The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1906-05-18

no trace could he discover either of TIE
landlady or Maisie. The tide of Vie
had swept past him, leaving MIN
rande on the b~each-alone.
A year p;nce Maisie had left Lon
don, and already Time, the universal
healer, had worked wonders. True, she
stiil occasionally experienced a faint
tremor at the postman's knock, and
sometimes INDUCED in day dreams of
a happy reunion with Robert. But such
wistful longiiigs did not affect her ma
terially, and gradually she grew more
contcrted than she had eve been. Her
employment was eongenial-she was
secretary TO one of the heads Of the
finland free from the fear of con-
slant faultfinding.
She was the only woman in the
building, and inasmuch as she was ex-
trernely pretty and singularly sweet
hammered it is moi surprising that all
the employees from the senior clerk to
the smallest Office boy, We're her sim
cere admirers. More han n had
shown an inclination to develop into
something nearer and dearer, but she
felt chary of ever embarking on the
troublous sea of love; besides, she
could never care for any man save one.
Sometimes the thought flashed across
her that perhaps her letter had miscar-
ried-such things had happened. Once,
when the longing to see or near from
mint Vas Christmas time, and she
was terribly Observation-Disclosures her,
she penned a note couched in stiff, o
TO say stllted, language, giving her adj
dress II saying she Would be glad
TO know how he was" A sudden rush
of tenderness made her add a post
script, which caused her, after it had
gone, tears of modification and dis
tress.
Il can never forget you," she wrote;
you are all l have" And answer there
was non
Fate had nee more interviewed. Rob-
ert had gone to Australia for some i'm
portant documents necessary to prove
his identity, and the letter was sent at
ter him, only to reach Australia the day
after he had sailed for home.
After that Maisie steeled her heart.
There We're others.
Accordingly, one of her most devoted
admirers, a good looking young giant
of the name of Ernest Arnold, was sud-
denly raised to the seventh heaven of
delight. Once she even deigned to ac-
company his sisters, under his care. to
a fancy ball given in aid Of some char
itv.
But the young fellows hopes of a de-
llghtful evening We're crushed by the
unexpected line his lady fair took up.
Maisie Wore a mask and domino.
Whats h name of that tall girl
in crimson, the one With that pretty lit
tie fair thing? Are they sisters??" she
asked of her partner.
"Sisters-in-law," he corrected. 1.-The
tall one is Lady Lionel Everett-she is
chaperoning the other, Miss Daisy Ev-
erett.'
rs Sir Lionel Everett here?" asked
Maisie. a sudden desire to see Roberts
rival possessing her.
Yes, that chap over there, dressed
as a crusader.
mored that Sir Lionel is about to lose
his title. Some colonial or other has
turned up, II it's been suggested that
he should marry Miss Everett and SO
keep the money in the family"
Maisie looked eagerly toward the
group.
Daisy, fair as a lily, dressed as Elaine.
a tall, splendidly dressed Toreador
bending over her, while Lady Everett
to a monk.
Something about the Spanish cavalier
%curiously familiar to Maisie,
and h longed to hear his voice.
A desperate determination took DOS
session of the girl. She dropped her
fan at the Toreador's feet.
He stopped and picked it up, hazard-
ing a !lowery speech in a grandiloquent
style.
Maisie's heart beat fast.
You should suit % compliments t,
costume. or vice versa she said
is my tongue so very rough and
ready" he asked.
Not always" she answered.. Some
times it is subtle. Sweet. then cruel,
wounding when most it caresses."
He started forward, but with a little
mockillg laugh she glided away.
For the rest of the evening the
toreador sought for the yellow domino
in every corner until at the stroke of -
everyone was unmaSked.
He was standing in an ante-room
With Daisy Everett, facing a mirror.
miringly enough at the fair Elaine be-
side him, the heavy draperies at the
door We're parted, and a figure in a yell
low domino glided to the glass.
"Maisie!!" he called.
A voice answered "Robert.'
And then. regardless of Miss Ever
ett's Mortified amazement. he held her
to his heart, fastening kisses on her
lips. her hair. her eyes.
But why had he disregarded her let
ter-her appeals
My DEAR he said. eff ever a man
paid for his folly l have don so. 1
never had your letter till too late.
was very i'll. my own. and when l came
to YOU, you'd flown
And so it am to pass that, after all.
Everett married Maisie Brooks
before the title and position he so
for came to him even as she had
Clipped a Tigers Claws.
From an Exchange.
,y,..,.,, -.