Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1905-04-20

of your head, Mr.. Nugent," she re
piled with the frankness OF long &C
quaintance.
Iinck," replied her companion dryly
feeling that the writer must either be
\ conquered or crushed and leaning to-
ward the last named alternative.
| Still, he could not give up. 1t seem.
ed to him preposteruus that a fellow
| like Merton should understand things
which he, Nugent, could not, especial.
| ly when Merton's dIabolicaI keenness
gave him the advantage Of Virginia s
open interest and appreciation. 1t was
not thing to be borne quietly.
Perhaps we understand 1t more
clearly than you do" she acknowledg-
ed. And that I'VE" that put her and
Merton together on one side OF the
question as opposed to him on the 9th
er shook Nugent strangely.
Something of the dismay that he felt
showed In his face, and, seeing 1t, Miss
Dinsmore attempted once more to ex-
plain the methods OF the new school Of
writer's. And her efforts were reward
ed, for at last light seemed to break
upon him.
Il see" he calculated slowly. II see
at last! The gentlemen write In cipher,
Just as we send secret messages In
business, and it doesn't mean q thing
unless you understand the cipher. Dog
pigment chair doesn't sound very In.
telligible to you. does it,"
He waited a moment; then as Miss
Dinsmore shook her head he went on:
"And Jet sent that very message to
firm yesterday In a matter involving
the Investment of thousands OF dollars.
And they understood, Just as you and
Merton understand your Maeterlinck
code" he concluded airily, while Miss
Dinsmore studied him with new In
terest. After all. she reflected, these
practical minds were keen enough once
they got the point of view.
Meanwhile Peter Nugent went his
way with curious exhilaration. At
last, he felt. he was catching up with
Merton. Since he had the important
question to ask, why not heap Goals of
fire on Virginia's head by asking it
symbolicallyi But how?
1t was the Saturday before Easter.
All the afternoon the bell of the Dins-
more mansion had been ringing with
monotonous regularity, which kept the
Buttons at the door at work like an
automaton.
Gee whiz!' he soliloquized as he
took In an azalea almost as large as
himself. Miss Virginia must be de
whole ting, judgin' by desc Easter
greetin's."
The very last offering to arrive came
about 8 o'clock In the evening, when
the Buttons. wearied out, was doing
at his post and dreaming that he sent
Sadie FIaherty bunch OF American
Beauties with stems as long as tele-
graph poles. 1t was therefore with a
somewhat bored and chastened air that
he carried the package that was hand
ed ia up to Miss virginia's room. where
In low chair she sat reading Norma
Wanna"
Open 1t, Thomas she commanded
languidly, laying her book face down
ward In her lap and watching him idly
as he removed the enwrapping tissue
paper. But at sight of the object he
lifted out or the box moment later
al her languor disappeared, and she ut
tered an exclamation of amazement.
It was a huge nest. upon which
bantam hen soft, white and with ma
tronly, alert yellow eyes sat with nom
chaiant grace Tucked under the edge
&c one wing was an envelope.
Buttons did his best. but it was poor.
With guffaw as involuntary as Ii
was hearty he deposited the nest ana
ita occupant upon table and, holding
his band over his mouth, fied from the
room. Miss Dinsmore approached her
iatest possession and removed the note.
saying, Who under the SUM-
Having read II, she sank into chair,
tears OF merriment streaming from her
eyes. fow this was what she read:
Dear virginiar-I can you that because
know fnsfinctively that symboiiets haye
20 use Tor formaiIty. The Easter Eike
That Msn SENDING may at the first fash
HA@m ba&arre. nut when explain that iii
y q symbolic Offering yon viii UNDER
stand. Il is a. symbolic as anything
3AatexAlngk ever dared to dc. and inter-
bret II 40 you because sn this particular
cnno fancy that i can do better than
Merton himself I
The nest what II Ii but the home that 4
WQzxld okzSr your The egg therein.
please nokAen thak itss been made beastly
N&ly~m&andn for ME. and. - with n1e. you
&&