The Miller sun. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 190?-19??, 1907-02-09
CHAPTER XVIII.

Tree Hotel he was received by Miss
Twexby in dignified silence for that as
tute damsel was beginning to regard the
fascinating Frenchman as a young man
who talked a great deal and meant moth
ing.
He was audacious enough to win her
heart and then break it, so Miss Twexby
thought the wisest thing would be to keep
him at a distance. So Vandeloup's bright
smiles and merry jokes failed to call forth
any response from fair Martha, who sat
silently in the bar, looking like grabbed
sphinx.
us my friend Pierre in?" asked Van
deloup, leaning across the counter, and
looking lovingly at Miss Twexby.
The lady intimated coldly that he was
in, and had been for the last two weeks {;
also that she was sick of him, and she'd
thank NJ. Vandeloup to clear him out
all of which amused Vandeloup nightly,
though he still continued to smile coolly
on the sour-faced damse before him.
CASTOR, however, failed to persuade
Pierre to accompany him round to buy an
outfit. For the dumb man lay on his
bed, and Obstinately refused to move out
of the room. He, however, acquicsced sui
lenly when his friend told him he was
going to Melbourne, so Vandeloup left
the room, having first secured Pierre's
knife, and locked the door after him. and
then sailed forth to buy his shipwrecked
friend n box and some clothes.
In the afternoon Vandeloup went to
the lake and espied a little figure in
white, and seeing that it was Kitty, he
strolled up Go her in leisurely manner.
She was looking at the ground when he
came up, and was prodding holes in the
spongy turf with her umbrella, but glanc-
ed up carelessly as he came near. Then
she sprang up with a cry Of JOY, and
throwing her arms around his neck, she
kissed him twice.
II haven't seen you for ages" said
Kitty, putting her arm in his as they sat
down. II just came up here for week,
and did not think I'd see you"
1.-THE meeting was quite accidental, l
know" replied Castor, leaning back laz-
lily; "but none the less pleasant on that
account. Wouldn't you like to leave
Papa and lead jollier lfe?" asked Van
deloup, artfully, sin Melbourne for in
stance"
I'll don't know" she faltered look
ing down.
"But / do, Bebe," whispered Castor,
putting his arms round her waist; you
would like to come with me-"
why? Are you going?" cried Kitty,
In dismay.
II think / spoke about this before" he
said. Il never say anything l do not
mean" answered Sandeoup, with the
ready lie on his lips in moment land
have got letters from France with
money, so l am going to leave the Pac
tolus."
"And me?" said Kitty, tearfully.
THAT depends upon yourself, Bebe,"
he said rapidly, pressing her burning cheek
against his own; your father would new
er consent to my marriage and / can't
take you away from Ballarat without sus-
picions, So"
"Yes?" said Kitty, eagerly, looking at
him.
"You must run away" he whispered,
with a caressing smile.
"Alone?
''For time, yes" he answered "listen
next week you must meet me here, and
] will give you money to keep you in
Melbourne for some time then you must
leave Ballarat at once and wait for me
al the Buttercup Hotel in Gertrude
street, Carlton: you understands"
yes" faltered Kitty, nervously; 81
7 unerstand."
"And you will Gomez" he asked anx-
iously, locking keenly at her, and press
L. 10, bN Al H.,
YES" she whispered, clinging to him
with dry lips and beating heart; II
will comet Then her overstrained ma
ture gave way, and with burst of tears
she threw herself on his breast.
"My dear Bebe," said Yandeloup, kiss
eng her white cheek, "you must go home
now, and get little sleep; it will do you
good"
"But you?' asked Kitty, in low
voice, as they walked slowly along
"Oh, l." said NJ. Vandeloup, airily; 81
am going to the Waffle Tree Hotel to
see my friend Pierre off to Melbourne"
''You are now on your own RESPONSE
bility, my friend" said vandeloup to
Pierre, as ne stood at the window of the
railway carriage; "for we must part,
tHougH long toScther nave we OeeH. Itr-
haps / will see you In Melbourne; if /
do you will find have not forgotten the
past" and, with significant look at the
dumb man, vandeloup lounged slowly
away.
The whistle blew shrilly, the last good
bys were spoken, the guard shouted "All
aboard for Melbourne" and shut oil the
doors, then, with another shrek and puff
of white steam, the train, like long,
1.-the serpent, glided into the rain and
darkness with its human freight.
AT last have rid myself of this dead
weight" said Vandeloup, IS he drove