The Miller sun. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 190?-19??, 1908-01-04

locally as the pools. She could see Lulu
In her scarlet hat disporting herself mer-
rily, and as she drew nearer she could
distinguish one o. another whom she
knew but it was not until she was quite
close TO the hut, beside which a fire was
burning, that she saw Bride sitting on a
chair and talking very earnestly to Billy.
1T is too bad - Aileen heard her say.
"Moyra and Aileen are always stopping
my pleasure"
She looked up eagerly as Aileen APP
preached, and look of disappointment
came over her face as she saw who 1t
was. Billy, on the contrary, was radi-
ant.
How late you are !" he cried. Don't
let us waste any more time"-and he
FASTENED to put on her skates.
They were skimming over the ice to-
gether, when Aileen said abruptly WAS
Bride asking you about inviting Mr.. Char
teris?'
"Yes, poor child! l was awfully sorry
to refuse; she seemed SO set on it. l
say, if I told you something -glancing
at her doubtfully-"I'm afraid you'd be
annoyed"
Aileen looked at him anxiously.
us il about she began.
Last night" Billy concluded, biting
his lip. They skated towards deserted
part of the pool II hope you won't
think me interfering, or anything of that,
but / know you and Moyra don't like
Charters, and l think he's awfully low
class myself. You remember last night?
Well, after / left you / thought I'd just
go round the circle and the strawberries
and satisfy myself that there was no one
there SO l went round by your kitchen
garden and our glass houses, and by the
time got back to the avenue the moon
was well out, and / saw some one going
up the avenue walking on the grass.
wouldn't swear to it, but my first impress
sion was that it was Charters. OF course
/ may have been mistaken, but
You were not" Aileen said quickly.
She put her hand into her pocket and.
taking out her purse, produced the broken
half Of gold sleeve link with an en-
twined "B. c." engraved OH it. Il picked
that up on the school room floor" she
said, with sob that seemed forced from
her. "He was there last night, and she
never told us y
Billy did not know what to say to her.
He had no doubt that the man he had
seen was Charters, who had evidently
been DESTROYS of not being recognized.
Yet what could have been his object in
maintaining such secrecy? He had not
been forbidden the house, nor was he
Brides acknowledged lover. They might
L L. Ill Inr1n TNS
Bride had kept the broken link as love
token, and had dropped it unwittingly.
But Aileen put aside such explanations
impatiently.
The truth is we have all gone the
wrong way with Bride she said. Angus
said we coddled her too much, and it's
quite true. We ougl. to have let her get
her experience for herself, instead of shell
tring her from everything disagreable and
uncomfortable. The result is that she Is
bound to be controlled by a stronger will,
and when that 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. Do you think that
Bride-Bride, of ali people, would have
ever said such a thing or thought IT 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 ones calling unless 1t had
been suggested to her to do sol Alleen
stamped her foot. Eve are SC powerless,
she cried Suppose | tell father; he
would only forbid him the house, and
Bride would consider herself still more
ill-used. and he'a still make opportuni-
ties to see her. But Bride, Bride
Oh, Billy, help me- Tell me what l am
to do!'
He could hardly believe his ears. To
think that Allen, always so selt-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 bewldering enough
to drive away every idea he had. But ne
made vigorous attempt TO keep MS
senses about him and to think deeply.
Il don't for second think there's
any likelihood or her clipping with him
or ANYTHING of that sort" he announced
slowly. "But she's immensely taken with
him. and she's very simple, easily led,
and fascinated by his superticiality. And
she's awfully romantic, and no doubt I'M
AGNES herself the heroine of three-voi-
ume novel and of course any opposition
would only feed her ideas. IL l were
you I'd pack her off somewhere, and not
give Charters any chance of knowing
where she is, and then if he really means
anything
"Rut ne does not, and he knows that
father would never countenance such q
thing"
"Well, then, send her away for Q
change, and until she goes I'll help you
to see that Charteris is kept as much
at arms length as we can manage"