The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1907-02-28

personal deformity; but Mr.. Paul Lin
mere admired beauty, and liked to
have pretty things around him.
To tell the truth, he was sadly IN
need of money. 1t was fortunate that
his old friend, Mr.. Harrison, Margies
dead father, had taken it into his head
to plight his daughters troth TO MIN
while she was yet a child. Mr.. Harrison
had been an eccentric man, and from
the fact that in many points OF rell-
-gious belief he and Mr.. Paul inner
agreed flor both were miserable skep-
tics), he valued him above all other
men, and thought his daughters hap
piness would be secured by rthe union
he had planned.
Linmere had betl abroad several
years, and he had led a very reckless.
~disSipated life. Luxurious by nature,
lacking in moral r%ectitude, and having
wealth at his command, he INDUCED
hiI self unrestrained, and when at last
ne left the gay French capital and re-
turned to America, his whole fortune,
with the exception of a few thousands,
was dissipated. So he needed a rlch
wife sOre!y, and was not disposed to
defer his happ' ness.
He met Margie with empressement,
and bowed his tall head to kiss the
white hand she extended to him. She
drew it away coldly--something about
the man made her shrink from him.
Il am so. happy to meet you again,
Margie, and after ten years OF separa-
ton, ! have thought so much and so
often Of you"
Thank you, Mr.. Linmere."
will you not call me Paul?' he
asked, in a subdued voice, letting his
dangerous eyes, full of light and soft
ness, rest on her.
An expression Of naughty surprise
swept her face. She drew back a
pace.
II am not accustomed to address gen.
tlemen-mere acQuaintances-by their
Christian names, sir"
But in this case, Margie? Surely
the relations existing between us will
admit of such a familiarity" he said,
seating himself, while she remained
standing coldly by.
There are no relations existing be-
tween US at present, Mr.. Linmere," she
answered haughtily; and If, in ODE
diCnce to the wishes Of the dead, we
should ever become connected in name,
[ beg leave to assure you in the begin
ming that you will always be Mr.. Lin
mere to me-
A flush of anger mounted to his
cheek; he set his teeth. but outwardly
he was calm and subdued. Anger, just
at present, was impolitiC.
Il hope to win your love, Margie; l
trust | shall" he answered, sadly
enough to have aroused almost any
woman's pity; but some subtle instinct
told Margie he was false to the core.
But all through the evening he was
affable and complaisant and ~forbearing.
She made no attempt to conceal her
dislike for him. Concealments were
not familiar to Margie's nature. She
was frank and open as the day.
Mr.. Linmere's destinations were
many and varied. He had a great deal
of adaptation, and made himself agree
able to every one. He had travelled eX-
tensively, was a close observer, and
had a retentive memory. Mr.. Trevlyn
was charmed with him. So was Alex
andrine Lee, a friend Of Margie's, a
rival belle, who accidentally 60
dropped in to spend the evening.
Mr.. Linmere played and sang with
exquisite taste and skill-he was a com
plete master Of the art, and, in spite
Of herself, Margie listened to him with
a delight that was almost fascination.
but which subsidized the moment the
melody ceased.