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

BY VIOLET M. Finn.

and drew out of the game. A few min
utes later Billy had also lost all his
counters and joined her. She was in a
very gracious humor that evening, and,
| having devoted all dinner time and an
hour afterwards to higher culture, as
Terry designated conversation with Lew
isson, she considered she might unbend
| for Billy's OBLIGATION. So they discuss
ed pantomimes at Caterham-not in re-
lation with those Of ancient Greece
and the merits of various burlesque ac-
tresses and became very friendly and al
most confidential under cover of the hub
bub OF the card table.
"How solemn Bride looks" Aileen said
suddenly. Il wonder how much Of his
conversation she understands"
"He admircs her tremendously,
think" Billy remarked.
Aileen looked at him in mazement.
''He spoke of her to me after dinner,
and seemed greatly taken with her. He
said her loveliness was incredible, and
She was so innocently unconscious that
she was anything out of the common
"Of course he admires her looks"
Aileen began.
but Billy continued oquaDly
"He also said it was such relief to
meet girl who was absolutely without
self-conscousness, who did not tlsnk she
had mission or believed she ought to
do anything beyond what had been given
her to do. To look beautiful and not
bother think that was his idea of
Brides vocation"
The amazement on Aliens face was
almost comic as her eyes went from
Bride to Eric Lewiston, from Lewiston
to Bride. Suddenly she looked at Billy
with suspicious sharpness, but he met
her gaze frankly
II think you must be making it all up,
She remarked, the color deepening in her
face, and she readjusted her eyeglasses
with decision. 1T Is impossible that a
man like Prof. Lewiston should be at
tracted by such an ignoramus as Bride,
sweet as she is. Why, he is one of the
strongest advocates for women's higher
education and advancement. Besides"
She paused coloring and biting her lip in
her embarrassment.
Billy apparently did not notice her
confusion.
Il don't mean to imply that he is in
love with Bride" he said coolly, taking
up her fan and waving it vigorously.
Probably he is only attracted to her sim
ply because she is so different from all
the other women he has known, and, as
rule, clever men and women marry
their opposites, don't they? 1t is more
of change for them, l suppose" He
edged little nearer to her, and dropped
his voice to confidential whisper.
There is somebody else who thinks a
lot Of Bride isn't there, and it struck me
Bride sort of reciprocated? Charters,
/ mean"
"Oh!" Aileen was conscious that she
had not expected the conversation to take
that turn. II don't know much of him.
He has been abroad so long. IL don't
think like him."
"Oh, he seems decent sort, and hand
some enough to take any girls fancy.
only he didn't seem to agree with Moyra
/ suppose he met Angus abroad|
"He doesn't know him at ALL Aileen
answered. She was wondering if Moyra
had really any serious objection to Der
tram, and there was another idea in her
mind, too.
Doesn't he?" Billy queried in surprise.
II am sure he knew the name when Lulu
first mentioned it, and the knowledge
didn't seem to please him, either. had
an idea that perhaps he had mistaken
the object of Angus affections"
Aileen looked up with frank smile.
Then you do think" Pausing
with a touch of embarrassment that was
very pleasing as she glanced at him in
quiringly.
.'Oh, it's as plain as pike-staff. Even
the pater noticed II; but | don't think
she"--with nod toward unconscious
Moyra, intent on her counters-"has the
faintest idea of it,
"I'm sure she hasn't She's as guile
less in her way as Bride. And that re-
minds me- think | ought TO be seriously
angry with you for speaking to me about
Prof. Lewiston as you did. You seem to
forget" Her words trailed off into
silence as Billy raised his eyes, and look
ed at her with an expression before which
her eyes dropped.
II forget nothing" he said slowly.
ssYou forget that you perinitted me to be
as brotherly as Terry. But l would not
have said word did not see that
he leaned forward and smiled at her au-
daciously-''you are no more in love with
him than you are with me--perhaps NOT
as much"
CHAPTER XIV.