Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1909-09-03

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club in Boston. and pretended that it
was good to be at home again; but he
went about with Inconsistencies gnawing
his heart. He had reason to be happy
and satisfied with himself. He had prac-
ticaliy concluded the difficult work which
he had been sent to Clarkson to do; he
had realized more money from their as
sets than the officers of the trust company
had expected: and they held out to him
the promise of employment in their Bos-
ton Office as a reward. SO he walked the
familiar streets planning his future anew.
He had succeeded in something at last.
and he would stay in Boston, having. he
told himself. cared the right to live
there. he assistant se~cretaryship OF the
trust company, which had been mention
ed TO him, would be n position of dignity
and promise. He had never hoped to co
so well. Moreover. it would be pleasant
to be near his sister. who lived at Wor-
cester. There were only the two Of them,
and they ought to live near together.
1t Is, however, an unpleasant habit of
the fates never to suffer us to debate
simple problems long; they must throw
in new elements to puzzle us. While
he deferred going to Orchard Lane a new
perplexity confronted him. One OF Mar
graves people came from New York
MS the representative of the syndicate
that had purchased tn Clarkson -raction
Company. and sought an interview. John
had met this gentleman at the time the
sale was closed he was a person of con-
sequence in the financial world, who came
quickly to the point of his errand. He
offered John the position of general man
ager of the company.
The next day John thought he saw
it all more clearly. He went out and
walked aimlessly through the hot streets.
He realized presently that he had gone
into a railway Office and asked for a sub
urban time table. He carried this back
to the club, and studied the list of Or
chard Lane trains. He found that he
could run out almost any hour of the
day. He slept and woke refreshed, with
the time table still grasped in his hand.
He had been very foolish. he concluded ::
it would be a simple matter to go out to
Orchard Lane to call on the Porters and
Whipples. The next afternoon he went
up to Orchard Lane.
1t suited his mood that he should find
no one at home at Red Gables but Mr..
Porter. who played golf all the morning
and slept and experimental at landscape
gardening all the afternoon. He well
coined John with unwonted cordiality.
There were some details connected
with the transfer of the Traction Com
pany to Margrave's syndicate which Por-
ter had not fully understood. or which
Fenton had purposely kept from him;
and he pressed John for new light on
these matters. John answered or parricd
as he thought wiscst.
It.. JoLn Ioek h;. ,.,nt;,,, So. ttn ro.% al
the household. There was a train at 6
along, stopping often to look out upon
the sea. A group of people was gathered
about n tea table on the sloping lawn in
front of one of the houses. Tn colors
of the women's dresses were bright
against the dark green. 1t was a gay
ompan their laughter doated out to
Evelyn was there. as he passed on, beat
ing the rocky path with his stick.
Evelyn was not there: but her destina-
ton was that particular lawn and it's
tea table. Turning a bend in the path he
came upon her. He had had no thought
of seeing her; yet she was coming down
the path toward him, her picture hat
frnmed in the dome of a blue parasol.
i nv " " I'll tIhG aiA
he should meet her guardedly but the
blood was singing in his temples and
throbbing in his finger tips at the sight
of her.
.aThis is too bad" she exclaimed, as
they met. II hope you can come back to
the house"
She walked straight up to him and
gave him her hand in her quick, frank
way.
I'm sorry, but I must be in to town
on this next train he answered. He
turned in the path and walked along be-
side her.
"This happened to be one of our scat
tering days, for all except father"
I'VE had a nice talk, he and l.. Your
place is charming. Don't let me detain
you. I'm sure you were going to join
these lotus eaters
II don't believe they neea me-" she an
swered. evasively. They seem pretty
busy. But if you're ungry- or thirsty.
4 can get something for you there" They
passed the gate, walking slowly along.
lie knew that he ought to urge her to
stop, and tta. he must hurry on to catch
his train; but it was too sweet to be
near her: this was the last time and it
WdS Has oW
They paused finally and John held pen
a little gate in a stone wall. He was
grave and something of his seriousness
communicated itself to her. Clearly, he
thought. this was the parting OF the ways.
Wont you come in? There are plen-
" of trains and we'd like you to dine
with u.s."
A great wave Of loneliness and yearn-
ing swept over her. Her invitation
seemed to create new and iimitiess dis
tances that stretched between them. He
spoke incidentally of the offer he had re-
ceivedt from the Clarkson Traction Com
pany. II have refused the Offer" he said,
quietly. He had not intended to tell her
but II was doubtless just As we'll and
It would alter nothing. my work in
Clarkson is finished" he went N. "War-
rvs affairs will make it necessary for
me to 60 back from tine to time, but it
win not be home again"
""I'm sorry she said. II thought you
were to be of us. But l uppose there
il a greater difference between the East
and West than any one can understand
who has not known both" They regard
ed each other gravely.. as il this were, Of
course. the whole matter at ;,sue.
II can't go back-it's too much; l
can't do It." he said, YEARLY.
II NOW how it must be-this last year
and Wary! It was all SO terribie-for
all If usv She yas looking away