The Aberdeen Democrat. (Aberdeen, South Dakota) 1???-1909, 1905-04-21

e this girls joys or sorrows may
have been, she succeeded as well as
any in concealing both.
She was alone when Paul came into
the room. 1t was a large room, with
more than n fireplace. Maggie was
reading, and she did not look round.
Paul stopped. warming himself by the
fire nearest to the door. He was the
sort of mar to come into a room with
out any remark.
Maggie looked up for a moment.
glancing at the wood fire. She seemed
to know for certain that it was Paul.
"Have you been out:" she asked.
"Yes-calling."
He came toward her, standing beside
her with his hands clasped behind his
back. looking into the fire.
Socially" he said, with a quiet hu-
NOR, Il am not a success"
"Perhaps you do not try she sug-
gested practically.
"Oh. yes. l do. l try in several Ian
guages. l have no small talk"
"You see,' she said gravely, you
are a large man" .
"Does that make any d%ifference?" he
asked simply.
She turned and looked at him as he
lowered by her side-looked at him
with a queer smile.
"Yes." she answered, 81 think So"
For some moments they remained
( thus without speaking-in a peaceful
silence.
When she spoke it was with a quiet
voice, as one having plenty of time and
leisure.
Where have you been?" she asked.
ITO the Lanovitches', where we met
the Baron de Chauxville."
"Ah!'
"Why, ah:'
Because I dislike the Baron de
Chauxville." answered Maggie il her
decisive way.
Il am glad of that. because l hate
him. said Paul. Have you any rea-
son for your dislike:"
He has the same effect upon me as
snails," she explained airily.
Then, as if to salve her conscience,
she gave the reason, but disguised, so
that he did not recognize il.
Il have seen more of NJ. de Chaux-
Vile than you have she said gravely.
HE is one Of those men Of whom wom-
en- do see more. When men are pres
ent he loses confidence. like a cur when
q thoroughbred terrier is about. BE
dislikes you. l should take care to
give NJ. de Chauxville a wide berth If
I were You. Paul"
She had risen, after glancing at the
clock. She turned down the page of
her book and, looking up suddenly, met
his eyes for a moment only.
I'VE are not likely to drop into a
close friendship" said Paul. .But-he
Is coming to Thors, twenty miles from
Osterno.'
There was a momentary look of
anxiety in the girls eyes, which she
turned away to hide.
Il am sorry for that" she said, Does
Herr Steinmetz know itr'
mot yet"
Maggie paused for a moment. She
was tracing with the tip Of her finger
q pattern stamped on the binding Of
the book. It would seem that she had
something more to say. Then II d
denly she went away without saying it.
IN the meantime Claude de Chaux-
vile had gently led the Countess Lano-
witch to invite him to stay to dinner.
he accepted the invitation with becom-
ing reluctance and returned to the h.
tel de Berlin. where he was staying. in
order to dress. he was fully alive to
~ expediency Of striking while the
iron is hot, more especially where wo-
men are concerned. Moreover. h,s
knowledge of the countess led him 70
rear that she would soon tire Of his
society. This lady had a lamentahla
Facility for getting to the bottom of
e friends powers Of entertainment
within a few days. 1t was De Chan,.
Tue, intention to make secure his in.
V1tatlon to Thors and then to absent
himself from the countess.
After dinner the guest asked Mia
Cauina to play. He opened the grand
piano IN the inner drawing room with
such gallantry and efusion that the
sanguine countess. postprandially som
nolescent In her luxurious chair haoo =
1ehearsine different modes OF mendon