Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1909-03-26


altogether to biame!" she cried sar-
cast,cally. "Of course you've done
nothing to be ashamed off,
II don't say thai at all. l mean
"Well,' said Bertha, coldly, II
think we can discuss the matter with
advantage now. thank YOU. l under
stand you desire to leave these'-and
she indicated the presents with a
majestic sweep of the hand-"and that
Is ALL
quite So" said Mr.. Markham. pick
ing up his hat and resuming the brush,
ing operation with a vlgor that amount
ed almost to brutality. "Only, as I
say, I felt l ought to explain-'
ooh, 1t doesn't matter, thank you,'
said Bertha, with tremendous dignity.
You shall have yours back by to-
night"
II really don't want Them insisted
Mr.. Markham, backing a little towards
the door.
"Oh. yes, you may want them for
JESSIE" she said in a tone Of wither'
ing sarcasm.
Mr.. Markham paused in his retreat
and came back to the table prepared
to argue the matter.
Jessie who?" he asked, with a be-
| wildered look. 81 don't understand
YOU"
"Oh. yes, You do" she retorted. DO
you think I sat out that dance with
my eyes shut? And all the time she
was pretending to be my friend. III
never speak to her again as long as I
live, the horrid little cat!" .
Mr.. Markham put his hat down on
the table with deliberation.
Il really can't imagine why you
should think Miss Hamilton is any
thing to me-" he said. "Why, she isn't
even good-looking."
Yes, she is ugly, isn't shey' said
Bertha, betrayed into a confidential
tone. And her hair Is red. isn't It'll
She tries to say it's a fashionable shade
of art brown; but everybody knows
it's red. OF course, we've been friends.
and all that, you know but you can't
always choose your friends just where
you want them, and she never did come
up to my idea of a true friend, and she
couldn't have been or she wouldn't
have schemed to get you away from me
at the dance"
ooh, but" said Mr.. Markham, lean
ing comfortably on the table and I'M
consciously acknowledging the conf
DENTAL development Of the interview,
that was quite an accident; 1t was,
really, I mixed up the dances"
And l kept that one for you spe-
cially."
yes that's what I'm so sorry about.
But I should have thought there would
nave been plenty of fellows who would
have jumped at the chance Of asking
you the moment they saw you weren't
claimed for that dance. There Is al
ways a run on the prettlest girl In the
room, and
Bertha so far forgot the solemnity OF
the occasion as to look up at Mr.. Mark
ham and smile.
81 did look nice, didn't IT. she sug-
gested. Everybody tells me I look
very nice In pink"
81 think you look nice in anything"
asserted Mr.. Markham, with a pleas
Ing candor. as by the merest accident
his right hand, which was travelling
aimlessly across the table, ran into
Bertha's which was proceeding appar-
entity with a similar indecislon of pur-
pose.
About an hour after Mr.. Markham's
last observation, Sister Ella darted
suddenly into the room, calling for
Bertha to come out into the garden
Bertha was standing near the window,
and Mr.. Markham was standing very
near to Bertha with his arm unmis-
tHkab1y round her.
81 beg you pardon Bertha, DEAR
protested Ella, as she retreated in con-
fusion; Il did not know you were
engaged !'-Pennsylvania Grit.