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

been DESTROYS Of not being recognized.
Yet what could have been his object in
maintaining sI1ch secrecy! He had not
been forbidden the house, nor was he
Brides acknowledged lover. They might
be mistaken, he said aloud. Perhaps
Bride had kept the broken link as a love
token, and had dropped it unwittingly.
But Aileen put aside such explanations
imp%atiently.
'.The truth is we nave all gone the
wrong way with Bride" she said. Angus
said we coddlea her too much, and it's
quite true. We ought to have let her get
her experience for herself, instead OF shei-
tring her from everything disagreabie ana
uncomfortable. The result is that she Is
bound to be controlled by a stronger VIII,
and when thai will comes. in the form OF
a young and fascinating man she submits
to it at once. You heard what she said
about Moyra and me. Dc you think That
Bride-Bride, Of all people. would nave
ever said such a thing or thought 1t IL the
idea had not been put into her mind hrst!
And do you think that she, who is as open
as the day, would ever hold her tongue
about any mes calling unless 1t had
been suggested to her to do scr Alleen
stamped her foot. ave are so poweriess,
she cried. "Suppose l tell father; he
would only forbid him the house, ana
Bride would consider herself still more
| iIl-used, and he'd still make opportunl-
ties to see her. But Bride, Bride
oh, Billy, help me! Tell me what 1 am
to dor
He could hardly believe his ears. 10
think that .Aileen, always SO sell-pos-
sessed. so confident of her own powers
should come TO him for advice and help,
and show so plainly that she thought
he could give it, was bewilderlng enough
70 drive away every idea he had. But he
made n vigorous attempt to keep MS
senses about him and to think deeply. +
81 don't for a second think there's
any likelihood Of her clipping WIN MN
or anything Of that sort he announced
slowly. but she's immensely taken WIN
him, and she's very simple, easily leo,
and fascinated by his supertclallty. ana
she's awfully romantic, and no DOUBT lIa-
AGNES herself the heroine OF a three-Vo1-,
ume novel and of course any opposition
would only feed her ideas. Ii l We're
YOU I'd pack her OF somewhere, and not
give Charters any chance OF knowing
where she Is, and then. If he really means
anything
But he does NOT, anu ne hh'"' ="
fo ther. would never countenance such a
thing {
well. then, send her away for a
change, and until she goes I'll help you
to see that Charters is kept as much
at arms length as we can manage
Aileen's face Frightened, she looked at
him gratefully. There was q smile on her
Inns and n friendliness in her manner that
made Billy bold.
..Suppoye for the next few days enter
the lists against CharterisI' he said,
watching the varying expressions that
fitted over her mobile face. How would
that do" q
Aileen scratched a hole in the ice with
her skate blade.
do you think you are likely to be
victorious" she asked demurely. You
are very conceited, I'm afraid"
Il could DOW Charters out If l set
myself to work but in such a case l
should expect a fitting reward"
She looked at him archly and skated
away.
Bride looked lovely in those dia-
monds,'' she said over her shoulder.
ITO be continued.)