The Miller sun. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 190?-19??, 1906-06-27

1t happened that Helen knew a good
deal about Arctic matters The admiral
had been bitten by the strange craze in
his younger days. Like many others, he
had for a time given way to the spirit of
exploration which Is hidden somewhere In
every Englishman's heart. Every book
of Arctic travel yet printed was to be
found in his smoke-scented den, and
Helen had read most of them.
She knew, therefore, what the end
would be. To hear a man say fSat he
intends to reach the north pole is one
thing to know what he is talking about
and believe in his intention is quite an
other. To Helen Grace the fuller know.-
edge was given, and she sat looking at
Claud Tyars with a dull anguish in her
eyes.
And you want Oswin?' she whis-
pered.
He did not answer, but turned away as
from something that he could not face,
and stood by the window, looking down
into the street.
He stood beside the window, not NOV
ing a muscle. All this had been thought
out. This interview had been foreseen.
OSNlLL udu dShtu lUdL lie hight DTpdh
the news to his sister and father, but
Tyars had claimed the right himself. His
was the onus, and his must be the blame.
There was no desire to shirk response
bility indeed, he seemed to court it.
Helen Grace must be deceived-it was a
contemplate thing to do-and he would
have none other but himself. He stub
bornly took it all upon his own shout
ders.
II suppose" said Helen at last, that
he wants TO 60"
"Of course" was the answer. What
sailor would not? But l persuaded him
the fault is all mine."
She looked up sharply.
And Mr.. Easton?' she inquired, with
keen logic.
The matter rests with me, and-the
blame.''
What has Mr.. Easton to do with it?''
she asked and he knew that she was al
ready prejudiced against the American.
He is getting up the expedition-the
first one"
And he goes with your"
NV ANpIASu iydIss j. nave dlIcduy
told you-he is physically incapacitat-
ed"
She gave a little laugh-a very I'M
pleasant laugh for a man to hear from
the lips of a woman. Fortunately Mat
thew Mark Easton was spared the cru
city of hearing it.
Il like you," she said, "for telling
me. There were SO many other ways of
doing it-so many easier ways for YOU
but you chose to tell me yourself"
To this he said nothing. Despite his
capable air, despite an unusual rapidity
of thought which took the form of action
in emergencies, he was not able to reel
off glib phrases at the proper moment.
Suddenly her proud self-restraint SEEM
ed to give way.
Il suppose" she said, softly, almost
pleadingly, that nothing will deter you"
"One word from you would deter me-"
he said, 'but l do not think that you
will say it."
No she answered, with a smile 81
am not going to ask you to let my broth
ef off,"
II did not know how he was circum-
49, Nh( L AioS iiSC mini odiu ~
ars; II did not know of your existence"
"Of course" she said, with a little
shrug of the shoulders, 81 am not going
to be silly and stand in my brothers
way. Only it would have been so much
better could you have found some one
like yourself-without brother or sister,
or any one to care much for him. 1t is
not only for myself"
She stopped suddenly. There was a
momentS of tense silence. Then he slowly
approached her until the little table alone
separated them.
Miss Grace" he said, slowly, what
do you mean?'
She was not the kind of woman to
resort to subterfuge or useless denial, and
she therefore held her tongue. At the
same time she began to feel very help
Jess. With Oswin, with her father, and
with all men whom she had hitherto
known, she could hold her own, but with
Claud Tyars it was different. There was
in his presence a force which did not
take the form of words. He merely stood
still, and his silence was stronger than
any words she had yet heard. Then he
spoke slo lily Ind quite gently:
"You must tell me-" he said, what
you mean"
She glanced up at him appealingly be-
meath her lashes, at bay and yet almost
mastered. He softened a little.
Unless he added, sit would be a
breach Of confidence"
"No," she answered, sit is not that
for no one has conided in me-but I
think"
you are not sure?' he interrupted,
eagerly.
Yes, Mr.. Tyars, ! am sure
He turned away again and went to-
ward the window. She mechanically took
up her work, and for some time both
were fully occupied with their own
thoughts.