The Aberdeen Democrat. (Aberdeen, South Dakota) 1???-1909, 1906-02-02

touched her more deeply than sne
would willingly confess. It was some
Jung to know that Monty Brewster
could do a thing like that and would do
II Tor her. The exultant smile which It
brought to her lips could only be made
" disappear by reminding herself
snalply of his recent arrogance. Her
anger, she found, was a plant which
needed careful cultivation.
II was in a somewhat chastened
mood that she started a few days later
LOT a dinner at the DeMilles'. As she
entered in her sweeping golden gown
tne sight Of Monty Brewster at the 9th
er n of the room gave her q futter at
Tue neart, but it was an agitation that
was very carefully concealed. Brew
ster was certainly unconscious Of II.
10 MIN the position Of guest was like a
disguise, and he was pleased at the
prospect of letting himself 20 under
tne mask without responsibility. But
it look on a different color when the
outler handed him a card which sipni-
neu mat he was to take Miss Drew in
TO dinner. Hastily seeking out the host
ess' ne endeavored to convey to her
he lmpossibility Of the situation.
hope you won't misunderstood
me- ne said. But is it too late to
change my place at the tableY'
III isn't conventional, 1 know. Mon
y. Society's chief aim is to separate
engaged couples at dinner said Mrs.
a with a laugh. ct would be DOS
ltlvely compromising if a man and his
wife sat together
Dinner vas announced before MONTY
could utter another word, and as she
lea hin over to Barbara she said: "Be-
mold a generous hostess who gives up
he best man in the crowd so that he
and some n else may have a happy
time. | leave it to you, Barbara, il
mat isn't the test Of friendship"
For a moment the two riveted their
eyes on the floor; then the humor Of
the situation came to Monty.
Il did not know that we were sup
posed to do Gibson tableaux tonight
ne said dryly as he proffered his arm.
Il don't understand" And Barba-
as curiosity overcame her determine
uon not to speak.
Don't you remember the picture Of
the mar who was called upon to take
his late fiancee out to dinner?"
The awful silence with which this
remark was received put an end to
further efforts at humor.
The dinner was probably the most
painful experience in their lives. Bar
bara had come to it softened and ready
to meet him halfway. The right kind
of humility in Monty would have found
her plastic. But she had very definite
and rigid ideas of his duty in the
premises, and Monty was too simple
minded to seem to suffer and much too
fippant to understand. 1t was plain to
each that the other did not expect to
talk, but they both realized that they
owed a duty to appearances and to
their hostess. Through two courses at
least there was dead silence between
them. 1t seemed IS though every eye
~ LIZ OOn nC1C VII UlCu dAu StOIy
mind were specializing. At last in
sheer desperation Barbara turned to
him with the first smile he had seen on
her face in days. There was no smile
in her eyes, however, and Monty un-
derstood.
"We might at least give out the i'm
preston that we are friends" she said
quietly.
"More easily said than DONE" he
gloomily.
'"They are all looking at us and won
dering."
II don't blame them"
1--WE owe something to Mrs. Dan, I
think"
II know"
Barbara uttered some inanity when
ever she caught any one looking in
their direction, but Brewster seemed
not to hear. At length he cut short
some remark Of hers about the
weather.
what nonsense this is, Barbara" he
said. with any II else I would
chuck the whole game, but with you
It is different. I don't know what I
have done, but / am sorry. l hope
you'll forgive me-"
Your assurance is amusing, to say
the least"
But I am sure-I know this quar-
rel is something We'll laugh yer. You
keep forgetting that we are going to
be married some day"
A new light came into Barbara's
eyes. "You forget that my consent
may be necessary" she said.
"You will be perfectly willing when
the time comes. I I'M still in the fight
and eventually you will come to my
way of thinking"
ooh! l see it now" said Barbara,
and her blood was up. "You mean to
force me to it. What you did for ia
Brewster glowered at her, thinking
that he had misunderstood. what do
you mean" he said.
"He has told me all about that
wretched bank business. But poor
{ SA4T