Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1908-02-07
CHAPTER XIX.

Flow do you think 1t Is going
"Oh, splendidly! I, for one, am enjoy
Ing myself immensely"
"Are you? That's all right, then
The remarks were exchanged betweer
Billy and Aileen, at that moment Cor
ners'' to each other In a set Of lancers
The dance had been In progress about n
hour, and the great dining room, which
had been converted into a ball room, wal
filed with a throng Of men and women.
"A very pretty ~scene," the Rector said
apprsvingly from the doorway, where be
vas standing with Mr.. Fenton. He wa
watching his daughters, and he smiled
well pleased at his hosts hearty admira-
ton Of the three, especially Bride, who
vas by far the fairest and l~oveliest girl
IN the room.
.sIhat girl Of yours would Z
throne" Mr.. Fenton said heartily. y
wish my boy would look at her In ths
same light, but I'm afraid he's got some.
body else in his eye. At least, mamma
hints at such q thing. I would not ask
him to do better than one of eur girls
Rector
II am in no hurry to lose any OF them,'
Mr.. Beresford answered. "Cextainly
hope I can keep my Bride a few year,
longer. She is only eighteen
..That young Charteris seems to admire
her very much. Is there anything goins
on in that quarter? I met them On thu
shore the other day, and I fancied they
locked as if they had formed . mutual
admiration society. just excuse ne .
moment! I must speak to Bennett"-and
he went off, leaving the Rector very
thoughtful.
Those few idle words from an outsider
had done more to arrest the indulgsnt
fathers attention than all Moyra had
said or done. For the drst time ~ saw
clearly the danger into which ~ had I'M
willingly permitted Bride to wander. Hs
looked at her ~anxiously many times dur
Ing the evening, and he saw that her
preference for Bertram was almost openly
confessed, that with him she was al
smiles and animation, apart from him
0uiet and dreamy. The nsctor's browl
contracted. He wished he had taken
Moyra's advice.
"Of course in the circumstances the
thing would be impossible. He has Meth
3 money nor position, and, % matters
are. he Is only trihing with her. ! have
heen very blind, but IL is not too late b
repair the damage"
He felt and looked 80 anxious that
Moyra. passlnE with Lewiston, paused to
ask il anything had gone wrong.
1T was only thinking that Bride Is
dancing too much with Charteris," be
said evasiveiy. 'You should have told
der 1t is bad form to- dance frequently
with one partner"
Moyra glanced up at him.
sM ar ..,s1l t,1f b,o~ - rHo co sd wnntlr @2
The professor wondered why she looked
SO relieved as they went in search OF
Bride, whom they found under a palm on
the staircase with one of the Gunnery
boys IN attendance. Moyra sat down be-
side her as Bride smiled at them hap
PLY.
Are you enjoying yourself very
nuch?' Moyra asked, taking up Brides
program. Are ~yoeNedgaged for all the
dances?" sse askets She saw in a rapid
glance that Bertram's initials occurred
Four times only-for three dances in the
6rst part and for one towards the end.
With whom are you going in to supper:a
she asked. seeing that dance left blank.
Bride hesitated, and her color deep
ened.
IL am not engaged for that-yet,,
ME faltered.
Lewiston leaned forward almost eager.
~.
.Then may l have ity.' b. asked. 81
do not dance, but l should like the pleas
urc 81 tsking you in to supper.v Almos,
as IL ne we're afraid she would rainsa,
& him. s. scrawied his Initials on the card
esThanks very much I, Ne aid cheerfully
Wkile Brides lips quivets1 and her fac,