The Aberdeen Democrat. (Aberdeen, South Dakota) 1???-1909, 1903-10-02

/ then glanced a~nxiously down the table
in Jimmic's direction. She then gave,
somewhat precipitately, the signal fol
rising.
AS Mrs. vanderveer passed down the
room she paused long enough to MUIR
muir to Jimmie: Make an excuse to
come to the drawing O 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 Clair2'
~ don't know which is she. l was
just going to ask you"
ITO 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 / do. A pretty young
woman, don't you think? OF course,
it was an ordeal, but everybody is very
considerable. Mrs. Vanderveer's a
trump"
"Nesbitt, for Heavens sake don't
say dIlOtuei NOIu' 1ou uoA NHOW
what I've done-what I've said to
her!"
"Why, you seemed to be chatting
most amicably when l looked around"
Jimmie sat motionless 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.
Vanderyeer 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 fled to the draw
ing room. 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 man walked straight up
to her. Before he could speak she
said: "The ending is at hand-aren't
you wild 10 know what 1t is?"
II know my own ending" he re-
piled; chat is, my finish is apparent.
| am overwhelmed with shame at hav-
ing spoken as l did. IVY only excuse
is | did not know"
make no apologies" she said, still
smiling, for did l not listen, all
you did, indeed-you might have
stopped me at once" said Jimmie,
ceiling real resentment.
Therefore / am as bad as your"
'he asked, gaily. well, l admit it,
or ! profess openly to hate gossip,
While you, perhaps, do not. In that
ase am worse. My excuse is that
he story al interesting"
Jimmie could not make her out. 81
annot believe you found it other than !
evolting. 1t is most delicate of you
o spare me-"
But the ending-you do not know it
et?"
No; may it be for the best happi-
less of so noble and beautiful a wom-
ending only of the chapter of
ler sorrows, the beginning of the
took of joys"
That was very well said. You are
ute forgiven for being a %colporteur
le medisances. You will think me
'orribly straight-laced. All, here is
drs. V~anderveer."
The hostess drew Jimmie aside. 81
hall want your help" she said: "a
thing has happened. Mrs. LIE
;lair's husband is here; he arrived
rom San Francisco tonight. He had
cad the story in the Day. He went
o the Nesbitts, found where she was
nd came straight to my house, He
S in the little red room now. and an ia
'he-ln his arms. 1t is all very beau
iful, of course, but somewhat upset.
lng, and find it in my heart to wish
nat 1t had occurred somewhere else"
Good heavens, Mrs. vanderyeer.
are you saying! Mrs. LIE Clair
n the red room in one of her hus-
bands arms-I mean in the arms ~
me OF her husbands-why, look over
"Where!"
There by the piano, there is Mrs.
lie Clair"
That! Why that is Mrs. Trench.
cousin. the widow from Bermuda:
'ou took her in, surely you know"
But which was Mrs. LIE Claire"
She sat on your left; the little
blonde woman. Jimmie. please nav
attention; want you to- There
vas something about Mrs. LIE Glars
;arrlage, and wouldn't he meet Mr.. Ie
Clair and see them safely out of the
louse; but Jimmie excused himself
and dashed across the room
Q Mrs. Trench. A great load was lift
q 0 his heart. She seemed to him
hen the most beautiful women he had
'ver beheld.
You know the end?" he cried. "the
are united. l am going down
Q give them my blessing; then I am
'oming back to talk to you-talk ia
'ou nothing but scandal; do you bear9
ma you may scold me roundly after.
ward. And tomorrow l am coming
o take you out in the automobile and
he next day-"