Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1908-01-24
CHAPTER xv.-(Continued.)

hioHaIely. Sne cDilld reel MS qulckcueu
breath on her cheek. Her hand huttercd
like a birds wing in his grasp, then lay
qisiescent. ION my honor, l won't try
to keep You against your will"
I'm not angry, but
Yes, ! know. This sha'n't count. It's
just my foolishness. / won't try to inlu-
cnce YOU
But 1t Is really wrong" Aileen pro
tested weakly. You see, it's Of no good.
IL don't mean anything, and it seems
such a pity you--yon should waste
your-affections."
Billy drew her a little closer.
Hang the fnture!" he said reoslessly.
II mean to make the most of the present.
1t does not NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. ]
have to pay the piper"
Perhaps something of the same spirit
animated Aileen, for she made no further
protest. But, as they went down the
avenue, Aileen suddenly stopped with a
little cry. A bright light was streaming
from the school room window, and it had
been momentarily obscured by n mans
shadow.
..One of the servants" Billy said re-
assuringly.
mo servant would go by the school
TOOIu WIlIuOW 10 lDb DdtN dDOl Sii"g '"i'
1T must be a tramp. Bride will be ter
rifed."
But they met no one. nor was there any
response MS Billy called the servants
names. 1t was too dark to see any one,
and he suggested a visitor as he rang the
bell. Hammond, who was putting re-
frosfments on the dining room table, an
swered the promptly. Mono
-. Ill \. - .-J .tta nod t1at hnon
into the school room with some hot milk
for Miss Bride, who was much better.
at was cooks shadow you saw,' Billy
said reassuringly but Aileen did not
seemt altogether satisfied with the expla-
nation.
Bride glanced up with her usual wei
coming smile as they entered. The milk
was on the table beside her, and she was
looking at the Sketch. There was a
beautiful fire, and the room was the en-
bodiment of comfort. Billy was not sur
prised that Aileen said nothing to her of
her suspicious. He sat for some time
talking about the evenings proceedings
and making plans for the forthcoming
dance, in which Bride was deeply inter-
ested.
at will be your first grown-up dance,
Bride" Ailcen said. STOPPING to pick up
something from the floor. White satin
md pearls, / SUPPOSE
'Moyra said silk would be quite suita-
bic for me. How many people are you
going to have?"
about sixty or seventy, so as not
10 crowd the rooms / hope you'll give
me some dances, Bride? Do you think
Robertson will be back in time? You
.f 4 a 49, 49,. 1t cl1~o~u# AVID I'll
send him a card. Is there any one either
of you would like invited? OF course
Lewiston is to be asked. BY the way"
he added good-naturedly, II might ask
Mr.-Mr.-what is his name?-Char7
teris."
Brides face flushed with pleasure, but
Aileen interposed quickly.
ut might add to some peoples enjoy
ment, but 1t would certainly take away
all Moyra's,'' she said rather coldly. II
+ have any influence in the matter, please
don't ask him."
"Oh. Aileen!n Bride exclaimed, her
eyes filling with tears.
But Aileen was obdur.te, and Billy,
feeling that there was more behind than
he knew, changed the subject. When
the sound Of footsteps outside told Of the
others return, he rose to 80, and as he
shook hands with Aileen, said laughingly
There was nothing wrong after all.
We need not nave hurried"
But Aileen drew her hand away with
= jerk.
Everything Is ~-ons she said t=
gically. II wish ! had never gone to
that wretchcd party " AND then, seeing
his blank. look, she added more kindly:
III don't mean anything in connection
with you"
CHAPTER XVI.
There was undoubted sharpness in the
domestic atmosphere at the Rectory the
next morning. Every one was tired, and
Aileen was undeniably cross and snappish
with every one. She sent a message to
the big house to say she was too tired to
skate that morning. and after being 20
sarcastic to Bride concerning some writ
inx she ought to ave done for her father
that the child was reduced to tears, she
shut herself up in the school room with
the overlooking contents Of Moyra's mend
ing basket.
The school room Grew" and Vera e
Oh to the pools. Terry went into town
to lunch with a college sschum," and
Moyra, after finishing her homework,
Joined Aileen, and found that the ill
hunnor had been worked of onN pile of
garments and darned stockings.
Moyra drew her chair beside Aliens, and
for the next two hours they talked and
sewed. the bright needles flashing to and
fro in their skillful hands.
aBcrtram Charteris used to be our
very great friend In those days.. Ai,een
- DT~ uNNEWWI - L-EE-LL 49,