Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1907-12-13
CHAPTER III.-(Continued.)

N.#e lIlAI iLIS lii ODHLlJNcu-
The Rector greeted the young man
with his usual cordiality. 1t was inn
possible for him TO be anything but
genial in his own house, and perhaps
Bertram knew that. But the Rector
also possessed an easy facility for forget
ting unpleasant things, and Bertram had
been so long away and had been SO young
when he had taken an abrupt and some
what mysterious departure from his na-
tive land, that when he renppcared. fresh,
smiling, debonair, with all his old charms
Of manner and face intensified, and show
ed such a flattering desire to resume his
old relations at the Rectory, Mr.. Rercs-
ford was tolerant enough to ignore tho
fast, TO remember that, after all. ha had
been little more than a boy, and to reflect
thankfully that Moyra was a sensible
girl. And as the days went on and Der
tram became a frequent and familiar Wis
itcs the past grew very dim to the Rec
tor. and he was ready enough to join in
the approval expressed by all save Moyra
She could not forget the past hers WIS
nor the nature to lose the remembrance Of
Fast ~unhappiness and grief. She often
wondered how Bertram could laugh and
jest as he did. She marvelled thar he
could throw off so easily the recollection
Of everything awkward and disagrecable.
Trouble, anxiety, shame had left no
depths in the dark laughing eyes, bad left
untouched the smooth face. Yet Moyra
c3uld never cross the threshold of her
fathers study without a throb Of the old
pnin.
Her silence now passed unnoticed in
the general talk. Bertram spoke we'll ard
hlent.y; he had a quick perception of
the graphic and picturesque portions OF
his narrative and n happy power of de-
scription that unclaimed his audience.
They all hung on his words. Lulu perch
ed herself on his knee even Deldn looked
interested and forgot her superiority for
the time. But Bride, lovely Bride-Moy-
ra's heart sank as she watched her.
She sat, her chin resting on her hands,
her cheeks flushed, her lips parted, her
eyes fixed with absorbed attention oil the
handsome speaker, who might himself
have been the chief actor in the drama he
described, SO foreign and romantic was
his W appearance.
Moyra clasped her hands with sudden
anger. No-she would speak to Bride,
She would not let her suffer as she had
done. She kept firmly to her resolution,
MIlSu WAS StIBHS lueueu ny y SudhCc it-
mark made by the senior curate as they
arranged the details of a concert later in
the evening.
what a lovely girl Bride is growing r
he exclaimed suddenly. II think young
Charters has discovered the same thing,
Ell? They make a very handsome couple
--she so fair, he so dark"
Yes Moyra answered faintly.
Her steps were very slow as she climb
ed the narrow stairs that led to the attic
bedroom shared by Bride and Delda.
What was she to say to the girl? Would
she not perhaps do more harm than good
by speaking upon matters which might
never have entered her innocent mind
Moyra sighed. There were times when
she felt that too great a responsibility had
ben laid upon her. when she could have
sunk under its weight.
IF only it had been Delda, I would not
mind" she thought. "She is only six
teen, but she's far more grown UP than
poor Bride. But If Bride-oh, I couldn't
bear any trouble to come to Bride !"