The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1904-07-22
.comparabls glory OF color over the

Incompatible glory OF color over the
country.
In the evenings he steadily devoted
himself to Edith, so far as she would
allow him. Occasionally she sang or
played to him at his request. or took
a hand at dummy whist with him
and her aunt, but as much as possible
She avoided being alone with him. and
did what she could TO discourage the
labored compliments he continually
strove to pay her.
Somehow, since the morning IN which
news OF the tragedy was broke to
origin she had no wish to trace and
shrank from a%nalyzlng, had risen be
tween them; but il he We're aware of
this he steadily ignored 1T.
Years ago, almost from boyhood, he
had come TO regard her as his future
Wife. They We're in a Way connections;
his father was her guardian; they had
been brought up together; and she was
an hei-ess whilst he was penniless; all
solid reasons to his mind why she
should marry him and thank provi-
dence for sending her such a man
He understood her SO little as to
wonder If her coolness to him was sim
ulated in order to make him more
ardent; a plan he knew was adopted
by many girls. Perhaps she wished
TO hirt. Dunstan would hardly haNa
proposed to her without encourage
meat; wher he did he got the reward
OF his presumption. Then she had Ger
tainly seemed very friendly with that
barrister fellow, though, of course, she
could not be in love with q man
twenty years her senior
When he told his father he wanted
change, and would like To run across
the channel and stay a few days in the
French capital, the count who was
o II of and induiSent TO him. agreed
that it was necessary he should have
recreation and amusement.
Il know 1t must be Very dun for
you here. my dear boy" he said in his
soothing, gentle voice, and mat il viii
brighten you TO rub shoulders with the
crowds of a great city
Yes, my dear boy" he said, go to
Paris my all means."
It's awfully good of YOU, pater, but
ans wered Max with his practical air.
Il must tell YOU that. what with one
thing and another, l have only a few
shillings left OF my quarterly allow
ance."
You are hopelessly e~xtravagant."
the count remarked.
Il fear / am. l can't keep money"
Because YOU don't try. l should feel
terribly anxious about your future. il
1t weren't that You are to marry an
heiress." the count told him j~estingly.
The heiress doesn't seem TO care
much about me at present" Max an
swered in an irritable tone, recollect-
ing the many Sights he had recently
received.
You must have patience and perse-
verance. AT present she is upset by
that unfortunate occurrence, and by the
trial. But l am sure she cares for you,
with whom she was brought up and
taught to think of as her future hus-
band"
Girls think for themselves about
ed. "Of late 1 AVE had a hard time
striving to please her. but without
much success"
Don't despair or you will never win
her.' his father advised. Hope is the
forerunner of victory. By the time you
come back she may be more inclined to
listen to you. She knows it is the
wife. n I think l have some influence
oVer her. AT all events, in your alb
scence l will prepare her mind to ac-
cept your proposal"
Good. When I return I will plainly
ask her to marry me. If she refuses"
Don't let US anticipate anything so
unfortunate" replied the count hur-
riedly.
On the morning when Max started
from the Hall his father gave him a
hundred pounds for his expenses.
This is more thar 1 expected, pater,"
he said, gratiied by this evidence Of
generosity.
Il hope you will spend only What is
necessary to give you a pleasant holt
day.
I will do my best not to be extra
VACANT" the young man answered..
meaning what he said.
Above all things don't gamble;
promise me you Will not gamble" the
count said earnestly.
Il am not likely'to have n tempta-
ton to play in Paris"
"One never knows. There are gam
bling hells in all great cities, and like
the magnet with the steel, they at
tract those whose weakness lies in that
direction"
LAS mine does" Ma admitted.
AS yours does" said the count sad
You know that?"
THAT knowledge Is the punishment
of my sin; for in my young days was
a gambler. and With me it was a pas
sion in the blood. a madness in the
brain, drunkenness was sanity in COM
p%arison. When I think of that am
filled with fear for you: vices are in
herited, or. in other words, the sins OF
the parents fall upon the children"
My dear pater, don't be so tragic"
Max said lightly.
"Ah, my boy, you cannot know, and l
cannot tell you, where such a vice may
lead a man, who seeing .his weakness
does not renounce it firmly. without
compromise or d%alliance; for once
caught in its force, 1t is a cataract that
sweeps him to destruction"
Continued Next Week.)