Warren sheaf. [volume] (Warren, Marshall County, Minn.) 1880-current, 1908-04-16

Are you ashamed of me, Stellar"
he interrupted his voice touched with
sternness as we'll as with wounded feel
ing.
mo, no, no! But don't you see?
Women will nudge me, and ask when
1t is to be, and who is the lucky man.
joke me unbearably. Men will, too.
And you won't be here TOTO help me.
Oh, don't you see?" she pleaded
He put the ring in the box. eyes, I
think l can see," he said DULY; you
wish no pledge between us"
"Oh, Alfred, are you forgetting what
we said that night when you were
Romeo, I Juliet? Is there anything
any article in this whole round world
that can hold our hearts closer?" She
held out timid hand I'D like to
keep your ring, If may, out of sight
till-ti1l-"
"Till we're married? Then it won't
be an engagement ring!"
Must others see it to make it an
engagement ring?" She held up slim
finger. "The day you say, Come here
it shall be. Till then. please tell no
one.'
Alfred softened. He had been re-
PEELED by the eagerness with which
some of the western women he had
met paraded that which Stella would
screen with the curtains Of her heart.
There was real satisfaction in his face
when he spoke again.
II believe you're right. mavourneen,"
he said, tenderness returning. do
as you wish with the little circlet"
She drew from beneath her collar a
gold chain and locket. "My mother
died before I can remember; this is
her picture. Father gave it to me the
day I was Is. " She opened the case,
disclosing a sweet face, and Alfred
bent to look at it.
"You are like her, but larger, more
alive" He looked up quickly. "Your
mother was-was-there's heartache
in her face"
"You see it, too?" she whispered.
y know father cherished her memory,
yet he would never tell me of her. less
of himself And someway I've always
felt that she was very unhappy" Stel-
la closed the case softly. Il love her
dear face; and beside it your ring
shall stay. Day and night I'll think Of
it, and of you. I'll call it love-token,
not pledge, my"
A rustic near the door banished the
intimate moment. Alfred dropped her
hand and lowered his tone dearest,
can't control my time. Mr.. Croker
has requested me-that's a command
Of course-to show Miss Hamilton
about, amuse her till we return"
"We?" questioned Stella wistfully,
dropping pearls and combs into her
pocket.
Yes; go back to Sacramento with
them tomorrow. To-day we are to go
over some of the grading. You must
go with us, though shall have to pay
more attention to"
ooh, no! Don't ask me. I'd rather
stay
"Stella, I want you to meet these
people, wish to have them know you
| They are men you must know and
meet often, Tiff our hopes come true.
Besides, Miss Hamilton is the only
woman; the others are officials and
capitalists Mr.. Croker is entertain.
ing. 1t will be much pleasanter for
her If you 60. Will your
Stella hesitated. Not for the reason
that Alfred had asked her to "play
second fiddle" but because the vision
! OF small woman in neat travelling
garb following Sally. B. upstairs did
not increase Stella's confidence in her
self A sudden feeling that she sus
pected was resentment astonished her
She found herself angry because this
selfassured woman had invaded her
! own domain. She took herself sharply
in hand. Was this the way she should
treat Alfred? Refuse his every re
| quest? It'll 60 because you wish it.
Alfred she said heartily. ~.
Miss Hamilton entered, looking very
trim and At in her cool, blue linen
gown, with hat, parasol and furbelow
in harmony. She acknowledged the
Introduction prettily, bowling graceful
ly and taking Stella's hand. 5.... H..
Dear me, Miss Anthony! How dc
! you manage that exquisite complexion
in this heat and dust? And how can
| you look 50 sweetly serene living here
where everything is in such jun
ble?" she ratified on after the first
words of greeting were past
i Stella blushed at the glib compli
ments. She hated herself for doubt
ing Miss Hamilton's sincerity, and re
piled hesitatingly. 5s%
Alfred came to her rescue. 'sWe
shall start in few minutes. Will you
be ready and join us here? Well wait
4 for YOU s ,8#5
"oh, are you going out to view the
iron track with us, Miss Anthony:
How perfectly splendid! Get ready
quick, there's dear" I5.B 5.#
The words were astonishing to Stel
l la. Why did this stranger speak as Ii
i they had been friends for years? Stel
la shot a glance at Alfred. but he gave