The Aberdeen Democrat. (Aberdeen, South Dakota) 1???-1909, 1903-08-21

reign OF tyranny was OVeI lOieSeI. coi
six months she had enjoyed despotism;
was she now to eat humble pie and
| and cry out for protection? With Ma
poleonic resolution Miss Dennison
turned in the direction of the hotel.
She took five steps; then far away
on the distant marshland, she saw q
moving shadow. For the first moment
she assured herself it was but a fantasy
of her imagination. Then the shadow
came nearer and resolved itself into a
human figure-a shutting, clumsy fur
tive figure, creeping. with bent head
along the wall which separated the
barren pastures. Miss Dennison
| stood, arrested. The wind moaned
and whistled around the boarding, but
she heard it not. Her eyes were fixed
on the strange figure advancing from
the mist. Presently it hesitated and
stopped short. Had it seen her? Sud-
denly, with a cat-like swiftness, the
figure left the shelter of the wall, and
still with downcast head, struck out
into the open field. With curious,
swift strides, it was covering the inter-
yening ground; in a few minutes it
would strike the open road beside her.
Miss Dennison cast n wild glance
along the road in vain. Then, with a
sudden shrek, she was beating a re-
treat toward the station al fast as fear
and the kindly wind could carry her.
Somewhere behind her a hoarse
voice shouted; somewhere behind her
heavy footsteps fastened. With blind
eyes, Miss Dennison fled on. Now the
lights of the station twinkled in the
distance; now the downward hill was
gained which led there. Now-oh, rap
ture!-a tall, broad-shouldered and de-
spised betrothed turned and stood
amazed in the roadway, to see Minerva
ldallen from her pedestal and running
after him!
Save mel" said Miss Dennison, and
flung herself, penitent, submissive,
breathless, in his arms.
Darling! here's some one coming
past! Wait a second till he's passed
us!"
Miss Dennison's betrothed, though a
lover, was an Englishman.
Miss Dennison opened her eyes
family.
He's got your boa. See, he's COM
ing up to you"
Two embarrassed young people stood
still while a still more embarrassed
policeman approached them sheep
ishly.
81 called to the young lady, but you
didn't seem to hear, miss. You dropped
it just by the boarding. l was coming
across marsh and l see the wind take
it, and I caught it as it flew across
the ratings yonder."
Miss Dennison smiled Whitley; Miss
Dennison's betrothed thanked the po-
liceman more substantially. The po-
liceman continued to the station with
contentment in his tread.
"Now, darling" said Miss Dennison's
betrothed.
ooh, don't be angry!" said a sudden
ly abject despot. ell lever be horrid
again. I'll always do exactly what you
tell me. Only darling, darling, darling,
don't leave me to go home along that
dreadful, dreadful road alone!"
my poor, frightened little girl!
What a brute I've been!"
"You have rather" confessed Miss
Dennison.
Along. the lonely road two lovers
loitered. The wind swept merrily
above them and around them, all I'M
needed. Miss Dennison's face was
screened from the rough blast, her
head was hidden penitently against
a sheltering arm.
And, a they walked along, Miss
Dennison's betrothed concluded a kind
and decisive conversation in which
Miss Dennison played an astonishingly
contrite and secondary part.
"And you understand, dear, there
are to be no more of these ridiculous
quarrels?"
mo, darling, I'll do whatever you
wish"
"The man must always be the head.
I've been foolish to give in to you so
weakly. It's been as much my fault
as yours"
Eyes, dear, it has"
"But you have been very inconsid-
crate
"a woman is always more in love
than a man."
"a man has duties which he must
fulfill"
Eyes, darling, and it's very wonder
full and beautiful of him to neglect
them for a woman's sake. A silly,
cowardly, selfish, unattractive girl"
Miss Dennison's betrothed refuted
such an appreciation of her character
with warmth.
PLEASED" said Miss Dennison, "the
hotel people will see U.S."
The brilliant facade of the hotel
shone out suddenly behind the hill,
Miss Dennison and her betrothsd
walked decorously up the drive, where
her anxious people welcomed them
from the piazza. Miss Dennison con-
Quoted her betrothed in triumph in the