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

lie was obliged to go, Aileen," she
said in very low tone. II can't tell
you about it; l wish could forget it.
But it was disgraceful l don't know
how he could come back, but every one
seems to have forgotten about it except
me- She paused for a second, as if she
were trying to come to mental decision.
DO you care for him, Aileenr
mo, l don'tw Aieen answered very
| de- aedly. He is very attractive, very
agreeable, and very handsome, but to my
mind he does not ring true. / don't know
why | should mistrust him so much-at
least i have some suspicious. / do not
think he is at all sincere. lie is too
superficial; he wants ballast
HE always did," Moyra answered, with
sigh. "He was ambitious: he wanted
to be rich, and yet he would not work
or settle to anything, and he was weaker
than water. They were sad faults in
| young fellow they are worse in man.
Aileen, did you ever know l was once
engaged to him?''
Aileen dropped her work with an amaz-
ed exclamation.
"Yes-for week only. 1t was just
before mother died that-that it was
broken of. / sometimes think the worry
and anxiety Of that time helped towards
her death. 1t is thought that does not
make me like him better / was only
seventeen, and we had been always to-
gether, and he-yes, l think he was very
fond OF me, and every one said had
bis future in my hands, and l was very
young and inexperienced, and somehow
| let myself be persuaded. Father and
mother both said l was far too young,
but old Mr.. Charteris--he was alive then
was very anxious for the engagement.
You see, she said, in lower tone, "he
knew about--well, there was another
GIRL and--and--oh, Aileen, you know"
What a shame! Never mind dear
est +! l understand
well, the engagement lasted just a
week, and no one was TO know but /
suppose the servants got an idea of it,
and talked, and-and then the girls moth
er came TO father. Oh, Aileen, to this
day | hate to go into fathers study
1t all comes back to me so wildly Old
Mr.. Charters was awfully angry about
the engagement being broken off, and Ber-
tram went away for a few days. And
while he was away / was told-and l
knew something else, and-and his faith
or would not let him return. / can't tell
you what else came out, Aileen, because
am the only one here who knows, even
father was not told though / think at
the time he had his suspicious. But then
we were all in such trouble about mother,
and, although | seemed 10 feel the loss Of
Bertram, | felt the shame and the degra-
dation still more, and there was Lulu to
take his place"
There was little pause: then Aileen
said slowly as if she were bordering over
many things:
II can't understand how he could come
back and be so friendly, and-and for
getful."
"He was always like that. He had
never any thought beyond the gratifica-
ton of a momentary within. and when he
forgot any trouble or vexation, he thought
every one had done the same. l remem-
Der mothers once saying that he should
have been named Reuben. Unstable as
water. thou shall not excel, she quoted.
But you understand now, Aileen, why /
tice of Bride. 1t pleases him to do so
at the time, and when he has tired of her
he'll so off quite gaily and easily, and
care nothing that he has made her like
him and that her heart is broken"
"Oh, / hope it won't be so bad as
thatw Ailcen was frowning; her firm
lips were closely pressed together. Her
own thoughts were far from reassuring.
She looked once or twice at Moyra, and
then decided to keep them to herself for
little while. II think We had better
send her away for few weeks she said.
"She's really so extraordinarily pretty she
ought TO marry very well. Only she is so
simple"
"She can't go before the Fentons'
dance but that is quite soon now. After
that she can easily go to the Hamikons
for time. She likes being there. /
wish Haywood Fenton would fall in love
with her, don't you? She looked so sweet
in all those wonderful diamonds" Moyra
went on, without noticing that her wish
did not seem to meet with warm response.
The mending was finished when the bell
for luncheon pealed generously through
the house Aileen rose and stretched her
self lazily.
II think I'll go to the pools for an
hour this afternoon" she said by the
way. Moyra. Haywood Fenton'--Aileen
never spoke. Of him in any other way. and
always addressed him as Mr.. Fenton,
whereas all the others used the familiar
"Billy'-"is laboring under the impress
sion that Angus Is an acquaintance OF
Bertram's"
'sThey have never met here. don't
think so, although remember that Mr..
Robertson was once looking through the
album and saw photo Of Bertram taken
years ago, and at first he thought it was