The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1908-09-25
CHAPTER xv.-(contInued).

CHAPTER Xv.-(ContInued).
Fol- a moment the color rose in a
not wave to his cheeks and his lips
trembled slightly.
there were reasons other than
lack of courage" he said, in hurt
tones why Esther and I kept the
matter to ourselves"
She saw in a moment that she had
not been fair to him and begged his
pardon. Il appreciate your motives"
h said. But your mother would be
angry and scandalized IL she saw us
together now"
Il cansot help what my mother
would think or feel,' he said, dog
gedly. Il must act for myself"
Would you defy public opinions"
she asked, in%nocently. Would you
let 1t be known that you reckoned
among your friends the daughter of
Richard West?"
i am prepared to defy the world
Wner you are concerned" he al
swered, with flashing eyes.
She drew back her chair almost un.
consciously. His vehemence aston
1shed and alarmed her. For a moment
she locked at him in silence. She saw
he was deeply moved. His hands
trembled in spite of every effort to
keep them steady.
Il think I must go now" she said,
quietly, and she half rose from her
chair.
tpooocn JnnSt nm N,nf - ~ 1~;J -Ioo1
ingly: I'VE have only just begun our
talk"
you brighten me a little," she said,
frankly. Il do not quite understand
you"
u 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 I do that? How cruel of met"
and she laughed n~ervously.
"You can be cruel when you like.
But that is true Of all women. But
won't you tell me if you are happy in
%London?'
"Oh, yes, quite happy"
"And you have found friends?'
"A few. l think God has led me
ever since I came"
Il hope He will always lead you,"
he said, impulsively.
She drew her chair a little nearer
the table again, and her face bright
ened. "One of the first things l saw
on leaving the station was a sign owe
a door of a large, respectable-loohing
L~.-1 lv1~-.- - Ah~ C,s1J - yXyo,,oo
| Workers. and I 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?"
"Not for several months yet; but
{ haven't spent all my money by a
long way. So am all right. There's
q big heart OF goodness in London,
don't you think so?"
Il uOpG SO. i uCu I huOW NCIy u
about it," he answered, evasively.
"You are only here on a visit?"
"Oh, 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 mean that you are in a situa-
ton? ?"
Eyes"
working for your own living?"
He nodded.
For several moments there vas ST.
Ience. 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
lips, but she had not the courage to
ask them.
Are you very much surprised?" he
ventured, at length.
Il am, rather" she faltered. "You
see. l understood that gentlemen
that is, your particular style of gentle
men-did not AXE situations"
'They do sometimes. All depends
on circumstances, you know"
see buI you were uOI COLupCAAOO
to take a situation?"
well, not exactly. I could have
grubbed along In the old ruts, I sup
pose. Only-well, l didn't chose to do
20 any longer"
"And your mother was agreeable?"
ION the contrary"
II beg your pardon. I did not mean
to ding her at your head again. But
but"
"But what?"
"Are you not ~ great . mystery az
am? mean, there's no getting to
the bottom Of some things. Isn't that
so9"
He laughed good humoredly. He
was pleased to 9 her interested;
whilst her struggle to keep her West
ern inquisitiveness In check was de-
cidedly amusing.
my case II easily fathomed," he
said, at length. You see, I was tired
~ 1nann1 about doing nOthfng-"