The Miller sun. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 190?-19??, 1908-01-25
A SMILING
~ VIOLET ID. FILM.
~ VIOLET N. HLINN.

lancers was In progress, and the various
resting places were almost deserted. He
stood irresolute for a moment, when some
ono seized his arm. 1t was Bride, but
an astounding change had passed over her.
Her fnce was white and drawn, and In
her eyes there was an anguish that wrung
his heart.
bride, dear child, what has happened?
Arc you iii"
IF I were only at home" she moaned.
Lewiston rose at once to the occasion.
he glanced round, seized a shawl lying
on a chair, wrapped 1t round the girl,
who was shaking from head to foot, and
drew her arm within his.
Come" he said gently. I'VE will &c
home"
They traversed the path between the
two houses In silence. The darkness out
side was intensified by the brilliancy they
had left there was a dampness In the
air that betokened more rain. Now and
again strains of music reached them, and
then Bride shuddered, and chung inyolun-
tarily to the strong arm that guided her.
1t was not until they had reached the
hall door that Bride spoke, in a strained
4 Olt NtII uClt htl uoAsAA 49,
Don't tell any one !" she gasped.
"Not If you do not wish it," he an
swered, as gravely and protectingly as
her father would have done. but it
would be wiser TO tell your sister Moyra
what your trouble is"
'Oh, no: not Moyra! She-she-and
/ did not believe her" Her words were
so broken that he could hardly understand
what she was saying. And | have de-
ceived her. She will never love me again.
Love, love ~ she repeated slowly, and
then laughed bitterly. "Oh, / wish /
could die !" she cried p~assionately. My
heart Is broken, and l am so young"
$50 young, dear child, that time will
be your best CONSIDER" he answered gent
ly. 1.-THE day may-no, will-come when
you will look back on tonight and smile
at the recollection that now seems too
cruel, too bitter to be. But that is not
yet, and now the pain is hard and heavy,
my poor child"
"'Oh. II is awful" Bride sobbed. "How
can | live? / must die when | am so
miserable. 1t would be impossible to live
with such agony-it will never go away.
How could | ever forget?"
The professor consoled her gently, ten
dcrly-even as her mother might have
done, and gradually Brides agitation less
ened, and he ventured to ring the bell.
You have been 80 kind" she said,
gratefully, as they waited for sleepy Ham
mond to open the door. II shall never
forget how kind. When-when- l
thought of you at once. l knew you
would help me-"
Always, always, dear child" he an
swered quickly, as Hammond opened the
door remember in all circumstances /
am your friend"
1t happened that when he returned to
the big house Moyra was standing in
the hall with her lest partner. He In
! formed her where he had been, and said
he thought Bride had a headache. Moyra
received the news without displaying any
great concern. Bride was very subject
TO headaches, and she was not surprised
that the excitement and strain OF the oc-
casion had brought on one of her attacks.
They were still standing in the hall when
Aileen joined them, looking very tired.
IL am going for my cloak, Moyra," she
| said. II can't dance any more. Let US
60 away quietly. / sha'n't be long"
at is evidently the end of the evening"
| Moyra laughed. Here Is Billy, looking
| tired too'-as young Fenton approached,
looking quite worn out. His eyes had
| lost their merry light and wore a strain
ed. tired expression that made Moyra de-
eide that he had a headache as well as
| Bride. Aileen's return was delayed, and
Moyra grew tired Of waiting.
II think I shall 60" she said. draw
ing her lace scarf round her head. She
can easily run across alone. IL you see
! her. Billy, tell her | have gone, please
and she and Lewiston went out.
Aileen stopped abruptly, the color ris-
ing In her face when she made her tardy
appearance, and saw Billy standing alone
in the doorway. Billy plunged into the
vortex and she followed him blindly,
while carriage lamps cast confusing cir
cles of light. and an incessant babel OF
voices went on. They walked without
speaking to the door, as If they were total
strangers. The hall door was open. Or
the step .Aileen paused.
Thank you very much" she faltered
meekly. Good night
Billy did not answer he stood mo-
t~ionless, his eyes fixed on the girls grace
full form. She seemed to move, and there
was a sound as il a sob had escaped her.
Then Billy made a step forward and
caught the trembling figure in his arms.
.Aileen," he whispered hoarsely, his
face pressed against hers, so that he
felt that her cheeks were wet with tears.
us it quite impossibleT
She seemed to draw nearer to him, to
nestle closer within his arms, yet she
answered:
"Yes."
For a moment they stood motionless
and in silence. Then suddenly Billy bow