Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1906-07-26
CHAPTER Xxx.
"The Woman Who cares!"

Countess 1lla was not far to find
She was watching eagerly for his com
ing, for she had her trump card tc
| play. She knew well that on the sue
| cess of this evening all her hopes
hung. She had had her warning from
a secret source that the time allowed
here to accomplish her purpose was
fast drawing to an end. If she must
confess to failure--or be crushed by a
failure that she did not even confess
for there was nothing unknown to
that dark and hidden society-she
would be abruptly taken from the
scene of her failure and lose her
place in the society's esteem.
It meant more than mere failure to
Countess Illiano one who had never
worked under the heavy bondage of a
secret association could guess what
1t meant. She must secure her prey
tonight or risk the loss of her posi-
ton in the eye of the dread body she
had sold herself to. And defeat meant
ruin, crushing and complete. 1t was
little wonder that she sat with eager
eyes fixed on the walters, as her own
last partner left her side. When she
saw Winstanley threading his way
through them to her, she drew a
quick, sharp breath of relief.
Our dance, Think" She rose
with a soft,,swift movement that was
grace itself, and took his arm quickly,
as If she were only too glad to accede.
They took one long, sweeping turn
among the thinning crowd, just long
enough for Winstanley to say to HIM
self, not for the first time, that though
Ursula was a beautiful dancer, Coun-
ties Ilka was undoubtedly the most di-
vine waltzer that he had ever met.
Then he felt her hang suddenly and
YEARLY upon his arm, and instructive
ly he slackened his steps. You are
tired?" he asked, looking down into
the exquisite face below him. "Wculd
you rather we stopped?"
"a little tired" Her voice was
languid and her emile up at him was
almost sad. Il think I would rather
stop If you don't mind, and sit down
somewhere where could be quiet. |
feel SO strangely dizzy all at once"
Let me get you SOME water, or an
Ice
A little water, thanks They left
the whirl Of walters and found them
selves in one of the long corridors out
side. An open door showed them a
peep Of room fitted up for sitting
out. There We're shaded lights and
low couches, and itwas empty of all
other occupants. Her touch on his
arm arrested him. Let us sit down
here il you don't mind. No, never
mind getting me anything; don't
want to be left, somehow; I feel so
oddly fasslt !" He put her into the
easiest chair hurriedly, and would
have started off to find water, but that
she held with an imploring hand. In
minute or two she raised her head,
with a faint an'l quiyering smile Il
am better, OH s.. great deal betterit
Its nothing she said, with an effort
he thought brave.
Really? You are sure? What can
Il have been--the heart-the fatigue?'
Her wonderful eyes dropped before
his anxious ones and she hesitated Il
think think it was being so miser-
able for fear you were fvexed. =
Winstanley felt pang of compunc-
ton, as il a helpless child had accused
him Of brutality. Oh, nonsense; you
must not think such thing possible!
i should have had no right to be angry
with you On second thoughts, do
you know, I've been thinking perhaps
/ was too abrupt"
1T was my foolishness. But could
not bear to think you were cross with
me. How charming she was Id her
simplicity! One seldom saw such
naivete In an English woman out OF
the schoolroom; one could as soon be
CIObh WILL q sNAISSu us Will ll0T.
ssOh,, no! That would have been an
impertinence on my part. wonder
alter an, II your brother had not bet.
ter take his invention to our secretary
Of state for war He would tell him ii
there were anything In II, or, II you
like, will speak to Gen. Kenyon
about II. He Is Interested in all kinds
Of practical experiments In explo
|ssives.n
Ah. yoA must not mention 1t to .
living creature! He would not for
give me ~ ne knew had mentioned
1T even To you. It Is only my longing
that he should be helped In 1t rnaks
~ success In It. would never have
breathed 4 word Of II to anyone but
you
But Il there II anything ia II, 1t Il
Ia pity that AZ should not let some
lone know
No NO. He Is so Jealous and X
secretive about it He breads 10 iel
any ono hear about III lest he shoulJ
robbed III tile tnvent icn. 1 though
0N mil Az have helped me, ~ telling
9iinsss II ae had been forestallsd might
Y lla Years rs toll: ana suspense