The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1908-09-24
CHAPTER xv.-(contInued).

H'o'NNi W Jul oCiFCS.
She saw In a moment that she had
no been fair to him and begged his
pardon. Il appreciate your motives
she said. But your mother would be
angry and scandalized II she saw us
together now"
Il cansot help what my mother
would think o. feel" he said, dog
gedly. Il must act for myself"
Would you defy public opinion ?"
she asked, ~innocently. Would you
let 1t be known that you reckoned
among your friends the daughter of
Richard West?"
Il am prepared to defy the world
where you are concerned" he an
swered, with flashing eyes.
She drew back her chair almost un.
consciously. His vehemence aston
ished and alarmed her. For a moment
she looked at him in silence. She saw
he was deeply moved. His hands
trembled in spite of every effort to
keep them steady.
81 think I must go now" she said,
quietly, and she half ros from her
chair.
please don't go yet" he said, plead
ingly; I'VE have only just begun our
talk"
You brighten me a little" she said,
frankly. Il do not quite understand
yon."
81 was a bit angry, l admit" he said,
with a hollow laugh. "A man at my
time of life does not care to have his
mother flung at his head"
did | do that? How cruel of met"
and she laughed nervously.
you can be cruel when you like.
But that is true. of all women. But
won't you tell me il you are happy in
L~ondon?"
ooh, yes, quite happy"
And you have found friends?"
"A few. | think God has led me
ever since | came"
Il hope He will always lead you"
he said, impulsiyely,
She drew her chair a little nearer
the table again, and her face bright
ened. "One of the first things | saw
on leaving the station was a sign ove
a door of a large, respectable-looking
house, Home of the Guild of Women
Workers. and | went right in and
took the matron TO my heart and told
her everythng.i She has been like a
mother to me ever since"
"And you are a woman worker?" he
questioned, with a smile.
I'm earning nothing yet, to speak
Of. But I'm learning to type and to
write shorthand, and I'm promised a
post when I've made myself prof.
Gent"
"And will that be soon?"
mot for several months yet; but
Ii haven't spent all my money by a
long way. So / am all right. There's
a big heart Of goodness in London,
don't you think so?"
81 hope so. | don't know very much
about it," he answered. evasively.
"You are only here on a visit?"
ooh, no. I've been here since the
beginning of the year. Sir Anthony
Treleven got a post for me which was
too good to pass by"
"You NEAR hat you are In a situa-
tion?"
Yes"
working for your own living"
He nodded.
For several moments there was ST.
lence. Her brain was working rap
idly. There was a reason for every
thing: there must be a reason for
this. A dozen questions rose to her
tips, but she had not the courage to
ask them.
Are o very much s%urprised?" he
ventured, at length.
az am, rather" she faltered. you
see, | understood that gentlemen
that is, your particular style of gentle
men-did not take situations"
'They do sometimes. All depends
on circumstances, you know"
II see. But you were not compelled
TO take a situation?"
well, not exactly. l could have
grubbed along in the old ruts, | sup
pose. Only-well. l didn't chose to do
so any longer"
"And your mother was agrseable?"
"On the contrary"
81 beg your pardon. l did not mean
to fling her at your head again. But
but"
"But what?"
care you not as great a mystery as
liz am? l mean, there's no getting TO
the bottom of some things. Isn't that
so?"
He laughed good humoredly. He
was pleased to see her Interested;
whilst her struggle to keep her West
ern inquisitiveness In check was ds
cidedly amusing.
MY case Is easily fathomsd," NJ
said. at length. 'You ses, I was uret
Of loaing about doing nothing
rs that all the explanationf"
"No-not quite all. There are some
things one cannot very well put Int
words"
"Pleass don't try. I've no right z
pry into your affairs. Only I canno
helm feeling that had II not been 10
my father you would not have bee
hereA an awfxily sorry"