Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1907-08-09
CHAPTER XXII.-(Continued.)
When we left the house the stars were

4sa IN : " " > SKI NJ lru HSyGucp ~
Ethel's hand in delight; ''see, she wears
on her fingers !"
At = word from her father Ethel took
the diamond ring Oh and slipped 1t on
Psyche's finger.
ITS a dew-drop that doesn't fade, and
tkat you can keep forever" said she,
"and you shall wear it always, dear, for
my sake"
AS Psyche Sat by my side in the night
she held up the ring and looked at the
giancing rays wistfully.
Brother" she said, sit does not look
10 lovely on Ey hand as it did on hers.
My fingers are not SC smooth and white
as hers"
Working n the sane has spoiled them
That's all over now"
Yes, we shall work side by side NO
more"
Presently she looked at the ring again.
"Oh, 1t was kind Of her to give it to
me" she said, pressing the ring to her
cheek. "She 10 all kind and good and
sweet and beautiful. You don't know any
one In all the world more beautiful and
good, do your"
mo, Psyche"
Il don't think thai there ever will be
one like her." abe said In a quiet tone
Of conviction.
Why, I thought you were going to
be like her" said lightly, hoping to
change the vein OF sadness In which her
thoughts seemed to be running. But the
pleasantly was unperccivcd.
NO." said she, shaking her head grave
~, Il never be like her. I was silly
and vain to think that. I know better
now. I could never learn all those words,
never sing az she does, for she has been
learning since fhe was a little child-all
the tins / have been living In the dark.
p shall never be anything but a silent
little creature Of the garden" her voice
trembled. Talk to me, dear-just a lit
tie more, and let me listen as / did in
the cave when you first came to me and /
KEW nothing. Oh, II was good to know
nothing then; II Is dreadful to know so
little now. Ny heart is very ,ull. . can
not speak"
My heart was full also, but l managed
TO speak c~heerfully, as I reasoned with
her, showing that our happiness did not
depend upon our excellins all others, or
there could be but one happy person In
the whole world that no two persons are
alike, but each has some excellence which
the other may lack without being less low
able and other reasons of a like kind.
Whether she followed my argument or
UNDERWOOD 1t ! cannot tell. Perhaps it
was only the sound of my voice she heard
while her thoughts were occupied with
pleasant memories. But she seemed COM
fcrted, now and again smoothing my
shoulder gently with her cheek as she did
when b was happy
! thought ! might take advantage of
this mood to prepare her for the coming
change, 70 ! spoke Of our visit to the
Chase, and the things We had seen. 1t
pleased her to talk about the green
kouses and the gorgeous flowers in them.
but It was 70 strange r. she said, in a
tone Of ave-.
ut Will ssem less TRANCE and more
beautiful when you know them better"
Are you going there again?" she ask
"a shyly.
We AEs j TO dine there tomorrow
evening. Yon will like TO go?"
Wherever you 70 I must like to Co."
Ycu dent dislike Sir Henry
"Oh, NO, ! Hike him d great deal"
I'm glad Of that Do you know he
wants you to Hive with him always?"
why, I couldn't do that !" she exclnim-
ed, laughing. Then, seeing me grave,
her smile went suddenly, and she said,
with an accent Of conformation, "You
don't want me to 90 away from you-you
will not make me 60 to him."
"Ill not MAKE you do anything, Psyche,
that hurts you. You shall live with me
~ long - you will"
ssnh rrv hrr<ho~ ~ ~ r~n1.:-~I 49,
Ing my arm to her breast.
Presently I said:
Would you like to have Ethel always
for 4 companion and friendT"
II do NOT understand that. I cannot
live always with her and with you, too
Mot while we live ss.nder ~ we 90.
But if I ask Ethel to live with US and
she says yes7'
.she will never sag yes,n Psyche said,
Never. never, never |"
I laughed, and asked how she could
tell that.
II can tell it by what I feel" she an
when - looks az you and
you look ct hsr-wAen Jon speak low to-
esther, - ron did tonight, I could cry
with the pain n my heart. Then how
could she bear to - US sitting - We st
low. whispering to each other through the
night with no tAocGhk for any other3 No,
no-GAe could mot do that. Il would b
Go much paiA. More than she could
bear. Ehs would rather live alone than
- hat yoo : ny brother and not
AefA
How could I toll her that I loved Ethel
than I loved her? I rose, puthnS
% 4 littls longer the evil hour.
Psyche rarely came down from her
room before sunset; We were to dine at
. O'Clock but Sir Henry had asked ne
to come In the afternoon ~ I was bid
dins Ethel goodnight, and the nutual
Of our1hAndG conveyed the feel
inr with which We looked forward to that
meeting better chan my faltering tongue
expressed.
after some general conversation, Sir Hen
" excused himself ind went into the Ii
brary, leaving Ethel and me to ourselves.
We strolled in the shade Of the pine
wood, and there I asked Ethel to be my
wife. and she came into my arms and I
held her there, obfivious OF everything
Aut the crowning happiness of my life.
Why are YOU crying. lovey" / asked.
She raised her head from my breast
and showed Inc q face radiant with hap
piness.
Why should / cry?" she asked.
I was perplsxed. / could have sworn
that = / murmurcd my lave over her
bent head, kissing the waving hair, ]
keapd . smothcrcd sob.
Il va getting dark when we saw Sir
Henry IA the drive.
II am going over to fetch Psyche-my