Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1907-08-02
CHAPTER XIII.

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When the SUN had set we went to the
Chase, Psyche ond 1. she agreeing to pay
this visit far more readily than 1 antici-
pated.
Shall You be glad to see Ethel?" I
asked, the wish prompting the gu. stion.
Yes she answered, nodding her
head. There is so much I want to ask
her that ] can't ask you, 50 much I want
to learn. l can't talk much to you be-
cause l don't know enough words, and
sometimes | say the wrong one and it
makes you laugh and shows me how fool
ish am. But I think a great deal when
my eyes are shut"
Can you tall me what you Think"
8 many things! I think how beau
tiful it is to sit and listen to you speak,
and I think If J. could learn more words
! could talk to you and make you happy,
just as you make me happy. Sometimes
| think l am no more than the little
creatures in the garden that we forget
the next day because they cannot tell us
what they think and feel. And / want
to be asking more thar what you know W
There was a pathetic vibration in her
voice as it sank in this Last phrase; then
in a frner tone she added $50 l want
to see all that Ethel can do, and learn
how to do it very w soon."
We mot Ethel and her father in the
drive, and walked together through the
flower garden and the conservatives,
there being still light enough to reveal
the tints of the blooms even to ordinary
eyes. Under his daughters influence Sir
Henry was always reasonable, and at
most times amiable and interesting; but
this evening I was struck by the tender
interest he took in Psyche. He devosed
himself almost exclusively to her, and
betrayed no symptom of jealousy or sus-
picion when ethel and / fingered in the
room. The manner OF this extraordinary
man was now as opposed to his brusque-
rio Of the morning as that to the quaking
agitation of the night before. Selecting
some of the blooms that Psyche most ad-
mired, he arranged them with taste in a
spray, gossip:ng at the same time in a
simple way thai she could understand,
and fastened it upon her dress. Psyche
was delighted, pointing out to me that
It was like the spray that Ethel wore.
II had no idea the girl was so intelli-
gent" he said to ms when Psyche had
drawn Ethel away with the serious view
she had in mind, land how exceedingly
sweet her manner isl She shall learn
dsli biot INK HiSIcS " huOW. l Will dQOpt
hei as my own daughter"
IF her real parents are not found
I suggested.
True, but I do no. think they will be
found" he said, in an odd, dry tone.
"By the bye, there was no letter for you
at Towcrbri1ss. saw Andrews this
afternoon, and put the case Hypothetical
" before him. He is distinctly Of opin-
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concerned, the hest thing to b. done is to
d nothing. The great thing to be feared
II that the man who put her out Of the
WY twelve year, ago will get her into his
hands again in order to put her away
cftectually and forever. There can be no
doubt that the crime was attempted with
q mefcenary Irctive. the child coming be-
tween this man md a fortune II that
was 50, Psyche is still the Hghtful heiress,
and more dangerous &c the man now than
rbe was as a child. At any rate, it
would be NEST unwise to do anything in
a hurry. There ii no necessity for
haste. l intend. with the blessing Of
heaven" he murmured, fervently, ITO re-
pair the wrong that has been done to
that poor g!r::, and to be to her a better
friend than those who suffered her to be
carried away"
There was nm awkward pause. 1 could
not account satisfactorily to myself for
the feeling of embarrassment that made
me silent
You can't max it out" said Sir Hen
ry, observing my silence. THAT does not
surprise me. To you it must seem that
ny conduct has beer that of a maniac
rather than q sane man, and nothing
must appear Inore mad than my proposal
to adopt as n laughter a girl l saw fer
the FIRST time last night. Every effect
II inexplicable until the cause that pro-
duced it stands revealed My quickly
changing moods are inexpiicabIe. Be
lieve me, not one of these moods would
appear more u~naccountabie than the
phases in an eclipse il you knew of the
shadow cast pom my life. That shadow
Is nearly past. One of these days-not
row-you shall know all" AS he spoke
the last words he opened his note book
and took out . paper, wnIcn he now put
in my hand.
This is the check for the property You
we're good enough to let rue have" he
said, b ! tone Of real gratitud.. with