The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1909-01-15
CHAPTER xxvIII.-(continued.)
SILAS K. HOOKING.

"Vermin may be plucky and die
game, as you say; but in all countries
there are good and bad"
"Oh, l am quite prepared for that.
But do like the gravity, the absence
of fuss, the Easy grace, the politeness
that is never obtrusive. 1t all comes
to me as something sweet and refresh.
ing. Out West the men are all push
and snarl to each other, and then they
try to make up for it by %grovelling to
the women"
And do the women like it,"
Don't they just! You see. the
American woman-though she 10 a
very much finer animal than the nan
is intensely selfish. All she cares
about is having what she calls a good
time You hear the same thing ev-
%erywhere. And If the man will turn
himself into a slave for her she is quite
willing he should. Oh, the American
woman has conquered the American
nan effectually. He waits on her
hand and foot. Whether down in her
heart she really admires him or not is
doubtful"
But you don't"
Il wonder how we got talking IN
this s%ubject?" she questioned, naively.
You began it."
Then I'd better end it. You are
not angry with me for coming to see
you, are you?"
Angry? ! feel heaps better al
ready. It's rather dolorous lying
here day after day all alone. l wish
you would come again."
Il fear | can't. You see, l am going
away tomorrow. But Miss Mawgan
might come. May | ask herr"
No, I think you had better not"
he said. with averted eyes. Does
she know you have Gomez"
'Oh. dear, no. | had to come just
straight away while l had the courage.
II | had begun to talk about it, oh,
dear! nobody knows what would have
happened"
And won't you be coming back
aaain?"
Some day, perhaps. l am like a
Il AL a SCol Ill, dlH4 ~ \ hllO" WIlCAc
| may be driven. I've no home or
habitation. Before l can settle any
where | shall have to go to America
again. What is going to happen to
NE in the long run | don't know"
Il hope you will not let money and
position spoil YOU" he said, seriously.
Permit a word OF e%xhOrtation from a
minister"
Il am grateful to anybody who will
give me good advice" shesaid, with
a sudden lowering Of her eyes. You
cannot imagine how terribly lonely l
am. Much as l admire Englishmen,
you see l have made no friends yet.
I do not seem to have a man friend
in the world"
mo, no. 1t is not SO bad as that"
he answered, ch%eerfully. 1--WE are all
your friends. l am your friend. So
ere DR.. Bell and Mr.. Bice. And then
there is Clement Mawgan."
"M,. Mawgan is absorbed in his
own affairs" she answered, quickly.
But he would help you in an emer-
gency. and his advice is always worth
considering"
Il admire him very much, but he
is too busy to be worried with my con-
Germs. Now read to me your little
exhortation."
"Oh! but I've done that already"
ALREADY? Why. l thought you had
heaps of good things you wanted to
say to me-"
Perhaps l have" he laughed. "but
not just now. You know there is a
time for everything"
And you think that that one little
warning is all l need for the present."
1T is all the warning l feel justi-
fled in giving"
Then you think I'm In real peril?'
and she lifted her glorious eyes frank
~ to his face.
Il am told that you are certain to
be very rich, and l have seen again
and again that the possession Of
woalth is a terrible snare, and, be-
lieve me. I should not like to live to
regret anything l have DONE"
Il understand" she said, after q
pause, and she turned her eyes
toward the window.
you will not think me presump-
tuous?" he questioned at length, see
ing she continued to keep her eye
from him.
"Presumptuous? Indeed, no. From
my heart l thank you. and l will try.
never forget your little sermon" and
when she turned her eyes toward him
he saw they were full Of tears.
For several moments there was ST.
lence. Grayton wanted to ask Marion
about Esther, and about Mr.. Jackson.
who had made such a heightened stay.
The gossips had been talking again.
They could hardly help themselves.
There was 20 very little to keep them
interested in q place like ST., Chloe.
Moreover, Esther was always an OBJ
ject Of interest, and to see her flying
hither and thither in a magnificent
motor a by the side of Mr.. Jackson
was bound to excite remark.
Miss Ladda, the postmistress, began
to make Inquiries. and discovered to