Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1906-08-02
CHAPTER XXI.
Observation-Disclosures.

20 j a.
It was from the night of the ball
that the little cloud like mans hand
dated Its rise above the horizon. There
waslno quarrel none OF those hasty
words on either side that so many
1 lovers .qnarrels are full Of. There
was no open break in their relations
with each other, no recriminations OF
a vulgar sort. Only next day, when
Winstanley went to Nutwood, he was
told that Miss Hamilton was out. but
Mrs. Shuttl at home. He went
in and spent the better part of an
hour in conversation with that excel
lent lady, one eye on the drawing room
door and one ear eagerly listening for
the sound of step he would have
been able to pick out from all others
in the world But neither did that
step sound nor did the opening door
disclose anything more welcome than
the footman with the tea. He had to
rise to go at last, unsatisfied even by
Mrs. Shuttlewaite's assurance that
Ursula must be in soon--it was the
day she always wrote toga friend in
India, and her letter took long time
to write. He fingered again in the
hall, though he had an appointment in
Porthmouth that he must keep. He
,S.1V, fiu,yr ,cn, f1,ca ~ 4,
skirt vanish round, the upper. staircase,
yet Is was impossible that Ursula
could know he was In the house and
let him go without word.
Then they met That was almost
more unsatisfactory still 1t was alta
dinner where where he didn't take her
in. There was polite manner in her
greeting Of him that made him want
to use foreible language; she spoke
as II he were casual acquaintance.
He tried to throw expostulation, re-
proach, into the lingering pressure he
gave her hand, but hers was limp in
his touch and faded away without any,
response If 1t had not been in public
he would have demanded to know
what she meant by 1t, albeit he had
kind of miserable consciousness, but 1t
was out OF the question at the moment
when dinner was announced :.
They were far apart at the table.
Through ferns and flowers he kept
craning forward to catch a sight Of
her face. She was deep In talk with
the man who had taken her ina per-
feet idiot odd that she seemed to find
him sosinteresting! For his own part,
Captain Winstanley had never been
such a dull neighbor to his dinner
companions as he proved himself that
night. n he coaia only have the.
chance OF explaining to her! 1t could
all SO easily be explained! After din
ner he could surely secure his chance
But after dinner when he sought the
drgwing room with eager foot she had
q girl sitting beside her on the little
sofa In the corner, where he had fond
" thought they would be undisturbed.
The girl had some common sense. No
doubt the resolution In his face made
itself clear to her, and she respected
II. She tried to get up and move over
to the other side OF the room, an act
for yshich he respected her; 1t was al
most unbe lieyable that Ursula de-
tained her, and the place by her side
remained blocked to him. 3s
Me stood about stroking his mus
taChe with 4 hand that was hardly
aware what It did, his feelings were
I'D much having the upper hand. Sure
III surely, she would help him to make
the opportunity that he had never
asked Iii vain before. Surely she
would let that Girl 90 and let him say
his say Not no. She turned to him
now and then, and included him III the
Eri1ngu1ar Conversations at which
Winstanley BIT his lip. 1t put him On
8 remote civil level with the girl she
talked tothe mere level OF friendly
interco and for them, they who
stood TO each other gas they did, 4
" s3p y went on. II seemed absolutely
hopeless to try and set speech with
her they were never q minute alone.
Sometimes It certainly was by fnten-
tion on ne part ~ Ursula she was
t00 sore ot heart to let him have his
q When the first despi cable flicker
% petty jealousy had had time to dfe9
down she could listen to him to the
expl ation that she Eell knew she
inust belieye Just nov she Was too
hills tdo Woinded that there should
be nnything III ex Az VAS u thing
UNI would not boar tai ling az TIL she
f3a HifSy y - In Ss.xsl Il i n II,