Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1909-01-15
@: his eyes laugh.

lutJ " SOlutlIIiiS inv WV
> she fancied to herself, seeing nothing
child that she was-of the fierce passion
which lay dormant behind their happy,
laughing gentlencss.
And he, amused by her examination,
even reading the evident approval OF her
gazG, began TO c~riticise, in mis- turn, the
uplifted gypsy face. He noted a pair OF
dark, unsatisfied eyes, the whites or Whlch
had such "A marvellous clcarness that at
times 1t made their brightness almost
dazzling, while at other times 1t maze
their gentleness most touching. Inns pc
culiarity, and the straight, delicate ofoWs
above. gave them a wonderful look of
purity and innocence. He noted that her
lips, though not small, were curved ana
sensitive, exhibiting the white and even
teeth, when they parted, in a rare, quick
smile or twitching pitifully Tor a mo
ment, and closing suddenly in a not less
rare frown. He noted a low forehead
from which we're pushed punches of thick,
soft hair, cut short like a boys, and his
eyes took in just these things and nothing
more.
"A queer little party" he thought laz-
lily.
81 am so enjoying myself she said;
you are, all Of you, so nice
THE child is wcaried out" said Miss
Shnfford. This has been an exciting day
for her. l will take her to bed, for | sup
pose we must not tell the servants of her
arrival"
"Brrva :" cried Rourke carelessly.
Then he turned to wish Uno goodbye,
with Il manner and tone as gentle as had
been Lorraine's to himself. Very slowly
he went toward home after he had left
Rupert's Rest, walking listlessly along the
turnpike road until he reached-the dis
lance was not more than a mile-the tall
iron gates of IIohve. Passing through a
small one adjoining the outer lodge, he
went on. still sauntering in the darkness,
up the drive a public way this was, and
he met one or two people taking it to-
night as a short cut from the village of
Kumley to the town Of Alton. Rourke.
though he could not recognize their faces,
exchanged good-nights as they passed.
When he had closed behind him the sec
ond gates, and left the second lodge in
darkness, he stood a minute hesitating.
when the estate is my own" thought
Rourke, as he leaned idly on the gate,
II shall have this laid in lawn, as | in
tend to hold Winterfeld in my own hands
and see what can be made of it. 1t is a
capital old farm, rich land and profitable,
l should think, if managed properly rath-
err a handsome old-fashioned place, too,
and l fancy altogether would repay great
labor if great labor could be bestowed
upon it. l believe the tenants haven't
done it justice lately. Well, I shal! see
what I can do when Hohve is mine. OF .
course, 1t ought to be mine Already :
managing for my stepmother, instead of d
my stepmother managing for me, or rath- !
err letting her mean-spirited steward take |
all authority from both of us-but never Il
mind, he isn't worth worrying over. Let s
me see, III have rows of elms planted n
here, as in the home avenue, twenty feet r
the drive on either side, and with .
the grass smooth and well kept. ',
Rourke, leisurely making his plans as u
he leaned there, whistled to himself idly
the while. The sound must have entered o
the little Uncovered cottage, for present W
ly a woman opened the door and peered o
out into the gloom. the light behind her 81
clear and strong. d
Mr.. Newley, is it you, sir?" "
Of the sudden scorn upon Rourke's face h
as he turned it to the light she caught a -
and instantly repented her words. v
mo. it is I, Miriam he said, in the 0
cool, proud tone which he seemed to
know there would be no mistaking; a
what do you want with Newley?' b
II don't want him, sir the woman OF
hurriedly: II only thought, if O
was him" w
Avoiding, in a sudden new resolution, f.
The way he had chosen, he returned to ~
The chief avenue and walked on, still "
slowly, between the rows of grand old a.
,lms. to the principal entrance of the II
house. AS he assembled the steps a young 10
nan met him, and stopped to speak. g
II was coming to look round for you," n
le said. The lights from the hall were OF
falling full upon him, and they showed q;
, man of FIVE or six and twenty, of mid q,
lie height, with we'll formed, aquiline fea- -,
lures and fair, pointed whiskers. They 49,
revealed the smile of affability upon his y
lips, showed the easy ~self-con6dence with p1
his light gray eyes, and the cool, u
gaze which had power to hide tc
Ill but his confidence and affability. VI
1T Is prayer time," Horton Newley fc
said, land Mrs. Trenham is waiting only in
sor YOU" a,
The light fell fully now on both the
voung men, but neither was looking into
he others face. VI
"She need not have troubled herself to III
wait only for me-" rejoined Rourke, aim w
the fragment of his cigar into the cl
mouth of the old cannon which stood be- h,
the great stone portico, She had Ia
Ter servants; they are generally all-sufi- W
,ient for her." ~
"On the contrary" said Newley, with ri
!, slow Tightening Of his lips, "she likes m
o have both yourself and me- :.
Rourke paused for a moment, literally =
,ghast at the covert insolence of this "a
speech, then sauntered on without an III
There were times when the CO
impertinence of this man-profess-
,oiy his mothers ~steward-failed to move il
i'm to anything but a lazy, dispassionate 9.
81,
From the great chill hall, Rourke en- fl,
cred the dining room where his STEP "
always conducted the ceremony
If evening prayers, and where she sat q
low at the table. with her heavy Bible :,
pen before her, while she waited in fret y
inaction for the two young men. !"
Rourke entered first, and advancing to le
he hearth, threw himself into an easy b.
,hair and let his hands lie idly on its it
broad low arms. There was something c;
his whole bearing, as well as in his
so carelessly, and indeed uncon-
suggestive of the master of the
house, that Mrs. Trenham's eyes, after ,
following him, turned a little deprecatt :
Ingiy to Horton Newley. He answered
q