Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1908-08-14
CHAPTER XII.

CHAPTER XII.
An interview with Miss Deane is gone
through without so great a hitch as May
had anticipated. Miss Dcanc, indeed, had
shown herself not only compliant, but ac-
tuaIly anxious that Amber should go and
spend a week with her uncle.
Esther had heard of Hilary Adare, OF
his meeting with Amber, both at the mill
one day, and at Madanl's later on, and
had drawn certain conclusions. If-her
heart beat fast as she dwelt on tiff
Captain Adare should fall in love with
! tire girl, and she with him, there would
lie a solution of the trouble that is wor-
rying her. Amber once married, Brian
will be hers again to infuence--to hold
to live for! And she has so little to
live for, so little to make life sweet.
That Brian can greatly care! She
has gone into this and has come out of
it with the settled belief that he is in
capable of caring much for anything
except himself. In this she wrongs him.
SO Amber, who had met Mays very
charming advances with a shy pleasure
and Mr.. McGrath's all too genial ad-
vances with a touch of reserve, promises
to 20 over to Carrig on Tuesday next
to-day is Friday-and spend a week
with her cousins.
I'VE are all of us your cousins, you
know. Ali of u.s." says May, pressing her
hand at parting.
Yes. all of u.s. repeats Mr.. McGrath
with emphasis,
And come early, come in time for
tea says May, glancing up at Amber
from the pony carriage in which she is
now again seated. 'Or perhaps-lunch-
, con-"
"Or breakfast" suggests Mr.. Nc
! Grath most Hospitality. May gives him u
whitening glance.
II shall come as soon as l can" says
Amber softly.
1--WE shall be looking out for YOU"
mods May, brightly. "Good-by. Good.by,
Miss Deane!!" to Esther, who is also
| standing up above on the hall doorsteps.
$50 good Of you to spare Amber for a
few days"
The ponies dash way down the grass
grown old avenue, as if wild with a de-
| sire to be gone and as thav disappear,
Esther Deane touches Amber's arm.
mot a word OF this toto anyone
says she. IF you say a word to envy
one. you won't be able to co.
II am my own Mistress" says the sirl
proudly. Yet for all that she takes the
lesson to heart, and 1t is not until she
is we'll on her way to Carris Castle on
the following Tuesday that Brian learns
of the invitation, the visit of May, and
the gong of Amber!
On that, afternoon, after al uusuc-
cessful search for Amber round the
grounds and in the old mill, he enters his
sisters private room.
Where is Amber" asks he Quickly.
There is no suspicion in his ono.
Miss Deane rises. The worst is be-
fore her now and she faces it steadily.
.She has gone to spend a week with
her uncle, Sir Lucien Adare !"
'What?"
The a n face grows ashy as he looks
back at her. Nay, it grows dangerous.
II thought" says she coldly, quietly,
though her heart is beginning to die with
in her, that it would be we'll for her 10
know something of her mothers people,"
you thought that for her. What did
you think for me? YOU he comes closer
to her, you heard what I said the other
day. You knew what / meant. I did
not even hide from you that l loved her.
When did she get this invitation? 2"
last Friday" She answers him
clearly. and still her eyes are fixed on his.
And still she stands straight and firm
before him without a shadow of outward
fear.
And this is Tuesday" His face grows
terrible now. For four days you kept
this secret. For four days you knew she
was going to stay in the house with Hill
airy Adare, the man who you think loves
her-and yet He makes a sudden,
swift backward movement of his arm.
Take that, yeu traitor. says he, dash
ing her in his blind fury to the ground.
The room is alwost dark when she
comes to herself again. Dragging herself
to lie. feet by the aid of a chair near
her, she stands, lettering a little. trying
to bring back her senses whilst wiping,
vaguely, the blood from her mouth. Then
all too suddenly it comes back to her
the scene with him, the cowardly blow.
"He didn't mean it" breathes she
through her poor. swollen lips. He was
always hot tempered, poor boy He is
sorry low, | know. Heidi not mean
it."
Even in this woman-hard, cruel, un-
principled-the touch of the Divine
dwells! Love! And the desire to par
don.
Forgive them that despitefully use
you."
No. He had not meant it!
~ NV 4 MUM, Nyrr