Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1906-10-12

occasionally" continued Phyllis, with a
sigh. You know-or, rather, you don't,
because, although we are sisters, we
have not met for five years, and so we
really don't know each other much
well, 1 have not much soul for picture
galleries md autumn tints. and hat
sort of thing. Art is all very well when
it's got out of the West Hampstead
stage, and come west really but it Is
n little trying when one is expected to
enthuse over impossible Madonnas with
wooden-looking babies In their arms,
and hat sort of thing
Miss Graham looked at her sister
w%istfully, but Lady Elmsworth only
laughed.
Poor Phyl! Is he trying to educate
you? 1t ounds rather awful"
NO, that's the worst of 1t! He i'm
AGNES the education, artistic feeling,
md all the rest of it, is there. That's
the fault of what mother calls the
Graham manner We've got a knack
of appearing intelligently sympathetic /;
and because we are pretty people take
us for granted. Haven't you found
that?'
Lady ElmswortAnodded, and a slight
color rose in her cheeks.
1--WE can't help it," went on Phyllis {;
but they ave a nasty knack Of turn
ing round on US when they find us out,
and being generally horrid."
And you think Mark"
"Oh, he won't find out for ever so
long. He's very much in love; and L
well, | like him well enough to try and
live up to him, for n time, at any rate.
But it's a good stretch on ones nerves
to be always on the tiptoe Of admira-
ito about things one really does not
care 4 button for. I'm afraid it's the
beauties OF nature that VIII bowl INC
over. A sunset at his majesty's, where
it's we'll done, is a pretty enough one
in a way. But you know, honestly, I'd
rather ook at a bonnie shop in Bond
street any day than on the finest seen
cry anywhere. I'm afraid it will be a
shock to Mark when he grasps the
fact"
what is he exactly?"
Hes rather ugly, and ridiculously
rich a colonial, you know, proprietor
of mines, and all the rest Of it. His
manners are not quite like everyone
else'S. Oh, you need not raise your
eyebrows; it is not in that way ( mean
at all. Only l don't think he'd have
careu the least bit if I'd been a butch
er's or Il bakers daughter. If he'd
cared for me, he'd nave married me
lust the same. I'm afraid I'm rather
proud of the fact"
You do care for him, then?" Lady
Elmsworth stopped a little toward her
sister and looked into her face.
"T"-Phyllis blushed. well, yes, 1
think 1 do, because, If I did not, I
don't suppose 1 should care whether he
discovered what a shallow little soul
l am or not after we are safely mar
RED"
Clare bent and kissed her sister.
"ne won't find it out If you love him,
Phyl! Oh, you don't know how glad I
ann"
Phyllis was startled at her sisters
sudden earnestness. What she had
said was quite true. The four years
difference in their ages had always kept
them apart. Phyllis remembered dis
tinctly the time when Glare had been
out when she herself vas in the
schoolroom. She remembered, too, all
the talk she had overheard as to her
sisters successes. Looking back, she
realized that Glare must have refused
many opportunities Of brilliant matches,
although she had finally done exceed
ingly we'll for herself in marrying Lord
Elmsworth. True, he was nearly TWEEN
ty years older than Clare; and surely
among those she had refused before
Suddenly Phyllis started. What had
there been at the bottom Of Clare's be-
ing ordered off to winter at Davos the
g a before she married? 1t had never
occurred to the girl. But had there
really been anything the matter with
her sisters lungs?
Glare" she said, impulsively, "tell
me something. Were you really iii when
YOU went to Davos that time, Or"
Lady Ellsworth laughed outright.
"Or was I sent off to be out of some
body's way, you mean? No, my dear,
| believe l was really i'll, and before
went to Davos I had never cared two
straws for anyone in my life"
"And-after?"
81 don't know why I should tell YOU
saiu Lady Ellsworth. "I've never told
anyone. I don't believe anyone ever
guessed except
Except him. Go on, Clare"
"Oh, there's not much to tell. It's
like everyone else's story, l expect; and
You'll only think me a fool for remem
bering all these years. You know how
went out. Mother could not, or woult
not. come with me. She would have
hated to give up her visits, and thu
Riviera, and all that. So she JUS
packed me off with dear old Downey
the yoverness, you remember. Downey
had always been my abject slave, ant
never dreamed of interfering with IN,
at all.
) Il had a good time at Davos when
first went, but I did not do anythin,
the doctors expected. I don't believ'
there was much the matter with M
, when l went, but l know I felt rathe
bad after I'd been there a month; bu
, the air had got into my head and | dl'
, not care. 1 fiirted and behaved gener
ally badly all round, until one day me
a man 1 had never seen before. Fl
, was not a patient, but had just com
! up for the scenery.
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