Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1908-11-20

en- her presence ana = iHi Si'
never limiting a curiosity about TINS SUI.
den change of quarters. Mildred lhoueht
that her aunt had told him something
about her separation from her husDahu
1t was hardly possible that she couid nave
withheld all information, seeing the '
miliar terms upon which those TWO were
and IL might be, therefore, that his dlscre-
ton was the result of knowledge.
She spoke to Miss Fausset OF Pameia'
.I am afraid that she admlres ar.
Castellani.' q,
"Why should she not admire him!
"But I suspect she is in danger OF ta''-
ing in love with him" W.
"Iet her fall in love with him-Iet her
marry him--!ct her be happy with MN
if she can
"My lear aunt. it is a very serious
mo,ter George gave Pamela to me Tor
nv COMPANION. | feel myself rcspoilslhie
for her happiness
..Then don't interfere with her halp!.
ness. Let her marry the man she loves.
with all my heart. if he were a good
man, and if her uncle had no opJertion.
But I know 80 little about Mr.. Castellahi
and his surroundings"
Ale hns no surroundings-his mother
and father are dead. He has no near
relatives -.
"And his character, aunt; his conduct:
What do you know Of those:
"OnIy 80 much rs you can see that l
know of them. He comes to my house
and makes himself agreeable to me ana
nv friends. He has given valuable heip
in the formation and management OF the
choir. IF am interested in Il concert
for a charity he sings for me and works
for me like n slave. All his talents are
ut INV service always. ! suppose ike
him as well as | should like n favored
nephew. if | had nephews from whom to
choose a favoritc, Of his character-out-
side my house, know nothing. l DO
not believe he has n wife hidden away
anywhere: and if Pamela marries him,
she can make her intention public in good
time to prevent any fasco of that KIND.
You speak very scornfully, aunt. as
il YOU had a poor opinion OF Mr.. Cas-
tellani."
perhaps l have a poor opinion of man
kind in general. Mildred. Your father
was a good man, and your husband Is
another. We ought TO think ourselves
lucky to have known two such men ID our
lives. AS to Cesar Castellani, tell you
again | know no more Of him than YOU
or very little more-though l have known
him so much longer"
"How long have you known him.
"Abo.t fifteen years"
"And how was he introduced to you?'.
'.Oh, he introduced himself, on the
strength OF the old connection between
the Fnussets and the FeIixes. 1t was just
before h.. went to- the university. He was
very handsome, very elegant. and very
much in advance of his years in manners
and accomplishments. He amused and
interested me. and l allowed him to come
to my house rs often as he liked
10 yen know anything about his
means!",
"Nothing definite. He came into n
small fortune upon his mothers death
and ran through it. He has earned
money by literary work. but | cannot
tell you to what extent. If Miss Ran
marries him, I think she may as
well make up her mind TO keep him
THAT is rather a humiliating prospect
for a wife-ratlier like buying a hus-
band"
THAT is a point for Miss Ransome to
consider. / don't think she is the kind
of girl to care much what her within costs
her"
In spite of Pamela's confidence in her
instinct. or, in other words, in her
own wisdom, Mildred was full of anx-
iety about her, and was very eager TO
place her charge beyond the reach of
Cesar Castellani's daily visits and mu-
steal talent. She felt responsible to her
husband for his niece's peace of mind;
doubly responsible in that Pamela's in
terest had been sutordinated to her own
and well-being.
She had other reasons for wishing to
escape from Mr.. Castellani's society.
the Italians gentle touch, a deli
white hand lowering for a moment
her own as lie offered her a book
or n newspaper; there We're times when
his low, sympathetic voice was a horror
to her there were times when she told
herself that her self-respect as a wife
hardly permitted of her breathing the
same air that he breathed.
Innocent and supplemented as her
closely sheltered life had kept her, in all
thoughts, ways and words unlike the nv
erage woman of society, Mildred Greswold
was a woman, and she could not but see
that Cesar Castellani's feelings for her
were of a deeper kind than any senti-
ment with which Pamela Ransome's
charms had inspired him. There were
moments when his voice, his face. his
manner, told his secret only too plainly
but these were but glimpses of the truth,
hurried fittings Of the curtain, which the
man of society let drop again before he
had too plainly betrayed himself. He had
been careful to keep his secret from Pa
mela. 1t was only to the object of his
worship that he had revealed those pre-
dreams of his, and to her only
in such wise as she must needs ignore.
1t would nave seemed s~elf-conscious prud-
cry to rebuke indication so subtle n so
casual; but Mildred could not ignore them
in her own mind. and she waited anxious
ly for the hour in which she would be
well enough to travel.
Meanwhile Miss Fausset rcproached
Castellani.
81 wonder you have not made the young
lady an offer before now
Suppose 1 am not in love with the
young LADY,
'rYou have been too assiduous for that
superstition to occur to me. You have
haunted this house ever since Miss Ran
some has been here"
And yet I am not in love with her"
She is a pretty and attractive girl and
disposed to think highly Of you.