The Aberdeen Democrat. (Aberdeen, South Dakota) 1???-1909, 1905-05-05

side Gladys seat to speak with her
and she was laughing up at him when
the collision anne 1t was over in an
instant. All he knew was the vivid
sense of her arms clinging around his
neck as he caught her up out Of the
seat and their lips had met for the
first time with death three car lengths
away.
He had left Rosemead that nipht
It was all he could do. He thought
she would understand. If not, there
was no danger but Mrs. Wilmington
would enlighten her.
The Manchuria business had been mn
opening held out by the old Darby
Thornton for some time. It was a
chance to make good by going out there
and clearing up the old boys mercan-
tile interests before the wal broke ont
He had stuck to 1t and made good, and
the reward had com most unexpected
" when said old boy had taken a no.
ton to die comfortably and opportune.
~ and leave his accumulated possess
sions to the prodigal in the far land.
There had been no thought during the
year of work but of Gladys. He had
left on the first BOAT for home to claim
the promise Of the tunnel kiss and had
found instead Estevan, a warranted
imported antique, tall, suave and
slightly gray, with an eye out for
ready money.
The thought Of 1T all made him des-
perate tonight. He put her from him
almost roughly. In three weeks she
would be the Countess Estevan, chate-
laine Of some dinky little old castel-
lated ruin In Austria. He was sorry
that he had tried to see her, sorry he
had come back, sorry he had made
Culverton change places with him.
You had better stop crying" he said.
well be there in n few minutes. Els
tevan might not like It,"
She smiled back at him, her eyes
bright with tears.
$50 You try to frighten the bad little
girl into good behavior? Well, she
doesn't scare worth a cent, Darby.
Your bogy man is such a fragile, prop
er, tissue paper bogy man that the
bad little girl has decided he isn't
worth being afraid Of"
what do you mean|
Cant you guess? You expect others
to be so good at guessing, you know.
You expect to kiss a girl and go away
to Manchuria-or was it the moon
and then come back and find love in
her eyes. What was it? Like this? 2"
She was laughing at him. He felt
angry and obstinate.
'Can you say that you never loved
mey"
"No, l cannot" Her eyes met his with
calm, defensive candor. 'Of course
I loved you. Do you think l would
have kissed you that day If l had not?
And you are right about the other too.
I shall always love you"
: He bent toward her with keen, half
shut eyes.
And yet in three weeks you will be
his wife"
mo. / won't. Do you think l could
after tonight? l shall break the en-
gagement tonight. You have accom-
, plished that at least. Now, take the
QfSl OOuC DdCh 10 N1duClluIlu.
He smiled slowly and happily. She
had not heard yet OF the accumulated
] possessions.
We've turned out Of the park" ht
said. II don't want to go to the house
. and face a crowd. Gladys, look at me
No, straight in the eyes, please! Try t.
y think quickly. I've come all the wa,
q around the world to see you. I've al
ways wanted you, you know that.
q was afraid before, and l ran away Xix
q coward and didn't even give you th'
chance to refuse me. Will you refus
me nowY
4 "As II 1t made any difference" BE
q Eyes were clear and true and some
what indignant. III I have enoug
money to satisfy even Aunt Victori
o and her little count, isn't there enoug
for you? If you 60 back there
It ~WhatT
81 shall give away all the money an
come after you"
70 "Come. now!"
Her lips were half parted, her eye
% wistful and troubled.
ut will be easy to come back an
b break the engagement then. You WI
Is only have to present your husband"
,e IF / dared
Is He tapped on the glass slid an
gave an order to the driver, and the
turned back down the avenue just
the bells were Ginning midnight.
er
p, Ready For an Emergency.
The long haired woman from Ne
y Jersey came to town to do a year
.. .hnnnirg ono DIV last week. Her cit