Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1907-07-04

second before, Sir William Gouldes-
brough had been proposing to steal
and open letter written by another
man to his fiancee But a second be-
fore Mr.. Eustace Charliewood, the Well
known society man, had sullenly ac-
guessed in the proposal.
And now here was Marjorie Poole
confronting them
1--WE thought we'd come to tea, Will
iam," Lady Poole said, effusively, go
Ing forward to shake hands with her
future son-in-law.
"Ah. Mr.. Charliewood how do you
do?" She gave him a bright nod and
he turned to Marjorie, while her moth
er was shaking hands with the scien-
fist.
Charliewood's face was flushed
deep red and his hand tremhled, so
that the tall girl looked at him In some
surprise.
Marjorie Poole was maiden for
whom many men had sighed. The oval
face with its pure olive complexion,
the large brown eyes clear as forest
pool, the coiled masses Of hair the col
of deeply-ripened corn, made up per-
sonality Of singular distinction and
charm. She was the sort of girl of
whom people asked, who is she?"
And II younger SONS and other people
who knew that they could never WOO
and win ner said her manner was a
little too reserved and cold, it was only
prejudiced way Of expressing her
complete grace and ease Of manner
How are you, Mr.. Charliewood? ?"
she said, in a clear, bell-iike voice. Il
haven't seen you since the Carr's
dance"
We'll, to tell the truth, Miss Poole"
Charliewood answered, with voice
that had a singular tremor In it, "you
startled me out Of my wits when you
came in. Just moment before Sir
William had mentioned your name,
and we were both thinking of you
when, as quick as one Of those ridicu.
lous entrances on the stage, pat upon
the very word, the butler threw open
the door and you came In
"Oh, stage entrance" Marjorie
answered. II don't like stage en-.
frances" And turning away, she went
up to her fiancee, making it quite
clear that, whatever her opinions
about the conventions Of the boards
might be, she did not like Mr.. Charlie
wood.
The big, light-haired man stayed for
moment or two, made few conven,
tional remarks, and then wished his
host farewell.
AS he crossed the hall he began me.
chemically to put on the heavy astra.
chan coat upon his arm. Then, with
muttered curse which surprised the
butler, he took it off again and hurried.
ly left the house.
well, ard how are you, William?"
said Lady Poole, sitting down by the
fire Are you going to give us some
tea? We have been paying calls, and
told Marjorie that we would just come
on and see how you were, in case you
might be in. And how is the electrici
ty going? Why don't you invent a fly:
ing machine? Pm sure it would be
more useful than the things you do in
vent. How charming it would be to
step out Of ones bedroom window
into ones aerial brougham and tell the
man to fly to the Savoy"
Gouldesbrough did not imme diately
reply, but old Lady Poole was used to
this.
She was tail, ford ole thing, rich.
ly dressed. and with an ample and ex.
pansive manner. Now that Sir Will.
lam had proposed and the forthcoming
marriage was an accepted thing, the
good lady felt that her duty was done.
Having satisfied herself of Sir Will.
Jams position, his banking account,
and his general eligibility, she cared
for nothing else, and she had grown
quite accustomed to the little snubs
she received at his hands from time to
time.
Gouldesbrough was looking at Mar.
jorie. His deep blue eyes had leapt
up from their usual intense cam into
flame. The fine-cut lips were slightly
parted; the whole man had become
humanized and real in single mo.
ment.
Ito Be ContInued,)