The Charles Mix new era. (Wagner, Charles Mix County, S.D.) 1???-1911, 1909-07-30
CHAPTER XII.

W 49, af& ~ " 49,
regular schoolgirl fashion.
CHAPTER yT.
When Masiide looked back on those
first weeks spent at Orkwell ihay seemed
to have passed In a far easier fashion
than she had anticipated.
There were morning hours spent beside
Sir James armchair In his room. or mid
day ones by the bath-chair that he loved
to have wheeled into a great conservatory.
where he could bask In the sun, and see
the choicest collection of flowers from the
houses which he had made famous In the
county.
More than once or twice Stewart ca me
on their little group. and surprised a ten
der responsiveness in her face and voice,
which faded at his approach into the IA
mliiar. half-shy, half-reserved dignity.
Then there were long outdoor hours
passed in her husbands society, either
riding or driving about the country. and
these hours generally left her brighter.
and with a more resolutely cheerful view
OF the situation.
The first time that Mathilde had been
alone with Stewart after the evening Of
their arrival, Miss Feason formed the
topic of their conversation. They were
walking through the beech woods, chat
ting, when Stewart gave an abrupt turn
to her thoughts by asking:
What did you think of the surprise
last night:"
What surprise:" she retorted, al
though she guessed what he meant.
1.-The temperance upon the scene Of
my first love. l wonder why ii was
done" he went on thoughtfully. Then.
after a moments pause ibid you think
me very brutal to herY
Mathiide's face had hardened, and her
voice vas very cold
II supposed that there was some feel
ing on your part which caused, and per-
haps justified, you ~outspoken remark.
Otherwise, l must confess l think it might
have been better left unsaid.'
He cast a keen, sidewise glance at her,
and then laughed gaily.
You thought it the ground-sweil of
some past storm of lovers quarrel. Poor
little Nellie. She was about as much a
present issue in my life as the rabbits |
petted as a child. No, my remark was a
preventive one as to any mischief that
they might be up to with you
MRS. Herbert did try it a bit after
dinner" she agreed. in a less stony voice.
'But why should you include Miss
Fearon? She must have cared for You
once, even IL meeting you again in that
fashion was not painful to her"
Again he laughed.
.If you viii persist in constructing a
romance out Of the affair, you must have
the whole of IL. You needn't distress
yourself about Neliie's feelings. If she
minds anything now. it Is the loss, not of
me, but of the heir. Then, she was glad
enough to have a good excuse to get rid
OF me, for she had had a bit of success in
town, and thought thar she might do bet
ter than q younger son. And /, for my
part, had been learning her unreality for
so long that after her valedictory letter
she seemed to fade from my mind like
an old photograph. The loss of her, Ger
tainly. hardly added a .pang to those of
the debacle."
.But that does not explain why you
distrust her now"
.sIt's not 20 easy to explain. It's more
an instinct than q reason, but your safest
plan h to take her enmity for granted"
That seems . rule of universal appli-
cation" she answered, bitterly.
sWhat, not losing heart already, when
you have swept all before you with my
fatherf"
Il I'm not losing heart" was the proud
answer. Then she added somewhat visit
fully II really think he likes me-"
Improbable as it seems, / really think
be does" he retorted, looking into her
face a. he put put bis hand to help her
over 4 stile, with a glance that brought
on one OF her shy fits, and set her talking
to the Irish setter. Nomad. whom she had
adopted rs her own special follower and
friend.
The first change in the situation came
when. one morning al breakfast, Stewart
looked up from his CORRESPONDENTS, never
very large, to announce generally:
Here's a letter from Norman, saying
that he is coming over from Paris to see
me. Wonder how he heard of my getting
home. for though / have been meaning to
write to him ever since / came, l haven't
done so"
Mathilde, looking up A. her husband
spoke, saw . ~teil-tale change of color on
Nellie's face. saw, too. an i~nterchanged
glance between the two women which lef;
her no further doubt as to their secret
alliance.
1t was only q momentary thing. then
Nellie spoke in her pretty, babbling fash
ion.
"Oh, l hope You won't thing me a
dreadful gossip, but ! was writing to him
the other day about some old paste but
tons that he is getting me, and l put In
all our news to fill up. How you had
come back after all sorts of hard work
aud roughing it, with a Canadian wife
who looked like . princess, and had taken
eyeryone's heart by storm"
Mathilde had heard them speak before
now OF this Norman Stewart, cousin, and
after James, heir, now attache over in
Paris.
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