Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1904-12-29

de sometimes speaks OF the future
and certainly Toes conduct In most ro-
mantle manners. vowing he will walt
for me. declaring that l must love him
n day. that l am no longer a child,
that he has adored me since I was
but twelve"
How long has this gone onr'
said. my face cold and twitching with
rage.
These three months" said Silver
Heels without embarrassment.
"And-and you never told me"'
She shook her head frankly.
mo, you were but a lad, and you
could not understand such things. But
now that You are become a man I
thought to tell you of this, because 1t
tries my patience, yet pleases me, too,
sometimes"
Boiling with fury and humiliation.
gave her a piece Of my mind. said
that Mr.. Butler was a sneak. n bully
and an old fool In his dotage to make
love to a baby. told her II did sick
en- me to hear of Il: that there was 40
truth In II but vain imaginings and that
she had best confess to Sir William
how this gentleman sc~hoolteacher did
teach her his knowledge withal!
HE IL a gentleman OF rank and sta
tion," she said primly. "If he choose
to protest his solicitous regard for me
I can but ~conrteously discourage him.
You little nrigt' | exclaimed. grind
Ing my teeth. Il will teach this fellow
Butler to abuse Sir Williams comb
dence!'
IL have your promise not to reveal
this" said Silver Heels cooiiy.
groaned; then, remembering that
Mr.. Butler had partly promised me a
meeting, l caught Silver Heels by both
hands and looked at her earnestly.
Il also have q secret" said I. Prom
ise me silence and you shall share It,"
'"TrulyT she asked, a little pale.
truly. a secret. Promise. Silver
Heels"
* promise" she whispered.
Then j told her of my defiance, OF the
meeting which Mr.. Butler had bali
pledged me. and l swore TO her that 4
would XIII him, eye to y and hilt to
hilt, not alone for his contempt aud la
suits to me, but for Sir Williams hoo
or and for the honor OF my kinswomaa.
Felicity Warren.
The beastw snarled. That he
should come a-sulng you without a
word to- Sir Williaml do gentlemen
conduct in such a IA toward gen
tlew0men? Now, hear me! Do you
swear to me upon your oath and honor
never to stay again after school, never
to listen to another word from this
sneaking fellow until you are sixteen.
never to receive his addresses until Sir
William speaks to you Of him? Swear
II or will go straight to Mr.. Butler
and strike him In the facet
"Micky, what are YOU saying. Sir
William knows all this"
Taken aback. dropped her hands.
but In a moment seized them agaia.
Swear repeated. crushing her
hands. Il don't care what Sir william
says! Swear itr'
II swear" she said family. "You
are hurting my fingers"
/ scarcely heard her. being occupied
with my anger and my designs against
Mr.. Butler. Such hatred, as | now
felt for him | never had conceived
c0uh be cherished toward any living
thing. Ny right hand itched for a
sword hiit. Ionged to see him facing
me ~ | never had craved for anything
In this world or the next. And to think
that Sir William approved IL!
IAttle by little the hot anger cooled
In my veins. having q refreshing con.
ndcnce that all would come right. Such
passions are too powerful for young
hearts. Anger and grief heal their
own wounds quickly when life Is yet
new.
With my sudden, astonIshed respect
for Silver Heels came another senti-
ment, a recognition OF her rights Ii AN
equal, and a strangely solicitous desire
to control and direct her enjoyment Of
these rights. IL Is the instinct OF
chivalry, latent In the toughest Of W..
and which, In extreme youth, frst
manifests as patronage. Thus walk
ing with Silver Heels I un~burdened
my heart, telling her that /, too. had
been in love; that the object OF my
respectful passion was one Marie Liv-
ingston. who would undoubtedly be
mine at some distant date. | revealed
my desire to see Silver Heels suitably
plighted, drawing a pleasing portrait
Of an imaginary sutton who should NIL
all requirements.
To this she replied that she, too, had
desired a sutton resembling the highly
attractive portrait l had painted for
her; that she found a likeness between
that portrait and her secret ideal. and
that she should be very glad to en-
counter the portrait in the flesh.
1t hurt me a little that she had not
recognized In me many Of the traits /
had painted for her so carefully. and
presently ! disclosed myself as the
mysterious original Of the portrait.
"You. she exclaimed. In amazement
Then, not to hurt me, she said 1t was
quite true that | did resemble her ideal.
and only Lacked ware aud tItIa. and