The Miller sun. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 190?-19??, 1907-12-28

NC CVuleSSeu, COuiu udIiy COucedl LIS
delight on learning that Lewiston could
not skate and had no intention of learn
ing.
The professor seemed astonished to dis
cover that his favorite scholar had so
much weakness In her. He shook his
: head obviously when she declared rather
defiantly that she did not intend to open
a book as long as she could skate.
Bride showed no objection to enter
tanning the professor. She liked him very
much, in spite of his appalling clever.
ness. He was very learned and superior
TO her, and very often she forgot that he
was so much her senior and a very clever
man, and talked to him as freely and as
frankly as she would once have done to-
Moyra. For even in the few days that
had passed a change had come over Bride
in her relations with her eldest sister,
and, strange and improbable as 1t seemed,
Moyra fancied that Bride was avoiding
her. There were no more tender conf
dences, none of Brides usual demonstra-
tive affection. The girl seemed even in
the course oil few days to have grown
older, staider, and quieter. She certainly
was much more reserved. 1t was only
when she was with the professor that
she seemed to be as of old to the anxious
eyes watching her. Whether the others
also noticed the change Moyra could not
tell, and did not like to ask. But there
were many times when she longed earn
estly for Angus Ro5ertson's return. To
him she could tell all that was in her
ind txStlt - III,
stood
Yet even in the thought of him there
was discomfort. She could not forget
the ruby brooch he had given her; it was
safely locked up in secure place, and
many times she puzzled her brains over
it. Once she sounded Aileen on the mat
ter, but Aileen, who had her own idea
concerning it, only laughed and put her
off,
Perhaps he is millionaire in dis
guise after all" she said, and wondered
why Moyra flushed so holly.
She did not know that her sister had
thought of that eight hundred pounds
borrowed years before and never repaid.
He may have done it with the ruby,
but the money would have been so much
better" she thought, as she went over the
housekeeping books and thought of let
ter received from Pat that morning, ask
ing her to send him as much as she could
spare before the end of the week. II
can't think how he spends all the money
he does" she sighed dolefully.
The day of the congregational tea par
ty, so keenly desired by some, so much
disliked by others, arrived, and Aileen
had perforce to give up an afternoons
skating and help in the preparations, cut
ting up brown loaf and currant cake and
setting tea urns and cups and saucers in
order on the long, narrow tables that ex-
tended down the school room.
AT FIVE o'clock the guests of all condi-
tons and qualities began to arrive, some
on foot, some in carriages. At six o'clock
the tea was in full swing, the whole
Beresford family and their friends acting
as walters and mattresses. At eight
o'clock the tables would be cleared and
the school children would give a concert
and the clergy make addresses. In the
opinion of the Caterhamites, the whole
proceedings were magnificent, and the day
was marked as red-letter one.
The evening wore on. The Rector made
his usual speech, there were songs and
recitations from children in all degrees
of nervousness and forwardness, there
were more speeches, there were piano
forte duets. The air grew close and
sitting. Moisture streamed down the
open windows, and Aileen gasped for
breath The noise made her head ache,
and, rising quietly, she made her way out
OF tho room, unobserved, as she fancied.
The fresh, frosty air outside was delight.
full. Several people stood round the
doorway, and she could distinguish Miss
Prior's voice amongst them. Suddenly
tall form emerged from the lighted room.
THE Rector says you are to go home.
You look so tired" said Billy's voice,
and, taking her hand, he drew 1t through
his arm, utterly disregarding her protests
and the bystanders, and tightening his
grasp as she tried to release herself. You
might just as we'll resign yourself to the
he said in a low tone, as they
left the school yard, Il sha'n't let you
60"
Aileen was forced to submit, and in
deed, as he talked in his customary man
ner on all sorts of Indifferent subjects,
and seemed to regard the little incident as
one of no importance, she began to feel
rather annoyed with herself for having
made any fuss. Yet her heart was beat
ing frantically, and when she spoke her
voice. to her own ears. sounded jerky
and broken What was there in this
young fellow to affect her so strangely?
she wondered.
1t was a dark, close night, with heavy
clouds overhead. They walked slowly up
the hill, talking at first of the tea party,
OF the dance the Fentons were giving
the next week, but gradually silence fell
between them.