Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1907-03-21

ana -enervating-tne supuued glow or
the fire, the smell of roses that hung
about the air and, last Of all, Lillianes
slow, soothing voice. With a sense of
oppression he stiffened his shoulders
and sat straighter in his place.
NO" he said, 81 don't think 1 shall
smoke
She moved nearer to him. Dear
Jack" she said pleadingly, don't say
you're in a bad mood. Don't say YOU
want to postpone again. She looked
up at him and laughed a little in mock
CONSERVATION.
Loder was at a loss.
Another silence followed, while Lii
liam waited; then she frowned sudden
" and rose from the couch. Life
many indolent people, she possessed a
touch Of obstinacy, and now that her
triumph over Chilcote was obtained,
now that she had indicated her right
to command him, her original purpQHe
came uppermost again. Cold or inter
ested, Indifferent or attentive, she IN
tended to make use of him.
She moved to the fire and stood look
ing down into it.
"Jack," she began gently, ga really
amazing thing has happened to me. I
do so want you to throw some light"
LOder said nothing.
There was a fresh pause while she
softly smoothed the silk embroidery
that edged her gown. Then once more
she looked up at him.
did 1 ever tell youp she began,
chat I was once in a railway accident
on a funny little Italian railway cen
turtles before I met you?" She laughed
softly and with a pretty air of conf
dence turned from the fire and re-
sumed her seat.
"Astrupp had caught a fever in Flor
ence, and l was rushing away for fear
of the infection, when our stupid little
train ran off the rails neal Pistoria
and smashed itself up. Fortunately we
were within half a mile of a village, *
we weren't quite bereft. The village
was impossibly like a toy village, and
the accommodation what one would en-
pect in a Noah's ark, but it was all alb
solutely picturesque. 1 put up at the
little inn with my maid and 10 Ko-
Ko 10 was such a sweet dog-a white
poodle. l was tremendously keen on
poodles that year" She stopped and
looked th%oughtfully toward the fire.
"But, to come to the point Of the
story, Jack. the toy village had a boy
doll" She laughed again. HE was an
Englishman-and the first person t.
com to my rescue on the night of the
smashup. He was staying at the No
abs ark inn, and after that first night
1-he-we- Oh, Jack, haven't you any
imagination?" Her voice sounded pet
ulant and sharp. The man who is indH-
ferent to the recital of an old love af-
fair implies the worst kind Of listener.
II believe you aren't Interested" she
added in another and more ~reproachful
tone.
He leaned forward. you're wrong
there" he sale slowly. I'm deeply in
terested."
She glanced at him again. His tone
treasured her, but his words left her
uncertain. Chilcote was rarely en-
phatic. With a touch of hesitation she
went on with her tale:
"As l told YOU. he was the first to
find us-to find me, l should say. for
my stupid maid was having Mysteries
farther up the line. and 10 10 was
lost. l remember the first thing | did
was 10 send him in search of 10 Ko"-
Notwithstanding his position. Loder
found occasion to smile. did he sue
ceed:" he said dryly.
Succeed? Oh, yes, he succeeded
She also smiled involuntarily. Poor
10 10 was slowed away under the lug
gage van. and after quite a lot of trou-
BILE he pulled him out. When it was
all done the dog was quit" urhurt and
Iivelier than ever but the Ehglishman