Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1908-02-14
SMILING VILLAIN.
CHAPTER xx.-fContinued.)
BY VIOLET M. FILM.

LIZ I'D eagerly Wnen the INST btfaluS VI
music reached the supper room, and he
lad aiken her back for her partner. But
the music rose and fell. there was an
ever moving whirl OF dancers, and still
Bride sat expectant, until at length the
music ceased and the dancers surged out
laughing and talking, into the cool hal
with it's many lounges.
Shall we follow them I" the professor
asked, sorry for the GIRLS piteous eyes
and whitening face. 1T Is growing SO
hot here"
He felt he should like to knock Char
tcris down. Never before had he felt In
such an aggressive mood as he did when
he pushed pen he door leading into the
conservatory. They sauntered along un.
der the huge Towering palms, Brides
hand lying 1istlessly on his arm. They
reached the end of the path, and turned
mechanically to retrace their steps, when
Brides hand frightened its grasp, the light
came back to hen face.
Charters was standing at the end Of
the cross path, his face pressed against
the glass as if he were trying to pierce
the gloom outside. He started violently
as Lewiston uttered his name, and then
came forward with his own sweet smile.
Dear Bride, will you ever forgive
me?" he asked gently, as she looked at
him, her great eyes filed with reproach.
II was SO sorry to miss that dance but
you will give me another, won't your
oh, yes r Bride, poor, simple Bride
said breathlessly.
She turned to Lewiston with q frank
smile which, while her words thanked him
for his escort, told him still more plain
ly he was no longer wanted. He felt
very unhappy as he moved away, but his
unhappiness was, with the exception Of a
trifiing sense OF loss, entirely for Bride.
He was afraid she was building on very
shallow foundations.
He roamed about ai1hlessly, feeling very
much Mt variance with the gay, pleasure
seeking crowd. He had nothing In com
mon with these ~light-hearted young folks,
he felt pitifully old and lonely. Life had
always been SO serious, SO grave a matter
to him; he had been weighed with respon-
sibilities at so early an age that it had
made him an old man before his time.
And vet / am not really old" be
unused. II am not bald, my eyesight Is
keen, and ] am more vigorous now than
was as an undergraduate. am an
older man now at thirty-seven than young
Fenton will be at fifty. It is my manner,
my loss of all those affections and ties
which complete and augment a mans
life. I am a horribly lonely man,"
A little later he wandered again into
the conservatory, now almost deserted.
He paced up and down, his hands clasped
behind his back, his head bowed, deep in
thought-thoughts that brought a frown
to his face.
Passing down one OF the side walks
he noticed casually that the door Of 4
small orchid house had been left open,
revealing glimpses Of its exquisite treas
ures. Lewiston revealed In flowers, and,
p~reoccupied as he was, remembered that
Mr.. Fenton had said something about a
new and rare acquisition lately procured.
he entered the small house, that possess
I'd nc other door ave the one by which
he had entered. He found the new treas
sure and examined it critically, saunter-
lng slowly round until he had reached the
door again, and then the sound OF famil-
lar voices attracted his attention. he
pecred through the leafy screen and took
. cautious survey.
Billy Fenton and Aileen Beresford
were sitting on q lounge directly opposite
to the door, and there was something In
their attitudes that made Lewiston. m
versed as he was in such matters, realise
that to make his entrance at that moment
would be exceedingly unwise. He looked
ct the young couple dispassionately, ad-
mirfng the pretty picture thoy made. and
3~thoughtfully criticising tho play Of the
.subdued light on Aileen's downcast iAc~
and Billy's handsome features.
Ailecn was really quite a pretty Grill
he thought refiectively. For the first time
be seemed to look at her simply az 4
woman and not MS the product Of modern
progress. He had always been vaguely
conscious that she was pleasanter to the
sye than the majority q hef fellow stu
dents, but on that point he had never be-
fore appealed to him. It had been BY
her intellect, her extraordinary capahii-
slty, the renown az q pupil that she would
give her master that had been first in his
thoughts concerning her. He had pro-
posed to her, it was true, but It had been
simply In Difference to m absurd modern
convention that would not permit even an
intellectual partnership between d man
and q woman. q master and pupil. With
put unpleasant int and scandal.
To be surc Aileen had been sometime
Of a shock to him since his arrival III
Caterham West. She had not manifested
her usual avidity for information. her
customary concentration Of energies in
her reading, but he had excused her way
wardness on the score Of youth and the
holiday influence. Until that moment.
when he saw her cheeks flushing and PAL
Ing, when he saw Billy Fentou's eyes
fixed adoringly ON her face and heard Ills
low, earnest voice. II had not really Do
CURED to Eric Lewiston that Aiieen vps
- woman, therefore to be won"
Ailcen and Billy had long deserted the
lounge when he emerged once more into
the brilliantly lighted hall. A set Of
lAncers was in progress, and the various
resting places were almost deserted. He
stood irresolute for I moment, when some
ore seized his arm. 1t wa Bride, but
On astounding change had passed ever her.
Her face was white and drawn, and in
her eyes there was an anguish that wrung
his heart.
Bride, dear child, what has h~appened7
Are you ILL"
IT were only at home r. she moaned.
Lewkson rose at once to the occasion.
He glanced round, seized q shawl lying
on = chair. wrapped it round the girl,
who was shaking from head to foot, and
drew her arm within his.
Come he said gently. I'VE viii 90
home."
They traversed the path between the
two houses In silence. The darkness c1t-
oids was intensified BY the btilliancy they
had left there was q dampness In the
MIR thnf hetofened mnrN rain. Now md