Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1908-01-31
CHAPTER XVIII.

49, uc kdLucS WcIG III lulI SWIug aWQen
Moyra and Bride returned. The traces
of tears were still on the latter's face,
although she blushed and smiled nervous
iy, as II she was ashamed of her outburst.
She accepted Bertram's laughing apollo
gies with downcast eyes, and, refusing to
| play, joined her father and Lewiston at
the fire.
The Rector leased her a little on her
susceptibility to Sweet discords," and
resumed his discussion Of national educa-
ton while Bride leaned her head on her
hand and stared dreamily into the flames.
The professor did not accept the Rector's
| challenge with his customary alacrity. His
eyes wandered again and again to Bride,
and when Mr.. Beresford was summoned
away, and they were left alone, he leaned
forward and inquired a~nxiously how she
was.
st was silly of me to be SO foolish
| Bride answered. But it was SO dreadful.
I seemed to see it all. and / did not want
to dc so"-with a shudder.
lit was forced sentiment, Miss Bride.
Mr.. Charters himself did not mean it.
lit is q pity to identify the singer
with the words" he said in his grave,
precise voice. when you are older you
will learn that what it is easy to say
it is infinitely more difficult to do"
His words sounded vaguely full of
warning even to Bride. She looked up
quickly.
why does every one dislike hin? 2" she
asked, the color rising in her cheeks. II
cannot understand why you should all be
so hard-even you. He has been unfor-
tunate, but that is not his fault. He is
clever, o know that yourself, and he
Is 70 handsome and SO kind. Every one
Is Jealous Of him because of his talents
There is no one who appreciates him
savs me-" she added, in a lower tone.
Tho professor sighed. After all it wal
| only natural that youth should believe
In youth, vet he felt a sorrow natural
enough In the circumstances Disillusion.
msnt lay before this beautiful, guileless
girl, who took everything as real and
honest, and believed that in every one
was the sincerity that belonged to herself
Lewiston felt very tender towards in.
nocent Bride, with her child's heart ant
simple thoughts. Perhaps Of all who
knew her, he best understood the feelings
that Moyra had towards her loved young
sister. Bride needed shelter and protec.
ton, the storm and stress Of life were
| nOI IOr neT. lne Ouner SiriS might nave
the breezes of the mountain top, but fol
Bride to be happy there must be tbs
sheltered, sunny valley, where only balmy
breezes blew, and where the worlds vile
din was never heard. That she shoule
have set her fancy upon Charters was
indeed to be deplored, the professor
thought. He did not feel that Bertram
agreeable as he was, possessed that power
which would entirely satisfy Brides
needs, while the lack of it would make
her utterly unhappy. And to Bride hap
| piness was life.
Later in the evening Billy found him,
self with Aileen a little apart from the
| others. F5S
do you know, / feel an awful bounde1
about Charters. and that dance of ours
he remarked. II don't like him any the
better, though / admit that he carried mt
away a bit in the school room. He ought
not to have sung that song-I believe
he did it for some purpose. But Bride
is so horribly keen about his going. She
has asked me again to invite him. OF
course l say the invitations are from the
mother, but she knows that it's just m
excuse"
II won't have him invited. Aileen
said, all the more sharply because she
fek that sAs might be uniust. HE III.