Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1908-02-07
! SMILING VILLAIN.
BY o L M. Finn.

showed that the new arrangement was
not what she had wished.
THANK YOU Moyra said quietly as
they went away.
Lewiston blushed like n girl.
II am afraid she thought me an in
truder,' he said almost apologetically.
II was cruel to be kind. 1t seems a pity
to spoil ner enjoyment, poor child, but
still"
Moyra's thoughts were not of the hap
piest as she laughed and talked and dane
ed, and sat out with all the little boys
and the old men that the other girls de-
clined. She was very uneasy about
Bride, and she had an uncomfortable
sensation of expectation that had been
with her for some days.
II feel as if | were continually expect
ing something to happen she told Aileen
that morning. Il seem to have the i'm
preston of being on the edge of a preci-
pice."
You want a tonic" Aileen answered
practically. II expect you nave been
worrying about Bride" In her heart
she thought that the telegram which had
arrived from Angus Robertson regretting
his n~on-appearance had something to do
WITH neF sister oppression. rE
Moyra would nave acknowledged at
once. had she been asked, that she had
hoped for Mr.. Robertson's company at
the dance, and she was conscious of a
pinprick of disappointment that made her
feel she was growing quite old and not
In the humor for dances. But that Rob
ertson was more to her than a friend she
would lave denied Indignantly. Mrs.
l Irz-1z- $1,000 -. L. .u.Nl - -.
noticed the shadow on Moyra's face, the
added gravity of her manner, and won
dered what had caused them.
The hostess was resting in an alcove
whence she could watch the dancing with
out being in the way. Moyra was a fav-
orite with her. as indeed were all the
Bsresfords, and she herself was so sweet
in manner so sympathetic, that the young
people united with her family in adoring
her.
What a change it makes in Aileen's
face not wearing her glasses" she re-
marked, as Aileen swept past in the cir
Gle ef dancers. "Her face looks so much
more girlish, 1 think. She looks very
well tonight"
Eyes, but she is so very 1short-sighted
she is rather helpless. But tonight she
looks quite pretty"
81 think she is enjoying herself" Mrs.
Felton said, with a smile. "My shawl
has caught in my brooch, Moyra."
Moyra dis~entangled it carefully and re-
marked upon the fact that some Of Mr..
Fenton's diamonds were in use.
"Yes-my husband likes me to wear
them on such occasions, but I shall give
them up willingly to Billy's wife"-smil-
ing as Billy went past. II has been
a good son. / hope he will marry the girl
he wants. his mother went on. ooh,
yes-there is a girl; have you never no.
ticed7 Well, look straight in front of
you. It's that tall, slight girl in scarlet,
who holds herself SO well and has such a
distinguished manner"
"But that's Aileen !" Moyra gasped,
feeling as If the foundations Of the world
were shaking.
Mrs. Fenton laughed at the sight Of
her perturbed face.
shes going to marry the Professor ;
At least, she viii IL he asks her"
THAT need not prevent Billy from be-
Poor dear mother Moyra! Are all your
babies growing up too quicklyT'
"But he has known her such q short
1 IImc, N1CyEu ODJCSlcu SOhLuSCuiy.
The dance was over Inc the dancers
were streaming out. Aileen was stand
ing with Mr.. Bennett, and, as the two
In the alcove watched, Billy Joined them.
They talked awhile, and presently Aileen
made some remark with reference to
Billy's ~buttonhole, which she repinned
more securely. 1t was q slight action,
| but there was something in their manner
i kh~A -AdMa AfnvpQ cfapt q q ~ cha hol 70
| ceivsd a shock.
"Such a short time!" she repeated
hopelessly.
"Hardly 50 short as you imagine, 1
think" Mrs. Fenton said. BILLY only re-
piled to nay questions, he did not make
any real confession but I believe they
knew each other at Cambridge. OF course
I do not know Aileen's feelings, but I
do trust, in spite of the professor, she
will marry Billy. I always think the
happiest marriages are those in which one
partner supplements the others defcien-
oies. 1t 10 nearly always a mistake for
two people to marry who are exactly
similar in tastes and dispositions. They
always grow one-sided. They ought to be
hak-circles, which, united. form a perfect
round.o
II am very much astonished," Moyra
said. It u doubtful if she had heard all
Mu. Fenton said, SO absorbed was she in
the new idea that had been presented to
her. She could not believe that Aileen
really meant anything beyond mere
friendliness to a pleasant, good-looking
young fellow, who had been very charm
Ing TO them all. Aileen had to her al
ways represented the triumph of intel
lectual superiority, and to think Of her
acting as any ordinary woman who had
never been to Newman or talked of the
Cause might do was almost profanity in
her sisters eyes. The union Of intellect
that her marriage to Eric Lewiston had
suggested was what might nave been ex-
pected from her, but Billy Moyra
gazed at his handsome, honest, smiling
face with an interest and attention she
had never before given it.
The approach of Bertram Chrteris,
handsome and debonair, recalled her
thoughts to Bride. He sat beside Mrs.
Fenton's couch for some time. talking
gaily n complimenting her on the great
success of the dance. 1t was the first
time she had met him, and she was much
attracted by him.
Billy seemed vexed that / had asked
him, she said, when he had gone in search
Of his next partner. .He seems very
| pleasant. a little theatrical, perhaps"
Yes" Moyra assented. She thought the
| description was a true one. especially
that evening, when for some reason or
n~oxh~r - ~ro hor +ho ;ornraer;cn thre