The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1907-02-01


an clearer to ye day be day, me poor
seif-deludin' darlin' gyurl, and now
ye're breaking your poor heart to
think how cruel 70 were to doubt your
self. an to hold him aloof from his
own proper shelter in your love, All!
cry away, then. I'll change them bit
ter drops to sweetness before I've
done wild We; SO will. He's longin
for you. Longin'! Haven't seen the
hunger in the eyes of him? He's only
waiting for a word" -
"Oh, Belief" cried Lillian, raising her
flushed and tear-stained face for an
instant, and hiding it again. How
can I?'
"Ye can't" said Belle, between
laughing and crying. Eye can't, me
dear, but cant"
mo, no, moi" cried Lillian mo
You mustn't. You dare not should
die for shame"
Must not, them" Bell retorted
AN dare not? 'Tis very we'll Miss
Lee, but I'll take the first opportunity
that falls into me hands to bring me
|
right conduct"
Lillian slid to her knees at her
friends feet and seized her by the
wrists. 'N
Belle, dear, you mustn't do any
| thing so dreadful. Tell me you won't"
Lillian" said Belle, "ye're rank
imposter-or impostress, for l never
was sure of my grammar Confess
now that there's nothing would please
you in the world so much as if
marched OF to Mr.. Aloysius Brang-
wyn and cheered the heavy heart of
the poor, dear man with the news that
ye'd be delighted to marry him. Ye
haven't the face to deny it. And I'll
do ut, Lillian; I'll do ut the first time
set eyes on him If me heart doesn't
drop deep into me boots. Here's two
Of the noblest hearts in the world"
cried Belle, appealing to the world at
large, hearts that suffered troubles
untold, an they're being held apart
by cObweb."
Lillian ran to the refuge of her own
room, and Mrs Billery took up some
trifle Of ornamental needlework and
stitched at it diligently and steadily
for One-half hour She thought hard
meanwhile, and she thought to such
effect that at the end of the time speci-
fed she deliberately slowed all her.
work away folding and smoothing it
with great care and accuracy, fastened
, the clasp of her little wicker work.
basket, and walked quietly upstairs.
Then she set herself of to the best ad-
vantage in a set OF pretty gray furs
which Lillian, had given her, and, ad-
trstfng her gloves with great nicely,
after backward glances at the mirror
and many little touches of the fingers
which produced no effect on anything
which was likely to be perceptible to
the eye. of man, she left the house and
proceeded at a comfortable pace to the
house of Mr.. Aloysius Brangwyn Her
heart beat very rapidly, but she had
made up her mind. and she was not to
be turned aside from her purpose
Gard case in hand. she sailed in state
to the door. where trim maid answer
ed her knock and took her card for
presentation to Mr.. Brangwyn. Next
she was shown to the drawing room
and was instructed that Mr.. Brangwyn
begged her to excuse him for a single
moment.
She sat with her heart beating a
sudden rataplan in her BOSOM Alloy
sius entered, and she rose to shake
hands.
"A visit from my charming enemy!"
he said "An unlooked-for pleasure."
"Ye'll never call me your enemy
again." Belle answered What 1t cost
me to come here, Mr. Brangwyn, yen
never know"
"You are agitated, Mrs. Billery," he
said. Il trust you are not in trouble.
or, il you are, that can be of service"
I'm in no trouble for meself, Mr..
Brangwyn. I'm in trouble for the
friend that l love dearest in the
world" Aloysius knew who this was,
and he paled. He said nothing, and
Belle perforce went onward. "Mr
Brangwyn, have just surprised Sc
cret. If were coward I'd not be
here" She saw a wonder in his eyes,
and she gripped her courage hard.
'Mr Brangwyn," she said, "ye-ye
love Miss Lee?"
II love Miss Lee!" ne answered,
simply, though his face was book OF
strange reading. ~
1--WE told you;' Belle stammered and
hurried on, that have surprised a
secret. Dear Mr.. Brangwyn, don't
think me unwomanly or overbold, but
the secrets just this-me darlin' Lii
ian Is breakin' her heart to think of
her own folly and how she threw your
love away. We're often so, we women,
Mr.. Brangwyn. We don't know the
truth about ourselves until it is too
late. Shed rather die than give a
sign. You'd rather die than pain her
by the renewal of what you're afraid
was a distasteful suit. And I'd rather
die than see me darlin' wither through
her prime for want of one plain word
that can speak" And with this
Belle fell to weeping.
"Mv dear Mrs Billerv" cried Allow