Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1906-05-25
MISS KERR|S0N'S HEART.



~~~~>>~
400 HEN 1 heard that Tom Frisby
WW was married the news came as
49, a great shock to me. | asked
Jack Goney, my informant, Us he mar
ried much?"
"Oh, frightfully ~ said Goney.
"Who is the creature?" l inquired.
after a tense pause.
And when he replied, 1.-The eldest
Miss Carruthers," l vas more shocked
than ever. That Lilian-my beautiful,
wild white dove-should consent to be-
come a mere tame domestic fowl-and
for Tom Frisby's sake, CALLED my SEN
sibilities. 1 remembered how 1 had laid
the offering of my own uniedged affec-
tons at her feet, and how she had
danced on the elaborate embroidery of
words in which 1 had clothed my pas.
sionate avowaL.
II, shall go and see Them" I told
Goney.
I found that Lilian-no, Mrs. Frisby 3.
was already by way Of becoming a
social success. She was developing into
that dreadful thing, an ideal hostess.
She was obtrusively tactful and often
sively managing. 1t was said of her
that she had a knack Of bringing the
right people together, which, being In
terpreted, IA that she strove to pair
off her guests as If they had been vases.
Frisby himself was b~oisterousiy hap
py and rosily content and, moreover,
most beautifully trained to obey his
wife's lightest word
"Ah," he said, you will find your
affinity some day." "u
III both Of us find my affinity" said
I. "there will be trouble"
But be was in nowise disconnected.
He merely waggled his fat head at me
and said: We must look out for a
wife for you"
. And from that moment began the I'M
considerable crusade against our clois-
trail bachelorhood, in which both Fris-
by and his wife took a meddlesome
part, and which terminated in the la
inevitable contretemps that it Is the pur-
pose Of this story to detail. She, of
course. was the more subtle sinner.
One night Frisby and I were talking
as man to man. We had beer telling
each other that we were both rather
blackguards really, but deuced fine fell
lows Notwithstanding, and we were con-
s~equently in a fine glow Of self-satisfac-
ton.
Zone thing I've forgotten to say to
you" he remarked. ut really is seri-
ous." -
Serious for whom?" I asked.
He paused, and then, dramatically,
For her." he said.
I dropped the poker into the fender
with a crash. "For herr" I repeated.
"What are you driving at?"
"Perhaps I ought not to have broach-
ed tie subject" he faltered.
you haven't" said ].
"It's not fair to her." he jerked out.
sAnd yet It's all due to that odious trick
you have of taking to every woman you
meet as If she were the only one of her
sex In the world"
II don't think they find that particu.
larry odious." said I.
"But lockers on do" said he. "And
It is a bit rough on 'em, you know, old
chap. OF course we who understand
you know it's only YOU way, but girls
Innocent, young, unsophisticated-"
I rose also. Good night" I said
abruptly, offering my hand.
"I'l tell you her name, Them said
he. cts little Miss Kerrison-if you
must know"
"Oh," said I, rather disappointed. II
know-the girl who is so awfully con-
ycious Of her profile"
"My wife's cousin" he said stif1y.
"And you mean to say that foolish
chit Is In love with me?"
"Oh, come! Well, 1 suppose so. But
%eonfound your complacency, anyhow"
"Poor thing!" I murmured. "Poor,
silly thing! Pretty, too! Well, what
would you advise me to do about it,"
He shrugged his shoulders. Il don't
presume to advise at all" he replied.
"Best way, I suppose, would be to put
her out of her misery at once" said l..
There are worse girls than Nina
Kerrison," be said.
"But do you think they would suit me
better?"' I asked him.
mo" he said. you are not SO bad"
"You overwhelm me- I observed,
with those touching tokens Of your
approval"
And then we talked Of other matters.
/ had had not the least Intention of
going to the Chambers dance the fol-
fouyfpo ranfnc h,it. now 7 dafernined
70 go after all. since Miss Kerrison was
bound to be there, and it were best to
get this painful business over at once.
In the conservatory. I made out a
dim, rounded form in fiimy white. and
came face to face with Nina Kerrison.
the sat there ~motionless, her hands In
her lap, az If awaiting her fate in the
OeFso1 Of myself.