Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1906-05-11

ness to an old man who would forever
bless you"
He nodded emphatically as he spoke
and his voice trembled.
II don't altogether understand you,
Mr.. Chalmers"
How can you help understanding?
Haven't l made it ~clear?'
Not for me, Mr.. Chalmers"
He drew a long breath.
whats wrong between you and my
Roberts" he asked again.
She stared at him.
There is nothing between me and
Robert. Mr.. Chalmers
Then she suddenly flushed.
II take you to be an honest girl, Miss
Susan he said. There Is truth in
your eyes. And yet 1 speak the truth,
too. when / say that l am sure you
could keep my Robert from going
away
How
by bidding him to stay at home"
She shook her head.
"NVhy should he stay Mt my request?"
"Eh! Surely you know he loves
your
MI. Chalmers!
II say you know he loves you
II know nothing Of the sort"
What! Hasn't he told you"
NO"
Didn't you refuse to marry him?"
"How could II"
"Eh?"
How could I refuse to marry him
when he hasn't asked me-"
The father Of Robert was quite over
come. He stared Mt her s~peechlessly.
Never asked you" be presently
gasped. well, well. I never was more
deceived In my life. Why. he old me
that he loved you and that it was a
hopeless passion. l knew something was
wrong with him, and one night over
heard him speak your name in his
sleep. Then 1 taxed him with caring
for you-not that l didn't approve
and at once he began to talk of going
away. And he has never spoken to you
of-of love?
Never, Mr.. Chalmers"
Isis he afraid of you"
II think he must be-"
IT can't understand 1t. 1 don't be-
lieve he's afraid of anything else. Why,
only the other day he gave that big
bully, Jim Meadows, the soundest kind
of thrashing. Did yoV hear about it,"
mo, Mr.. Chalmers"
Il knew Robert had been fighting,
and l asked him the cause. And what
4 Als-l-f T. -rts..4S H.. md
Jim is nearly twice his weight-just be-
cause the big fellow said you were a
firt. And yet he's afraid of you. Well,
we'll" He paused and suddenly frown-
ed. Hes made a foo Of his old faith
err, all right. I thought 1t might be
some lovers quarrel, you know, or 1
wouldn't have dreamed of coming here.
IL hoped l could persuade you to
marry him." f
The girl gave a little hysterical
laugh. y .- .. .s.
But the persuasion should come
from the party. most Interested" she
said. =
He looked at her with a new express
sion. "
could I-can I carry home my en-
couragement?" he eagerly asked.
mo, no." cried the girl. do you
think I would marry any man who had
not the courage to ask me?"I . :
"Of course not" said Roberts faith
er as he arose. We'll, my dear, I hope
you'll forgive me for coming here on
this fool errand, and I know your heart
is too kind to make my humiliation a
public matter"
The girl followed him to the door. He
turned and put out his hand.
"Good-by, my dear," he said. II
would have been very glad If it had
been as l hoped"
The heart Of the girl went out to this
disappointed father
"Mr. Chalmers" she said, do you
think you could persuade Robert to
say at 3 o'clock?"
, He looked around eagerly.
Eyes, yes" he answered. "I'l send
him on an errand to John Kemmerly's.
He'll have to pass here. At 3 o'clock,
eh?" ia
LES, W dLS"clCus f.. .a..H.
He looked at her inquiringly, and his
face lightened with hope. She shook
her head at him and suddenly smiled.
"Good-by," she said.
"Good-by. DEAR" he answered.
"a Susan Denham went back into the lit
tie parlor and stared at herself in the
over the mantel.
ut would be too bad to have that
boy 60 away she said to her
Perhaps we can prevent
it."
Susan's mother went to the meeting
Of the church sewing society the next
and Susan sent the maid
on an errand hat would keep her
away from the house for an hour at
least.
1t was Just 3 o'clock when Susan saw
Roberts tall form coming up the street
from the direction Of che mill. Susan
was gowned in one Of her. prettiest bum
mer frocks and the square porch with
its red carpet and comfortable chairs
and the vines that curtained 1t about,
seemed a charming setting for this
pretty maiden.
As Robert was about to pass the
house, Susan placed herself on the top
step and the instant he turned his head