The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1905-12-08

a,,ke of naughty danes and prinking
dandy officers. Beneath the notice. I
say; n vet I would qualify this. for
more than one of the epauletted mac
aronis trod upon my toes or hustled
me rudely in h crush till I trembled,
not for my own s~elf-control, but for
Richards. making sure that the lad
wa having no more gentlemanly well
come than I.
Twas with some notion of finding
ampler room for my feet that 1 edged
away through the fringing wall-crowd
in the dancing room toward a %curtained
archway at the back. AS yet I had
overhead naught SAY the silly persi-
f1age of the bellies and beaux-a word
here and another there-and l was be-
ginning to fear that this was as poor a
place to look for information as was
the pothouse, when a thing befell to set
me a-quiver with all the thrillings the
human heart-strings a thrum to in
one n the same instant of time.
I had shouldered my way out of the
ball room medley n into the less
crowded room at the bach This proved
to be a rear drawing room serving for
the nonce as a refectory. There were
little groups knots of chatterers
standing about; fair maids, each with
49, AAAA9 w SSoh SASkos IduSu.
Ing and Testing or picking daintily at
the viands IN the great oaken table in
the midst.
Rounding the promontory of the ia
ble's n to come to anchor in some
quiet eddy where I could listen un-
noticed for the word 1 was thirsting
for, 1 must needs entangle the button
of my coat-cuf in the delicate lace Of
a lady's sleeve in passing.
Tha wearer Of the sleeve had har
back to me, and I IA the white Shout
ders so up in a little shrug of petulance
whilst I sought to disentagle the but
ton. Then she turned to face me and
the words Of apology froze on my lips.
Twas Mistress Margery, standing at
ease with-gcod heavens! with Rich
ard Jennifer and Colonel Banastre Tar
Teton for ner company!
Here was a halter, with a double
snaff1e at the end OF it, was the thought
that flashed upon me; and I was gath
ering my wits to brazen it out in some
such al to leave Jennifer UNI
attained, When my lady gave a little
start and a Shrek.
La, Mr.. Septimus; how you startled
me-" h cried. Then, with q tremor
of the lip or a pause for breath-taking,
she presented me: Colonel Tarleton,
MIR. Septimus Ireton, Of Iretondene In
Virginia." And next to Dick: mi.
Richard. my very good friend. Mr.. Ire
tom"
an air that even Dick, who had known
her from childhood, was struck dumb
with admiration, as his face sufficiently
advertised. And, indeed, I had much
d to play my own part with any de-
cent self-possession, though I did make
shift to bow stifly, and to say: Il see
I should nave brought the Iretondene
title lea6c with me- tn mako vnY1 Qr1ro
that I am not my rebel cousin John,
Mistress Margery. Your servant, Col-
onel Tarleton; and yours, Mr.. Rich
ard"
Dicks bow was an elaborate hiding
of his tell-tale face, but the coloners
was the slightest of mods, and I could
feel the sloe-black eyes of him boring
into my very soul.
Had my lady given him but a mo-
ment's time 1 make no doubt he would
have come instantly at the truth and
the little farce would have been turned
into a tragedy on the spot. But she
gave him no time. The spinet in the
ball room alcove was tinkling out the
to a mfnuet, and she laid the
tips of her dainty fingers on the colo
nel's arm.
This will be ours to walk through,
will it not, Colonel Tarleton?' she said,
playing the sprightly mink to the very
climax Of perfection. Then she dipped
a curtsy. "Au revoir. gentlemen.
IT'S a thousand pities you had not
joined sooner. and SO had the red "a
and small sword to grace you here.
When they were gone Dick laughed
s~ardonically.
Saw you ever such a c%ool-blood lit
tie jade in all your life? Twas with
as it was with you; I, too, stumbled
upon them, n the colonel hustled me
p1S co Il ~ 40, Qk
/ should have a myself in irons in
another moment but for Madge. She
slipped in between and introduced us
as sweetly as you please" i
Nevertheless" said 1. the colonel
recognized us BOTH"
No! Think you so?"
"'Tis certain enough to play upon.
What we do now must be n quickly
or not at all. What have you over
He swore softly. Never a cursed
word; less than nothing of any inter-
est to Dan Morgan"
We must try again. Twill surely
talked OF here ii the army is about
to move. Do you take a turn in the
ante-room and meet me in a quarter
of an hoursat the outer door,"
At the word, Dick promptly lost
in the throng whilst I mad a
slow circuit of the refreshment table.
Once / thought l had the clue when q
girl hanging on the arm of an infantry
lieutenant said: will it be true that
you will presently go out to hunt the
rebels down, MI. Thornicroft ?". But
the prudent lieutenant smiled and put
her off cleverly, leaving his fair ques-
tioner-and me-non the wiser.
Continued Next Week.l
--
Girls and Their Education.
Z. S. Martin in Harper's Bazar: And
there zones in the special complication
that affects the education OF girls.