The Miller sun. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 190?-19??, 1908-01-25
CHAPTER XXI.

CHAPTER XXI.
The Gock on ts9 :taircase wa cSN~.
Ing nine when Mc:-s cautiously opened
the door Of Aileens room and Deepsd ~.
Ailcen started up.
I'm so sorry to wake you, dear.
Moyra said, but this not has come foa
you, and the boy h waiting for an an
swer.'
She lighted the candles and brought
them to the bedside while Aileen tore
open the envelope, her cheeks flushing al
she read the contents. The letter waa
from Professor Lewiston, very brief and
very formal and to the effect that he wal
leaving for town that morning and should
be very glad TO see Aileen alone at any
hour convenient TO her.
Its from the Professor, isn't ftT'
Moyra said, and as she gave Aileen heI
writing pad she remarked, with apparent
irrelevance, Brides head is awfully bad
this morning; she seems quite feverish. I
told her to stay in bed for an hour or
two. If she is not better she must o 60
tomorrow"
NO." Aileen murmured idly, as she
signed her short note. 1t is doubtful IL
she knew of what Moyra was talking, so
engrossed was she In her own concerns.
Il suppose you have had breakfast? Send
Hammond up with som tea for me; will
you, Moyraf / don't walt anything to
eat. II have got a headache"
you don't look as bright as you did
twelve hours ago." Moyra replied.
I" Merry nights make sorrowful morn
ings,' as old nurse used to tell u.s."
Il never sleep we'll after and excite
ment," Aileen answered, almost apollo
getically.
Her head was aching frantically, che
felt bruised and hurt mentally and physi.
cally, but after her bath and the hot,
strong tea that Moyra had sent up she
began to recover herself. She had spent
the brief night in bitter, unavailing tears
for the decision at which she had arriv-
ed she felt that nothing that fame might
have in store for her could atone or COM
pensate for this sacrifice of her natural
desires and affections, that the g~reenest
laurel crown was as dust in comparison
with the look in Billy's eyes when they
met hers. But with the morning the real
sense of conviction, the true strength of
purpose, that had already stood her in
stead, began to reassert themselves, and
even as she brushed away the tears, that
would rise each time she caught a glimpse
of the big house through the bare trees,
and tied on a heavy veil to hide their
traces, she told herself that she had chos-
en- the better path.
1T is only his ~masculinity that appeals
to ne so strongly" she said as she went
downstairs. Il have chosen wisely. l
could never be really happy without a
true intellectual atmosphere"
There was no one In the hall, but she
ven out by the back door. Confident as
she was of her own right doing, she felt
that the associations of the porch were
too fresh to be again recalled with equan-
unity. .
1t was cold, cherries morning, with a
heavy fog ~shrouding trees and sandhills,
and making walking across the heavy
SAND very tedious. 1t took her longer
than usual to reach the shore in conse-
quence, and the hour she had fixed for
their meeting had passed by some minutes
when she arrived on the firmer sand. The
shore was very desolate-river, sky, and
sand were all of one monotonous gray,
and, to make matters worse, a fine driz-
zle began to fall. Aileen shivered and
drew the collar of her coat closer about
her throat. Her heart sank in an unac-
countable way as she recognized the Pro
fessor walking towards her.
II wish / did not feel so like q victim
prepared for a sacrifice, a feminine Mar
Gus Curtius !" she thought, with dismal
humor, ss she put her hand into his and
answered his inquiries as to her wellbe.
ing.
II am afraid you will think / suggest.
ed a disagreeable place for our meeting"
she said, as they turned their faces to-
wards the pier, now shrouded in mist,
'but the house is 50 upset this morning.
It is Moyra's soup-kitchen day, and every
room seems occupied at such times. I
thought too as you had to catch a train
we could walk towards the ferry"
Eyes, yes" he assented. consulting his
watch. "The half-past eleven boat will
suit me admirably. l have already made
my farewells to your family. Tit only
remained to see you !"
Yes" Aileen answered family. She
shivered again and clasped her hands in
her muf for warmth. How cold and
miserable 1t was! And those wretched
seagulls, wheeling with outstretched
wings just overhead-what a weird pa
thstic cry was theirs! No wonder that
there was an old superstition that each
bird was the soul of a drowned sailor
unconfessed and unshriven at death.
For some minutes they walked on In
silence. Had Aileen noticed her compan-
ion more closely she might have seen that
he was betraying marked nervousness and
hesitation. But just as she began to won
der at his p~re-occupation he Strengthened
i---lE AAl ct ~