Kingsbury County independent. (DeSmet, Kingsbury County, S.D.) 1894-1929, 1906-05-18

| no trace could he discover either Of tte
landlady or Maisie. The tide of Ifs
had swept past him, leaving him
stranded on the b~each-alone.
A year since Maisie had left Lon
don, and already Time, the universal
healer, had worked wonders. True, she
! still occasionally experienced a faint
tremor at the postman's knock, ana
| sometimes INDUCED in day dreams of
a happy reunion with Robert. But such
wiStful longings did not affect her ma
terially, and gradually she grew more
coutertcd than she had ever been. Her
employment was gongenial-she was
secretary TO one of the heads of the
nrm-and free from the G a of con-
slant faultfnding.
She was the only woman in the
building, and inasmuch as she was ex
tremely pretty and ~singularly sweet
hammered it is not surprising that all
the employees, from the senior clerk to
the smallest office boy, were her sin
cere admirers. More than one a
shown an inclination to develop into
something nearer and dearer, bu she
felt chary OF ever embarking on the
troublous sea of Love; besides, she
could never care for any man saw one.
Sometimes the thought flashed across
her that perhaps her letter had miscar-
ricd-such things had happened. once,
when the longing to see or hear from
hint was Christmas time, and she
was terribly lonesome-mastered her,
she penned a note couched in stiff, not
10 say stilted, 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 al l have" And answer there
was none.
Fate had once more interviewed. Rob-
ert had gone to Australia for some i'm
portant documents necessary to prove
his identity, and the letter was sent af-
ter him, only TO reach Australia the day
after he had sailed for home.
After that Maisie. steeled her heart.
There were others.
Accordingly, 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 ever deigned to ac-
company his sisters. under his care, to
a fancy ball given in aid of SONS char
ity.
But the young fellows hopes OF a de-
il5iIlul tNSiliES were CTuSntu DY Llp
unexpected line his lady fair took UP.
Maisie wore a mask and domino.
What's 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, The
tall 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.
"By-the-bye," he went on, its ru-
mored that Sir Lionel is about to lose
his title. Some olonial or other has
turned up, and it's been suggested that
ne 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 laine
n tall, splendidly dressed Toreador
bending over her, while Lady Everett
chatted to a monk.
Something about the Spanish cavalier
seemed curiously familiar to Maisie,
n she longed to hear his voice.
\ desperate determination took pos
session of the girl. She dropped her
fan at the Toreador's feet.
He stopped and picked it up, hazard
ing a flowery speech in a grandiloquent
style.
Maisie's heart beat fast.
You should suit your compliments {.
your costume, or vice versa" she said
softly.
rs 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
hooking 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 II
was unmasked.
He was standing in an ante-room
with Daisy Everett, facing a mirror.
AS he removed his mask, smiling adj
miringly enough at the fair Elaine be-
him, the heavy draperies at the
door were parted, and a figure in a yell
low domino >glided to the glass.
'-Maisie!" he called.
A voice answered Robert"
nj 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. 'if ever a man
paid for his folly I nave done so. I
never lac your letter till too late. L
was very Ill, my own, and when / came
to you, you'd flown
And so 1t came to pass that. after all,
Robert Everett married Maisie Brooks
before the title and position he so
longed for came to him even as she had
desired.