Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1906-10-26

Hardly" | asscnted.
And you, do you love them-or either
Of them?"
II love only one person in Aureata-
land" / replied. as ardently as l dared.
The Signorina bit her rose, slanclng
up at me with unfeisned amusement and
pleasure. think l ave mentioned that
she didn't object to honest admiration.
rs it possible you mean me 2" she said,
making me a little courtesy. Il only think
so because most of the Whittingham la,
dies would not satisfy your fastidious
taste"
mo lady in the world could satisfy me
except one" l answered, thinking she
took it a little too lightly.
"Ah, so you say" she said. And yet
L don't suppose you would do anything
for me, Mr.. Martin"
1T would be my greatest happiness I
cried.
She said nothing, but stood there, biting
the rose.
Give it to me-" I said 'it shall be
my badge of service"
You will serve me, hemp said she.
For what reward?'
"Why. the rose!"
II should like the owner, too" I ven
tured to remark.
THE rose is prettier than the owner"
she said land, at any rate, one thing at
a time, Mr.. Martin! Do you pay your
servants all their wages in advance"
My practice was so much to the con-
trary that l really couldn't deny the
force of her reasoning. She held out the
rose. l seized it and held it close to my
lips, thereby squashing it considerably.
Then she said abruptly:
Are you a Constituencies or a Lib
eral, Mr.. Martini"
l must explain that, in the usual race
for the former title, the Presidents par
Il had been first at the post, and the
Colonels gang Gas l privately termed IT'D
had to put up with the alternative desig-
nation. Neither name bore any relation
to facts.
Are we going to talk politics?" said L,
reproachfully.
Yes, a little. Tell me-"
(Which are you, Signorina?' I asked.
I really wanted to know so did a great
many people. She thought for a moment,
and then said:
Il nave a great regard for the Presi-
dent. He has been most kind to me. On
the other hand, 1 Inc disguise from
myself that some of his measures are not
wise"
I said 1 had never been able to disguise
it from myself.
THE Colonel, of course, Is of the same
opinion" she continued. about the debt,
for instance. 1 believe your bank is in
terested in itT"
"Oh, yes, to a considerable extent"
and your" she asked, softly.
ooh, l am not a capitalist; no money
Of mine has gone into the debt"
mo money of yours, no. But aren't
you interested in it?' she persisted.
This was rather odd. Could she know
anything? She drew nearer to me, and,
laying a hand lightly on my arm. said
reproachfully:
"Do you love people, and yet not trust
them, Mr.. Martini"
This was exactly my state Of feeling
toward the Signorina, but I could not say
80. l was wondering how far I should
be wise to trust her, and that depended
largely on how far his excellency had
seen fit to trust her with my secrets. 1
said finally:
Without disclosing other peoples Sc
crets, Signorina, l may admit that if any
thing went wrong with the debt. my en-
ployer's opinion of my discretion would
be severely shaken"
OF your discretion" she said laughing.
Thank you, Mr.. Martin. And you would
wish that not to h%appen?"
81 would take A good deal of pains to
prevent it's happening"
mot less willingly if your interest and
mine coincided?"
I was about to make a passionate re-
ply when we heard the Presidents voice
saying:
And where Is our hostess? I should
like to thank her before I 60"
Flush" whispered the Signorina. I'VE
must 60 back. You will be true to me,
Mr.. Martini"
Call me Jack" said 1, idiotically.
'Then you will be true, o Jack?" she
said, sitting a laugh.
IT'LL DEATH" said 1, hoping it would
not be necessary.
She gave me her hand, which I kissed
with ~fervor, and we returned to the par
lor, to find all standing about in groups,
waiting to make their BOWS till the Presi-
dent had gone through that ceremony. I
was curious to hear if anything passed
between him and the Signorina, but I
was bounced upon by Donna Antonio, the
daughter of the minister of finance, who
happened to be present as a guest of the
Signorina's for the night. She was a
handsome young lady, a Spanish brunette
Of the approved pattern, but with man
ners formed at a New York boarding
school, where she had undergone a train
ing that had tempered without destroy
ing her native sentility. She had dis
tinguished me very favorably, and 1 was
rain enough to suppose she henored me
by some jealousy of my penchant for the
Signorina.
II hope you have enjoyed yourself in
the conservatory" she said, maliciously.
I'VE were talking business, Donna An
%tonia," I replied.
"Ah, business! l hear nothing but
business There is papa gone down to
to work out some great scheme of bust
ness !"
"Ah, what scheme is that?" I asked.
.Oh! / don't know. Something about
that horrid debt. But l was told not to
say anything about it'll"
The debt was becoming a bore. The
whole air was full of it. 1 hastily paid
Donna Antonio a few incoherent compli-
ments, and took my leave. As l was put
ting on my coat Colonel McGregor join
ed me and, with more friendliness than
he usually showed me, accompanied me
down the a ; nue toward the Piazza. After
some Indifferent remarks, he began:
Martini, you and l have separate in
terests in some matters. but l think we
have the same in others"
knew at once what he meant; it was