Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1908-08-28
CHAPTER XIV.

Last night there had been rain as the
darkness grew to dawn, and now a soft
moisture is rising from the leaves lying
on the sodden ground. Amber, picking
her steps delicately, not on the wet path.
but on the spongy moss that skirts IT,
goes on her way through the almost leaf
less wood, her head a little bent and a
smile upon her lips that is half sweet,
half sad. and full of a new wonderrnent
The night gone by had been a strange
one for her. For the first time in all
her curious %girlhood, she had, for one
thing, lain wide awake as hour by hour
went by, thinking, thinking, and her
thoughts carried her far, and far, but
always back to one center.
That kiss upon her hand 1t had gone
from her hand to her heart and stayed
there. What did it mean? That is the
burden of all her thinking. Does he love
her? Can he love her? Her her! 1t
is a tremendous question, and takes great
answering. A whole sleepless night long
lying with %sleeplcss eyes working 1t
OUTS surely but a very short time to
give to so momentous, so wonderful, SO
She hardly knows what sort Of question
it is.
At breakfast. held ip bondage still by
this worrying thought. she hardly dares
to look at Hilary; and breakfast over,
had slipped away to the eternal comfort,
and rest, of the silent woods. Here she
will work 1t out. Here she will be able
to think indeed.
Softly, but with n little chill in it,
blows the wind. Now there are but few
leaves left to play with it, to make a
pretty fight, to shake their green and
tender pennons in its face with saucy de-
fiance.
Will she ever "forget"7 All at once,
walking quietly through the woods, she
knows that she never will. She knows
that she loves him. Such knowledge is
nm education in itself. The girl tands
quite still staring straight before her.
She loves him, and he loves her. She is
quite as sure of one as of the other. Her
soul seems to soar to heaven as this blest
thought enters into 1t; and then all at
once, in the twinkling Of an eye as it
were, it sinks to hell.
To love him, to permit him to love
her, will mean ruin to him! Sir Lucien
would not hear of a marriage between
|them-and-Sir Lucien has it in his pow
or to ~t:sinheri. him. Mr.. Eyerard had
|lOlu Z ludl. u SOulSG hC
is something to be said for Sir Lucien.
whose father is accused of doing away
with very valuable jewels that in no way
belonged to him, is hardly a girl one
would wish ones heir to marry. Unless
the jewels are restored. and her fathers
name cleared Of %dishonor, all joy and hope
in her life ere at an end.
1t is at this point of her sad reflections
that she lifts her eyes and sees Brian
Dcane standing a few yards away from
her. She Is conscious that she starts a
little at his sudden appearance, but go
ing quickly forward she gives him her
hand, which he takes and holds, staring
eagerly at her face.
..Alone y says he. All the love for her
that his wild untutored heart undoubted-
" knows, does not prevent the touch OF
sarca that enters into his voice. Not
even the handsome cousin to keep you
company. Or. perhaps" with sudden
darkening of his frownins brows, you
are on your way to meet him.?
~. have come OFT TO ..eet nobody" says
Amber coldly. and with a glance OF scorn.
I'm glad to hear it. have been
about the place for days in the
hope of seeing you."
why should you do that? Why Not
come straight to the house and ask to see
me? YOU" with a little rush. as though
the thought is distasteful to her-"you
are my cousin"
with all that lot round you? No!
l wanted to see you alone. You remem-
Der that last conversation had with
you? p
sNo," distinctly. II thought it wiser
to forget it."
.Your wisdom doesn't seem to have
helped you" says he with an ugly sheer.
Its hard to forget-isn't it? Does any
Dne forget, 1 wonder? I would to heaven
It weren't SO hard, for then | might per-
haps be able to forget you! But l cant,
you see. That's what it comes to. l
can't put you out Of my mind"
..yNhy do you talk to me like this.
says the girl very gently, when
YOU know that it Is so useless r.
what l know" says he, his pale,
logged face now a dull crimson, lis that
it shall not be useless. No! Mine you
shall be-"
Suddenly catching her by both her
arms, he compels her with brute force 50
10 turn that n fuller light from the dull
sky falls upon her face.
"You think you love that fellow! You
think that he loves you. ! tell you, you
are a fool. Doubly a fool
"Take your hands away, Brian" says
she at last, not angrily. not nervously-
with a cold courage, a naughty COM
mand. that seems to go to his very soul.
He releases her instantly. O course !
quite understand that you hardly know
what you are saying or doing" she goes
on therefore l forgive you, and shall
bear YOU no ili-will." She lightly brushes
down the sleeves of her coat where has
hands had held her. All the most violent
words of contempt or anger she could
have showered upon him could not have
to him half so clearly as this
slow and simple gesture the state OF her
mind towards him. 1t is casting him
from her into outer darkness indeedi
s.Ill-will from you to me! Why, l am
the one who loves you! You-are the only
thing I love on earth-the only thing
cvcr have loved. You think that Captain
Adare will marry you! I tell you he
neither will nor can. His uncle would
d~isinherit him IL he did SO. But I-love
you ~
II an sorry, says she very kindly.
very sweetly, but as he feels, finally.
What do you mean 2" cries be fercely.
.sBe sorry for yourself When he shows
you plainly at the last, that his uncle's
thousands are more to him q a penni-
less girl--a girl,too, with the story of her
fathers dishonor hung round her neck,