The Red Cloud chief., 1906-04-13

the music and glory and fire that were
I'm him. Therefore lie was shocked to
hear himself rcmarking, with an imam
ity of utterancc that sickcncl him:
"Oh. here's the gate. isn't itT'
Her answer was II short laugh. you
mean YOU wish to persuade me that
you had forgotten it was there
Il did not see it," he protested lam
entably.
mop"
81 wasn't thinking of It."
Indeed! You were lost in thoughts
off,
"Of YOU" he said before he could
check himself.
"Ycsf' Her tone was as quietly con
temptuous as she could make it. 'IIow
very frank of you. May I ask are you
convinced that speeches of that sort are
always to a lady's liking?'
"No." he answered humbly and hung
his head. Then she threw the question
ut him abruptly:
WAS it you who came 60 sing in our
garden?'
There was II long pause before a pro-
found sigh came ~trcmulously from the
darkness, like n sad and tender confGs-
sion. Yes"
II thought sou she exclaimed. Mrs.
Tanberry thought it was some one else,
but | knew that it was you"
YES, you are right" he said quietly.
at was 1. 1t was my only way to tell
you what you know now"
"Of course!" She set 1t oil aside with
those two words and the slightest ges-
ture of her hand. 1T was a son made
! for another girl. I believer" she asked
lightly and, with an icy smile, inquired
further, For the One-the one before
the last, I understands"
lie lifted his head. surprised. "What
has that to do with II? The music was
made for you; but, then, I think all
music was made for you"
"Leave the music out Of 1t, II you
please" she said impatiently. "Your
talents make you modest! No doubt
you consider it unmaidenly in me to
have referred to the serenade before
you spoke Of 1t, but I an not one to
cast down my eyes and let it pass-no,
nor one too sweet to face the truth,
either!' she cried, with sudden passion.
'To sing that song in the way you did
meant-oh, you thought | would firt
with you. What right had you to come
with such a song to meY"
Tom intended only to disclaim the
presumption, so far from his thoughts,
that his song had moved her, for he
ao.,I 49, AInA 49, .AAan ..,.. ...-.-A
ed by her inexplicable impression that
he had assumed the attitude of a con-
queror, but his explanation began I'M
fortunately.
Forgive me. I think you have COM
pletely misunderstood. You thought it
meant something l did not intend at
all, and
What" she said, and her eyes blaZ-
ed, for now she beheld him as the ar
ram sneak OF the world. He, the lady
killer, with his hypocritical air Of
strength and melancholy sweetness,
the leader of drunken revels and, by
reputation, the town Lothario and
light-O'love, under promise of mar
riage to Fanchon Bareaud, had tried to
make love TO another girl, and now his
cowardice in trying to diSclaim what
he had done lent him the insolence to
say 10 this other: my child, you are
betrayed by your youth and %conceit;
you eXaggerate my meaning. / had no
intention to distinguish you by coquet-
ting with you!" This was her interpre-
tation of him, and her Indignation was
not lessened by the inevitable conclu-
ion that he, who had been through SO
many scenes with women, secretly
Betty had a little of her father in her,
while it was part of her youth, too,
that of all things she could least en-
dure the shadow of a smile at her own
expense.
"Oh, OH she cried, her voice shak-
ing with anger. II suppose your bad
heart is half choked with your laughter
at me-"
She turned from him swiftly and left
him.
Almost running, she entered the house
and hurried to Il seat by Mrs. Tanber-
ry, nesting to her like a young sapllng
on Il hillside. Instantaneously several
gentlemen who had hastily acquitted
themselves Of various obligations In
order to seek her sprang forward with
eager greetings, so that when the
stricken Tom, daZed and COMPOUNDED
by his evil luck, followed her at about
five PAGES he found himself confronted
by an impenetrable abatls formed by
the spiked tails of the coats of Gen
eral Trumble, Madrillon, T%appingham
Marsh. Cummings and Jefferson Ba-