Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1906-07-20
IRON GLOOM=
ITO SUNLIGHT

Ine UreQ mdnHSeryaHr loOket
around him with an air of stupefac
ton for half a minute, then rose, and
seeing the young countess, grew puz
zled and half alarmed. He dare no
say that he was waiting for his mas
ter; but, before he had time to reply
there came fortunately a knock at the
hall door, and the next moment t.lc
earl stood before her.
Mildred" he cried, what are you
doing here!"
II came down to find n book, be.
cause ! could not sleep, and seeing the
lamp burning, / intended to extinguisn
It,"
Lord Caraven took out his watch.
-Four O'clock" he said. II am late
OR rather early. / have been playing
at billiards since eleven"
She looked contemptuously at him.
II believe she said, that your
whole soul is engrossed in billiards"
Il have played the best game to-
night that / have ever played in my
life. he told her. laughing. W. shall
have a grand match at the club to-
morrow evening, and have staked a
small fortune IN the champion
billiard-piayer."
Hildred looked at him-the hand
some face was worn and haggard, the
eyes were tired and dim. The picture
was d striking one-the girl-wife in
all the fresh beauty of her youth; the
husband, still In his evening dress,
pale. yet handsome even in his a
tigue; the lovely light of the morning
struggling with the garish light of the
lamp. Hiidrea ssEese A. Iast-;he valet
had d~iscreetly disappeared.
II had no idea that you stayed out
so late she said, grayeiy. Il do not
| thing II Is right. II must be hard for
your servants. though perhaps very
| delightful to yourself
you forget our compact, HiIdred,"
he said. his fact ciouding. You go
your way. and l go mine; but | will
allow no Interference: my outgoings
and mornings have nothing to do with
you-do not forget"
Il do not forget" she told him.
haughtily.
II will never allow any one to make
any comment upon my actions" he
said. II please myself and l always
shall"
II make no comment" rcjoined his
| wife.
He recovered his good humor-it
was impossible to look at her and do
| ethe.-s!se
1--WE both, 1t appears, steal a few
hours from the night, but mine are
taken from the lightning. yonrs from
the end. Good-morningg, Hildred." and
the next moment she was standing in
the hall alone. ~
1t was not until dinner time the same
day that she saw her husband again,
and then he did not look very well
pleased.
"Hildred," he said, sharply. II hope
you do not intend to repeat this morn
ing's performance. II you want books,
take them upstairs with you. It is
like q scene from a French drama, to
open the hall door and find ones wife
waiting there
1T was quite an accident" she re-
piled. How can you imagine It to
have been otherwise2"
He appeared rather ashamed OF his
harshness.
II have heard so many stories," he
said. II thought perhaps that some
one had been telling you that | spend
whole nights at billiards. and that you
wished to find out for yourself wheth-
nr II xvas frue"
You do not understand me- she
returned, haughtily, III you think that
I would allow any one to speak evil
OF you to me-"
He looked pleased.
THAT is right" he said. II see It
was accidental. Do not let it occur
again, Hildred. I should not like It
After all, you know. liberty Of action
Is the one great thing. I will let no
one interfere with mine"
II can assure you. Lord Caraven,'
she answered. "that I for one shall
never try to do So"
THAT = right" he said. IF you
keep to that, we shall be good friends"
NrY 4 rrrn vyrr