The Miller sun. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 190?-19??, 1908-01-11
| "A SMILING VILLAIN.
BY VIOLET M. Finn
By VIOLET M. Finn,

yourselves to stay for the evening. Moyra,
dear, let US have much buttered toast and
| new bread for tea
With the advent of tea came the Rec
tor, the twins, and Vera, the three latter
very cold and hungry after their exer-
| tions at Gerry's bench. They were max
| ing a cabinet for collection of birds
eggs, and the girls begged that the lamps
might not be lit; they were ashamed to
let their untidiness be seen.
1t was very lively tea, and Moyra,
seeing that Bertram was combining him
self almost entirely to Aileen and Vera,
laughed and was happy with the rest.
When the last of the tea cakes and but
tered toast had disappeared, she suggested
better light, but chorus OF voices neg
atived the proposal
I'm afraid you have no poetry in
you" Terry exclaimed, as he stirred the
huge fire vigorously. above all things,
love big fire and easy chair, and some
one to entertain me. Now, then, who is
going to entertain me? Moyra, tell us
one Of your tales"
But Moyra refused promptly and de-
cidedly, and he turned to the professor,
who also declined.
1T is no good asking you, Fenton. Ber-
tram, you are a traveller. Spin us q
yarn"
But ii was no travellers yarn that
Bertram told in his musical voice as
they gathered round the hearth in the
freight. 1t was an ordinary fairy ro-
nance, of an enchanted princess, a castle
perilous, wicked magician, and an he
roic prince; but it was told with such
humor, with an undercurrent of pathos,
that even the Rector grew interested in
the narrative; it brought an added luster
to Brides eyes, and caused Lulu to for
sake her post on the professors knee and
draw nearer to the enchanting narrator
On and on went the romance; Bertram
seemed carried away by his own fancy
The auditors listened, the younger ones
with absorbing interest, the elders as if
they were half ashamed. The noisy
clamor of the dinner bell was received
with chorus of lamentation, and Bride
heaved an impatient sigh as she was thus
brought back to the reality of life.
Il don't want any dinner" she ex-
claimed petulantly. "Who could eat NUT
ton after being in fairy land?"
Then you shall have jelly" Moyra
said smilingly, as she, too, moved reluc-
family. Thank you very much, Ber-
tram. think you ought to write that
pretty tale down."
She spoke with unusual cordiality, for
the charm he had exercised was still on
her, and for the time she forgot her
prejudices against him. He looked at her
almost gratefully, as he held the door
open while the girls went off to make
hasty toilets.
When in after times the Beresfords
recalled that evening, they always re.
membered Bertram as its particular star
He was unusually entertaining at dinner :;
1t seemed as if he had set himself to com
bat all existing prejudices against him
self. He was so pleasant that Billy be-
gan to wonder if he had been hasty in
his judgments, and Moyra wondered sad
ly if she had allowed the past to have
too much influence on her ideas concern
ing him.
Perhaps / have been unjust she re-
Elected, with little pang. AS conse-
quence she felt more friendly towards
him than she had done for many years,
and 1t was she who asked him to sing
when they were again together in the
drawing room.
Il am afraid have nothing but songs
you have heard dozens of times" he an
swered, as he sat down at the piano
After while he began to sing softly
some quaint French melody. He had a
sweet and expressive voice, and from the
melody he passed to something more weird
and narrowing.
He was beginning the second verse
when Bride, starting up with little sob,
hurried from the ROOM the tears stream
ing down her face. Bertram stopped at
once.
Poor Bride! I'm afraid my singing
is too much for her." he said, as Moyra
followed her sister. '.TelI her ] won't
sing any more"
1T was too narrowing for her delicate
susceptibilities, Terry remarked. i've
been watching her sniff all through the
first verse. Rather mawkish song, don't
you think, eh?"