The Sauk Centre herald., 1908-03-12


| was distressingly fiorid, her move
| ments were ungraceful and her voice
| had an unpleasant sharpness. Kin
ross felt his already faint hopes fail
him entirely as he realized the gen
eral hardness Of her aspect. He
pinned his case upon what he believed
he recognized in her countenance, IN
character that perhaps justified, some
what, her pride of blood.
1T is good to see you again, DR..
Kinross," she began as they sat down
together. "It is always pleasure to
me to meet old friends. Did you know
she continued volubly, Il had a call
from your brother one day last winter.
when he had run on to Washington
from New YOrk-it was on one of my
at home days and of course he met Il
lot of his old friends-and he remarked
as he was leaving how pleasant it had
been to meet them. l told him he
would never meet any but old ac-
quaintances at my house. In our circle
we don't meet the new people. for
tunately."
This was good beginning, certainly.
"But what tragic deprivation to the
new people!' he remarked, with per-
functory smile intended to take the
edge off his sarcasm.
II am aware" she said stiffiy, that
you do not share my strong feelings
about such things"
"No,' he said, I'D associate with the
devil if found him interesting.'
"Such bohemian views are unworthy
of your blood she said with grave
Representatives,. Il hope you don't
go so far as to be willing to marry out
Of your rank:'
"NO. l draw the line there. I'm not
willing to marry out OF my rank-noI
yet in it. I'm quite unwilling to marry
at ALL
'You haven't been an easy prey" she
admitted. How have YOU managed to
escape falling in love all these years."
"But love hasn't anything to do with
rank-if you'll pardon my platitudes."
mo one, man or woman, need per-
NIT himself to fall in love outside Of
his own station in life," she said dog
matically, "or if he is so weak let him
conquer himself
Kinross smiled and was silent He
would not argue.
Miss Wolcott abruptly changed the
subject.
"Well, Peter, what is this important
business matter which gives me the
pleasure of a call from you? Your tel
egram has made me very curious.
got here''
But you must really wait a few mo-
ments longer. l must not be precipi-
tate. That's the one thing I've been
telling myself all the way here-not to
be precipitate, but to break it to yon
gently, to lead up to it automatically,
rhetorically, if possible. Unfortunate
ly my style was ever la cookbook
direct and to the point"
Dear me! Well, do adhere to your
customary style and spare me the
rhetoric. l prefer to hear your news
'
FORM
"The shock might De too great"
This was not at all as he had meant
to steer his communication, for no one
could have felt more earnestly the
gravity of what he had come to com
municate, and his chatting was far
from expressing his true mood, but
he felt that his case was lost already,
that rhetoric could not save it, and his
tongue ran away with him.
Its something shocking then?" in
CURED Miss Wocott
"That depends on how you look at
it,
well? Do hurry. please
"Miss Wolcott," he said solemnly,
I'm afraid what | have to tell you
will not be welcome news
She looked surprised at his sudden
seriousness and waited, with what pa
tience she could command, for him to
go on.
He rose and walked the length of
the piazza, then came back and stood
before her.
81 am very stupid. l don't know
how to begin it,"
"Gracious, Peter, you're not thinking
of proposing to me, are you?'
1T would require less daring than
what have to tell you"
IF you don't say it soon, I shall have
hysterics"'
He cleared his throat, and his voice
was not quite firm as he plunged in.
"Let me begin with a question. Tell
me, were you perfectly convinced at
the time Of your brothers death that
his little daughter was with him and
died with him? Did you ever have any
doubts about it?"
Her eyes opened wide in amazement.
"Of course notv'
"Did you see the dead child who was
Identified as your nieceY'
mo. l was in Florida at the time
Of the accident and did not get back in
time for the funeral''
The woman had turned white and
was looking dazed.
"The child was not with her father
Miss Wolcott.''
Miss Wolcott sat upright, her hands
~ -AA