The daily silver state. [volume] (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1903-1907, 1904-05-05

over III tie forest. HltlOuSu IL WIS very
bad and you have acted abominably
ever since. Now Is not that kind Ia
me?" And she softly laughed as she
peeped up at the poor fellow from be-
meath those sweeping ~lashes, with the
premeditated purpose of tantaliZing
him, | suppose. She was beginning to
know her power over him. and 1t was
never greater thar at this moment.
Her beauty had its sweetest quality.
for the princess was sunk and thn
woman was dominant. with flushed
face and flashing eyes that caught a
double luster from the glowing love
that made her teart beat so fast.
With the Mood that was upon her
wonder Brandon maintained his self
restraint even for a moment. He felt
that his only hope lay i'm silence. so he
sat beside her and said nothing. He
told me long afterward that while sit
ting there In the Intervals between her
speech. the oldest. widest thoughts ran
through his brain. He wondered how
lie could escape. He thought OF tie
window and that possibly he might
break away through 1t. and then he
thought of feigning illness. and Il hun
dred other absurd schemes. but they
all came to nothing. ind he sat there
to let events take their w course. as
they seemed determined to do in spite
of him.
After a short silence Mary continued
half bantcringly: ANSWER me. sir!
will have no more OF this. You shall
treat me at least with the courtesy you
would show a bourgeoise girl"
"Oh. that you were only a burgher's
daughter"
"Yes. | know all that: but l am not.
1t can't be helped. and you shall an-
swer me-"
"'rLere is no answer. dear lady.
beg you-oh. do you not Sec
"Ycs. yes: but answer my question.
Am | not kind. more than you de-
s~erve:"
Indeed. yes: q thousand times. You
have always Leen so kind. so gracious
ard so condesccnding to me that ! can
only thank you. thank you. thank you.'
answered I;rurdon almost shyly. not
daring TO lift his eyes to hers.
Mary saw the manner quickly enough
what woman ever missed 1t. much
less so keen eyed a girl as she-and IL
gave her confidence and brought back
the easy banter of her old time man-
ner.
How modest we have become.
Where is the boldness of which we
used to have so much? Kind! Have
| always been so? How about the first
time | met you? Was | kind then!
And rs to condescension. don't-dont
use that word between u.s."
NO" returned Brandon. who in his
turn was recovering himself: mo. !
can't say that you were very kind at
first. How you did fly out at me ana
surprise me. 1t was so unexpected 1t
almost took me off my feet" And they
both laughed In remembering the scene
OF their first meeting. NO. can't say
-FOUR kindness showed itself very
strongly In that first interview. but
II was 9here nevertheless. and when
Lady Jane led me back your real na-
ture asserted itself. as 1t always does.
ard you were kind to me-kind as only
you can be-"
That was getting very near to the
sentimental - dangerously near. lie
thought. and he said TO himself. IF
this does not end quickly, l shall have
to escape"
You are easily satisfied II you call
that good" ~laughingly returned Mary.
IL can be ever so much better than
that If I try"
Let me see you try" said Brandon.
"Why. I'm trying now" answered
Mary. with a distracting little pout.
Don't you know genuine out and out
goodness when you see 1t? I'm doing
my very best now. Can't you tellY'
Yes. | think | recognize it, but-but
--bc bad again."
mo, | won't! | will not be bad even
to please you. ! lave determined moi
to be bad. ard | will not-not even TO
be good. This" placing her hard yer
her heart. lis just full of good today"
Ard her lips parted as she laughed ut
her W pleasantly.
Il am afraid you had better be bad.
l give you fair warming" said Brandon
huskily. He felt her eyes upon him all
the time, and his strength and good
resolves were oozing out like wine from
an Ill coopered cask. After n short ST.
lence Mary continued. regardless of the
warning:
but the position Is reversed with us.
At first | was unkind to you. and you
were kind to me. but now ! am kind to
you. and you are unk!nd to me-"
II can come back at you with your
OWL words" responded Brandon. You
don't know when | am kind TO you. !
should be kinder. to myself at least.
were | to leave you and take myself to
the other side of the world"
"Oh. that Is n thing ! wanted to
ask you about. Jane tells me you are
going to New Spain"
She was anxious to know. but asked
the question partly to turn the CONVEX
- - A. --.tI