The Charles Mix new era. (Wagner, Charles Mix County, S.D.) 1???-1911, 1909-02-05
n % raise my hand against your

nous with Miss Gaveston's. But will you
obiiga me in this matterf want To be
released. bu, do not IKE to he the means
OF her losing any enjoyment. II you
will not do 80" added the steward placid
iy. "os course. | must 20 back"
IF your fingers touch Miss Gave~tan's
tonight" said Tonrkr. standing and fac
Ing Horton Newiey for a minute. 'you
shall answer IL to me not N n gentle
man 10 another. bat as servant TO bis
master do you understand"
you take my proposal Oddly" sid
S~wley. n slow smile curling his lips. and
one white gIoved hand leisurely pulling
his pointed whisk~rs. But he turned
away. entirely satisfied with the reception
Of his latest and keeness insult.
The company had assembled In the sup
per room. a brilliant. noisy. happy look.
ing crowd. The ladies were most Of them
already seated tire gentlemen standing
ah~yif. finding seats for themselves. or for
those OF the Younger ladies who had been
either lettering on their way or holding
nscsdestiy back.
Rourse Trenham. coolly conversIng
with BALI a dozen people round him. was
leading Una Gaveston 10 her seat. when
Horton ScwIey made his way mp to them.
snd bending toward her. as she leaned on
Roarke's arm. spoke 10 be heard by the
crowd around her.
Miss Gaveston. rrav allow me 70 arol-
ogixe 10 ycu for disappointing you OF The
salse. An unexpected summons took me
away. ! was indeed mortife; to think
Of yonr having 81 sainly reserved II for
me. and nm delighted to see that you have
allowed Mr.. Trenham the privilege which
| appeared TO neglect. Nothing but bust.
ness could have detained me-
Il do not wonder business called you
away, Newley. | only wonder 1t allowed
you to come at all. There Is no more
stewards business 10 transact here to-
night. 80 yon have permission to retire"
Ronrke had no, raised his voice. hut
the clear proud tones escaped very few
ears la the room. For a minute the two
men gased a, each other, while Una.
nervous and frightened. pressed Rourke'.
arm ~appealinvly then NewIey broke the
pause with ready tact. though many OF
the hystanders could see what an intense
EFFORT II was for him TO speak with ease
and p~olireneSs.
Il am come now 10 beg excuse for
my further absence. as we'll as to make
ms apologies to Miss G~ayeston."
lie bowed. with a quiet difference
which had no s~ervility in IL. while even
those who would have seorned him il he
had stayed answered plea the words
aud action which seemed so modest. Then
be was gone. and Ronrke felt a miserable
weight upon him which be could in no
way account for.
After this the ball went on undiSturb-
ed 10 It's close, with the laughter and the
heart-hurninc and the jealousy aud the
pleasure which balls create, and will do
until the end Of time.
When the last guest left Hohve the
dawn was softly touching the distant
hills. like a cool hand laid upon the brow
Of the heated night. soothing and allay-
ing it's restless excitement. And Roarke
stood harehsaded on the steps ~reveling In
the pure. chill morning air.
You nave q fine constitution. Tren-
ham. as Won know, but you tribe with
il n little too daringly."
HUM B53 AFEH IT. ere = parting
words when he left him there without hat
on overcast. heated from dancing. but.
though they came back to I,ourke's mem.
DRY, mixed with Tna's loving farewell
words. he still stood there. leaning against
the old cannon looking on the dim. wide
park-every tree in which he loved with
a ~ciinging, boyish love-and pa ssing thus
rneonsciously through one of his painful
est farewelis in the beauty and the mvs-
terry Of the dawn. And il may have
struck Ronrke how much less sad this
mute farewell would have been if in the
home be was leaving there had been sone
one 10 give to himself just such a wide,
warm love N he lavished upon the place
which was to be his own one day.
The gray light on the horizon had
frightened into silver. and the breeze had
lost a little Of its frs, fresh purity when
Rourke turned and re-entered the house.
Half an hour af,erward he left ii By q
side door. dressed for riding.
"Ha. Brent. only now going OF to the
station =" be exclaimed. meeting his ser.
want suddenly you will be late IL you
dom, take care: ard 4, will be a shame
to lie. your little sweetheart arrive 6rst
Run. man"
But | went 70 leave your message in
the yard. sir. and the groom says there
must be- some mistake, as you told him
the new chestnut was not 10 carry you
s., he would not believ. my order that II
was TO be brought round TO yoa al eight
"All right" said Rourke. passing on
~yon 20 ard meet Rhoia. I will leave
nv own orders"
Roarke had mounted and left the park
and she eight O'Clock bril- was ringing In
| the stable turres. where Horton Newley
stroIiIrg from the Hohse gardens into .hs
lane which skirsed them. encountered two
people lettering together near the gats
through which be passed One was An
dres Breaf. the young ssnire's valet. the
other a young girl dressed In q cheap. gas
| dress. and with a face rosily, brightly
csiidlshiy pretty. Neniev's eyes war,
fixed in cool surprise upon ii. while it red
defed With a deeper glow under his gaze
Coed morning" he said. -enialiy. a.
the yoaag valet touched bis hat. "Yor
are in luck. Brent. Is this your sister,
My ~weethssrs Mr.. .seslsy." sale
Andrew. with ioFing pride. as he gentl,
drev hsr forward for inspection. "Rhods
Burkr. She's corns down TO bid me good
by. and I've been 10 meet her train.