
quite forgiven for being a colporteur
medisances. You will think me
horribly straight-laced. All, here is
Mrs. Vanderveer."
The hostess drew Jimmie aside. "I
shall want your help" she said; "a
strange thing has happened. Mrs. LIE
Glars husband is here; he arrived
from San Francisco tonight. He had
the story in the Day He went
to the Nesbitts, found where she was,
and came straight to my house. He
is in the little red room now, and SO is
she-in his arms. 1t is all very beau
t1ful, of course, but somewhat upset.
ting, and find it in my heart to wish
1T had occurred somewhere else
Good heavens, Mrs. Vanderveer,
what are you saying! Mrs. LIE Clair
the red room in one of her hus-
arms-I mean in the arms OF
one Of her husbands-why, look over
'eWhere?"
Anoio W tu6 piano, Lnere .lS MIS-.
LIE Clair"
That? Why that is Mrs. Trench,
NY cousin, the widow from Bermuda;
you took her in, surely you know"
But which was Mrs. LIE Clair"
"She sat on your left; the little
blonde woman. Jimmie, please pay
attention; | want you to-" There
something about Mrs. Lei Clair's
carriage. and wouldn't he meet{Mr. LIE
Clair and see them safely out of the
house; but Jimmie excused himself
hrsantly and dashed across the room
o Mrs. Trench. A great load was lift
I'd from his heart. She seemed to him
then the most beautiful women he had
ever beheld.
You know the end?' he cried; "the
lovers are united. I am going down
o give them my blessing; then L am
coming back to talk to you-talk to
you nothing but scandal; do you hear?
and you may scold me roundly after
ward. And tomorrow / am coming
take you out in the automobile and
The next day"
Jimmie, will you please go at
1npa1 pr sold Sf,.. -