Kingsbury County independent. (DeSmet, Kingsbury County, S.D.) 1894-1929, 1907-11-01

1T Isn't quite convenable?" he fin
ished. as l hesitated. Surely. we don't
need 10 stand on ceremony, II &C.
ely doesn't care a hang for coryen-
ton. It's a great favor to both OF
us. She'll cry her eyes out II she has
TO stay at home. and ! simply can't
take her"
Very we'll" / said, m be glad to
take her." and thanking me again he
hurried away.
She was dressed and waiting for me
when | Knocked at her door, and she
caught me by both hands as | en-
tered.
This Is good OF YOU" she cried.
"Doudoux has been so busy for many
days that we have gone nowhere: but
he promised me tonight. Oh, l should
not have stayed at home. | should
have gone alone. | care not for the
eyes OF the men"
oh, / shan't let you go alone" l
protested, and watched her. fasCin-
ated, as she put on a little bonnet
and gave her hair two or three final
pats before the mirror.
She was in the highest spirits. sing
ing to herseIf-really, | told myself,
only a chiid-and at last she swung
around and dropped me a courtesy.
How is that, chez" she cried,
smiling up at me. Does that please
you?".
Charming" | cried. gasping a lit
tie, with a feeling Of g~iddiness, as
looked down into her eyes.
Then in a moment" and turning,
she struck a match and touched il
to a wick floating on olive oil In a
tiny glass before al image OF tn"
virgin. which hung in a little chap
ellie against the wall. She made Il gen
Injection and turned back to nae. Now
| am ready" she said, and tucked her
hand confidingly under my arm.
What Is the light for, Ceciiy?" l
asked, as we left the room.
oh" she explained. 'faut lime
lampe on pou fai la Vierge passe dams
caie-ou. Now the virgin will watch
over me while l am away. But you
are a Protestant, o do not care for
the virgin"
She looked UP at me reproachfully,
with a little sigh because | must be
damned.
But Tremaine-is he not q Protes-
tant?" / asked.
"Oh, no." she answered. shaking her
head. Certainly not-not AZ all. He
ever at one time thought OF becom-
ing a priest"
"A PRIEST" l repeated, astonished.
Here was news. indeed, and l was so
absorbed in ii that / did not resent
Higgins stare of astonishment as we
went down together in the elevator.
Tremaine "A priest! Yet, why not2 No
doubt he would have made a sue
cessful mean ideal Jesuit. for eX-
ample, rising to . high place.
Then why did he not become one2'
| questioned, when We were seated in
our cab and bowling along toward
Broadway. A sudden fever of eager
ness TO probe into Tremaine's past
took possession OF me.
Il do not know she answered; then
she looked at me with a sudden quiz
zical narrowing OF the eyes. Perhaps
he found the VOW a repugnanCe."
We swung around into Broadway,
ablaze with light, and Cecily forgot
me In the excitement of watching the
changing crowd. the brilliant shop
fronts.
Here We are" I said. as the cab
drew up at the curb. and sprang out
and helped her down.
AS we entered the foyer | heard
that murmur of surprise and admira-
ton which | knew my companion
must inevitably call forth. AS for her,
she was interested in everything; the
lights. the color, the movement OF the
crowd, the hustle Of the great theater
combined to form an excltant which
brought the deep blood surging to her
cheeks. She looked around with half
open lips, smiling pleased az a child,
seemingly quite unconscious OF the
many curious eye centered upon her.
"Oh. it is glorious" she cried. Il
have To thank you again. che"
You have nothing like this In St.
Pierce" questioned. laughing at her
eagerneSs.
No" and she shook her head; Eek
cept. perhaps, the carnival"
I'm enjoying 1t, too" l said: and
indeed l was. for her happiness was
contagious. She seemed charged with
electricity. overlooking, communicating
IL by a look, Il word. a smile.
We went up to the promenade after
the first act. and ate an Ice together.
The place was crowded. and Cecily
soon became again the center OF at
traction. Men strolled past merely to-
look at her, and from more than one
woman l caught u fash Of the y that
said unutterable things The advent of
a new. incompatible siren could
not pass unchallenged. TO them
all. Cecily glanced from time to time
with admirable nonchalance; one would
have sworn she a been reared In New
York. She chatted gaily, eating her
ice. slipping her wine, looking at me
with eyes that glowed like stars. Then
suddenly. as she looked up. her face
changed. l glanced up, too. and caught
SAGil optIiE - h~NSo VII
mine. He bowed and passed on.
"Who is that gentleman" demanded
Cecily eagerly. leaning across he table
toward me. You know him?"
ooh. quite we'll" / answered, more
ana more surprised. His name is God
frey"
Godfrey she repeated slowly. af-
ter me, as though fixing 1t indelibly in
her memory. And what is his bust
ness?"
He's a reporter by trade; he gathers
news for a paper" | added, seeing that
she did not wholly understand.
oh" she said. and breathed a deep
sigh of relief. II see" Then, as she
met my glance, she added, II fancied
that | a met him somewhere: l was
mistaken. In New York i have met no
one except you. missile"
But / scarcely heard her. my eyes
had dropped to a pin at her throat: as
she leaned forward, / could see 1t very
clearly-an opal surrounded by a
blazing ring of diamonds. / looked at
IL mechanlcally-then with n sudden,
intent interest. For one link OF that
brilliant ring was missing; n OF the
diamonds had fallen out.
CHAPTER Nv.
THE PROBLEM OF THE DIAMOND.
I was scarcely surprised when Cod
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