Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1904-06-02
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS r


Suculu never nave COlilS at Ill IL l
had understood I only want to get
away!" She set off as she spoke and
hurried across the grounds in blind
fashion without looking where she was
going. The young man, after hesitat-
ing a moment or two. went after her.
The two servants, exchanging glances
and muttering between themselves
about contradictory orders and other
matters, retired to their own quarters
Grace ran on SO fast. and with so
little thought of where she was going
that when presently she felt more COM
posed and looked up she found that
she had lost her way and was in quite
it was very silent save for the birds
and for the ripple of little stream
near at hand: she sank down on a
bank and tried to think what she must
do. And then from the other side of
the stream a voice hailed her:
Il say, I'm dreadfully sorry, but
can't | do anything?"
She looked up quickly and saw on
the opposite bank Of the stream the
young man standing. Looking at him
in that surprising moment. she saw
that he was tall and slim and dark, and
that he was clad in country suit of
tweeds. The eyes with which he
looked at her had a pleading express
sion In them. as though he asked that
she would not Judge him too harshly
for having followed her. He seemed
to be quite young, and his smile was
extremely kind and pleasant; she
thought, looking at him critically, that
he might be a year or so older than
herself.
"Why did you follow me?" she asked
but he lokoed so honest and kindly
that there was no anger in her voice
Because you seemed in trouble
and didn't like to let you go alone"
he replied. "You will observe. how
ever, that for the sake of propriety
have been careful to put the stream be.
tween us. SO that there can't be any
harm in my talking to you-can there?
Won't you tell me who you are, and
why you had that trouble up in the
house this morning9"
I'D rather not" she said. "You
mustn't think I'm ungrateful," she
added; con the contrary, / think it is
very nice of you to have taken so much
interest in me-"
Do you know, think it's quite
likely that you and may have some.
thing in common" he urged, in his
boyish voice. IT you think there's
anything wrong or unnatural in talk
Ing to you, please remember that
there's a stream between us, and tina,
1T will carry away everything we say
and lose it; SO that, you see, we sha'n't
do any harm in any case Besides. we
might take example from the gipsies
In the camp below there; think what
delightful people they are-and they
wouldn't hesitate to talk to any one
they liked
4 Why, come from the camp of the
gipsies myself, she said, laughing. and
forgetting for the moment her own
troubles in the presence of this bright.
faced youngster.
You do! How delightful" he ex.
claimed. But you don't look like a
gypsy at all, he added, looking at her
critically. There's something of a
mystery about you-and I believe Pm
the man that's born to find out what
that mystery Isl
Do you. indeed?" she asked, laugh.
ing.
y do. Why were you up at the house
this morning, and why were you turned
away SO rudely? / believe you're
friendless and in trouble.a
Yes, am friendless, in a way. and
I'm in trouble" she said, softly.
Why, and SO am I" he replied. I'm
friendless, and I'm faced with the big-
gest trouble I've ever had. Do Won
know, although don't even know vorr
name, like you immensely, he went
on quickly. I'm quite sure we should
be friends"
y think So" she said, shyly. But /
don't even know your name. and Ger
tainly don't know what your trouble
is. B,
Then I'll tell YOU" he exclaimed
impuisiyely. As we're going to be
friends. IT doesn't matter, does it? Ny
name Is Raymond Hawley, and I'm
left as q sort OF goods and chattel In a
ridiculous will, and I've got to marry
my cousin UP at the big house there.
shes Just arrived to claim her inheri-
lance, and she can't touch 1t unless
she marries me. Funny, isn't 1t z"
Who is your cousin?' said Grace
sblankly.
Her name is Grace Yarwood., Z, said
the young man from the other side of
the stream.