Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1906-05-25

II Ctille ucIe " ooh loE you.
WHY" she asked. A most awkward
question!
"Why?" I repeated slowly, to gain
time. ooh, because those people in there
bore me. And you-you never do that,
Miss Kerrison."
well, it is something to be n harbor
Of refuge" she remarked. Thank o
Then. by the way, is 1t really true, this
time. that I am to congratulate your
"On my good fortune In finding you
here. do you mean? Why certainly" I
said.
IL did not mean that" she replied. II
meant that-that-well, the usual ru-
NOR is out concerning you"
Indeed! !" I exclaimed. But which
of the usual rumors do you refer tor
There is only one-lsn't there-that
is commonly linked with the name of an
eligible young bachelor. But is it trueF'
Believe me-" I assured her, at Is not
true"
II am so glad she breathed softly.
Poor girl! At least-that is" She
would have covered up her indiscretion,
hut, perceiving hat it was now too late,
sic DduStu aUl uplS liz ialSSo AhlS
silence.
why are you glad?" I asked. I had
not intended to proceed on exactly these
lines. but l found it difficult to be sufi-
GENTLY brutal now that the necessity
confronted me.
"Oh." she drawled, with n woeful af-
f~ectation of Indifference. II think, as
the SOM says. You are owre young to
marry yet you know"
II wonder what your wife will be
like she went on presently. II do
hope she will be a nice, helpful sort of
girl. and not a mere society butterfly
like me-"
IF she were like you-" I began,
and stopped.
"She won't be-" said Miss Kerrison
quickly. "@
Il mean," she explained, that the
object of our first fancy is SO seldom
the person to make us truly happy, If
we but knew It,"
1 remembered then that some one had
told me this was Miss Kerrison's third
season. ..
First love is the only love-" I said
\ uIlllN IL was liz AZ "
/ scruples. I had temporized with my
conscience too long already. She must
now be made to realize the sad truth in
all Its ghastliness.
"Tha is not So" she said. Believe
me, Mr.. Craven. when I tell you hat
you are as yet far too young to know.
what is best for you welfare"
Anyway" said 1, when my fate
does come along"
And there l made an abrupt end, for
she had suddenly begun to laugh. There
could be no doubt about II. She was
laughing-not Historically, either, but
with unmistakable enjoyment as at an
irresistible jest
mr.. Craven" she said at last more,
seriously, II think I'll be frank with.
you. Ny honest dealing may ~conceiv-t
ably cost me your good opinion, but
| only for a time. You'll like me all the
better afterward. And I am sure you
nave enough common sense, really, not
to think me unwomanly or immodest
! in saying what I am about to say to
you now"
miss Kerrison," I cried in sore dis
tress, "forbear, reflect, consider. Don't
speak yet. You may save us both much
pain If you keep silent"
Nonsense" b exclaimed sharply.
This was an affront. go on, then, II
you WILL" 1 said sternly.
"I've an idea," she said, that we are
at cross purposes, n that it is all the
fault Of those dear foolish Frisbys.
Mrs. Frisby has said some
thing to you about-well, about me,
hasn't she? Please be straightforward,
| Mr.. Craven?'
mo, she hasn't" I answered.
"Mr. Frisby, them"
Eyes"
what did he say?"
I turned on her in desperation. "How
can I repeat what he said?" I cried.
Miss Kerrison, let me implore you to
say no more. Let me entreat-
NO." she replied. IL will tell you
what they said. They told you well
had a penchant for you" !
''They were wrongv 1 exclaimed,
still eager to spare her.
"Of course they WERE" she rejoined.
Gas wrong as they were when they told
me-well-that o were-in love-
| with my unworthy self. But" And
she began to laugh again. This m
I tell you, had nc sense of humor, or Of
| decency either, I should think. "But
| they meant well, 1 suppose. And there's
no harm done-except to our vanity,
perhaps. Anyway, the path they would
| have had us tread hardly leads to the
| Wicked Place. does it,"
And she smiled at me in%scrutably,
and l think she would have added some
pleasant, salving words. But jdst then
q man poked his head round the bead
curtain and she darted up and went
| forward to greet him. I heard her call
hin Frank and I guessed then that
it was for him she had been waiting so
meekly, all alone And at last / I'M
d~erstood-I knew-that IL had mere
" provided some comic relief from the
tedium Of her vigil.-Sketch.
a