The Miller sun. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 190?-19??, 1907-12-21


get rid Of smoke and dust, and then
came here. ! could not stay away an!
longer" he added, in an undertone that
only Bride heard. She smiled and blush
ed, and her eyes shone with happiness.
Bertram was evidently very pleased to
be amongst his friends, and laughed and
talked in his gayest, most fascinating
manner. He did not seem to notice that
his arrival had caused cessation Of the
laughter and joking that had been going
on. He talked little about his absence /;
he had been very busy, he said vaguely |;
he was more anxious to know how the
Beresfords had been spending their time,
and he began making plans for skating
parties and the like.
A little later Hammond came in with
note, which she presented to Moyra.
Aileen, who sat beside her sister, saw her
face brighten suddenly as she read, bat
it was not until Billy made move to
depart that she said to him:
"Will you please thank Mrs, Fenton.
Billy, and tell her Bride shall go with
us? Mrs. Fenton wants you to go with
us too, Bride" she said, addressing the
did so as soon as Billy had gone.
IL would rather not go, Moyra," Bride
said. II would prefer to stay at home.
l don't want to GO out tonight"
Moyra glanced from the flushed face
to Bertram's smiling countenance; his
eyes, laughing as they were still, had a
touch of defiance in them. He could see
plainly when he chose, and his glance told
her that he saw through her anxiety not
to leave Bride near him, and he deied her
to win as easily as she expected to do.
II wish you to go, Bride" she said,
with unusal authority in her voice, and
she began to talk OF passing events, de-
termined not to leave until Bertram had
gone, and she could take Bride with her.
Then the conversation became general
again. Terry wanted to know something
of Bertram's foreign experiences, and
during the talk that ensued Angus Rob
ertson's name was continually brought UP
by one or another of the Beresfords. Pres.
entity Charters turned to Bride, who was
sitting in her favorite attitude near the
fire, her hands clasped round her knee,
her face upturned to him.
you have not forgotten your promise
about the portrait, Bridei" he asked.
When may begin?"
Brides pink cheeks grew pinker; she
pouted her lips like child, and looked
perilously near tears.
"Moyra says / had better not" she
said brokenly.
Bertram looked at Moyra in mild sur
prise, but before she could make any re-
ply Hammond reappeared. Some one had
called to see the Rector, and insisted
upon seeing Miss Beresford. Moyra was
obliged to 90. She could only hope that
Terry, who was talking Of boating, was
so enamored with the subject that he
would talk until she returned. She hur-
ried back to the school room, to find Lulu
still playing with her dolls, Terry absent,
and the other two in close contamination
over the FIRE. Bride started almost guilt
lily as her sister came in; Bertram was
gay and inconsequential as ever.
Terry has gone" he said lightly, "and
must 60 too. / know you all want to
make yourselves even more charming
than usual" He looked up at Moyra
with his goodtempered smile, and as he
did SO slight change came over his face.
"Some one has been increasing the con-
tents of her jewel box" he said idly.
MAY look at that very quaint broochT'
She unfastened it unwillingly, and he
turned it over carefully, holding it first
in one way and then in another.
"Isn't it pretty?' Bride said admiring-
ly. Angus gave it to her for a Christ
mas present"
1T has no value" Moyra put in quick |
~, resenting his close scrutiny of her
treasure. ut is simply curio."
"Is it?" he said dryly, handing ii back |
to her. Il have some slight knowledge |
of stones. should say that was very |
valuable one. Your new friend, Moyra,
must be either millionaire or"--with |
little laugh"a receiver of stolen goods. |
That ruby was never put on sale TO catch
the fancy of globe-trotters at Colombo"
There was no reason TO doubt his sin /
certify and truthfulness, yet Moyra did
so. IT was 50 very unlikely, she thought |
that Angus could have made any mistake,
and certainly he could not have bought |
it had he known It's real value, for he
was no millionaire, she reflected, with |
tender little smile. But later in the even
ing, while she was sitting beside Mr.. Fen |
ton, the subject required to her memory, |
and she suddenly asked her host il he
was a good judge OF rubies, and, giving |
him the brooch, asked his opinion Of the
stone
Ito be continued.)