The Miller sun. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 190?-19??, 1906-06-13
CHAPTER XII.


a certain extent the leading spirit. This
lady had been FIVE minutes in the bril-
liantly lighted rooms of huge picture
gallery before she singled out the little
American. He happened to be talking 20
another Insignificant, unobtrusive man,
who tugged nervously at gray mIstachc,
while he listened. This was one of the
ahlest ENJOYS ever accredited to the Court
of st. James by the United States.
Miss Winter knew most of the faces
in the room, and among others that of
the American minister. Moreover, she
recollected perfectly the form and fea-
lures of Matthew Mark Easton.
The occasion was vast assembly of
the fashionable, diplomatic, artistic and
literary worlds for the collection OF
money and ideas toward the solution of u
socia! problem. The tickets were guinea
each ; there were choice refreshments at
stated and ruinous price soft carpets,
an exhibition of pictures, and the same
OF dresses. believe also that several
gentlemen read papers ON the subject un-
der discussion, but that was in the small
room at the end where no one ever went.
Clnid Tyars was there, of course,
During the last month or two he had
been going out so much that one almost
expected 70 meet him, just as one ex-
poets to meet certain well-known faces
at every assembly. Miss Winter saw
him Immediately after noticing Matthew
Mark Eas.on, and before long he began
to make his way across the room toward
her. Wherever they had met during the
last few weeks Tyars had invariably
succeeded in exchanging few words
With Miss Winter, seeking her out with
equal persistence, whether Helen Grace
were with her or not, If, as the lady
opined, he was determined to be.
come one of their intimate friends,
he displayed no indecent haste, no
undue eagerness and in so doing
he was perhaps following the surest
method. He had not hitherto showed the
slightest desire to cross the line which
separates acquaintance from friendship
There was a mutual attraction existing
between these two capable, practical poo,
pie, who met tonight as they usually die
with that heightened nonchalance which
almost amounts TO indifference. There
was q vacant seat, for a wonder, beside
Miss Winter, which Tyars promptly ap
propriated.
who" she asked, after a few conven.
tionaiities had been exchanged, "is thai
gentleman talking to the American min
lister, and apparently making him laugh
which is. | should say, no easy matter p
lie is generally making some one
laugh" replied Tyars. His name il
Easton-Matthew Mark Easton. The
sort Of name that sticks In the wheel.
work Of ones memory. A name one does
not forget"
"And," added Miss Winter, lightly, "a
face that one does not forget. He inter.
ests nle--a little"
Tyars laughed at the qualification i'm.
words.
THAT Is always something" he said
"A small mercy. He is one of my great
es. f-iends-may introduce him?"
Certainly" murmured the lady, with
little bow OF the head, and then she
changed the subject at once.
"Helen," she said, "is not here to-
night"
Tyars looked befittingly disappointed
"She does not always care to leave the
admiral, and he objects TO dissipation on
large scale. Is that not sol" he sug-
gested.
Eyes. That is the case tonight"
She wondered a little at his intimate
knowledge of Helen's thoughts, but said
nothing. 1t was probable that he heard
this from Oswin, and his singular mem
DRY had retained it.
Miss Grace" said Tyers, presently,
"has q strong sense of duty, and is un-
conscious of 1t. An unconscious sense OF
duty Is one of the best of human mo
tives. AT least it seems so to me-
Although agnes Winter was bowling
and smiling to an old lady near at hand,
she had followed him perfectly.
WELL she answered, "a sense Of duty
of any description Is not bad thing
In these time. Indeed" she added, turn
ing suddenly toward him, "a motive is
In itself rather rare. Not many of us
have motives"
Her manner implied as plainly as II
she had spoken It.: I'VE are not, all of us,
ike you.
There was something In the expression
of his eyes that recalled suddenly their
first meeting at the precise moment when
he, entering the drawing room, overheard
a romark of hers respecting himself. II
was not an unpleasant expression, out II
LED one to feel instinctively that this man
might under some circumstances be what
II tersely called In France. difficult. II
was merely suggestion, cloaked beneath
his high-class reposc Of manner, but she
had known many men of his class, some
OF whom had made name In their sew
ernl callinss. and this same suggestion
Of stubbornness had come beneath her
quick. heeting notice before. He looked
gravely around the room, a. IL seeking to
penetrate the smiles, and vapid aRecta-
zion
"Oh," he said placidly, II am not 80
"a