The Charles Mix new era. (Wagner, Charles Mix County, S.D.) 1???-1911, 1909-08-06

This n certainly an improvement
fk0 she answered /. and to avoid hearing
more, Mathilde turned again to Norman.
She was beginning To feel friendly to-
wards this mar. who looked al her 30
appreciarinsly and led up so well TO her
conversational effects. aud she Was quite
content to settle down to play iexique
with him after dinner. although she saw
that Nellie was doing Der best to draw
him away to the piano.
Stewart had been called out Of the
room, ard Miss Eearon had her choice
between solitude and the ecclesiastical
couple. The game Vas amusing and long.
Cd their sood-nights were gay and
friendly. When the end OF the following
day had come MathiIde laughed to hSf-
self as she ~beshoaight how much OF il had
been spent in Norman Stewards company.
The greater part OF the morning had
been passed in the library oyer q fine col
lection Of miniatures, which she found.
with great professions OF surprise that
she bad moi vet seen. These he made
more interesting with scraps Of family
history. intermingled with a collectors
bits Of oat-of-she-way knowledge.
When you come over 10 Paris you
shall see my own poor little collection.
Nothing TO equal this. but still | have one
or two good things. There in a head OF
Madame De Reea mier on n snuT-box lid"
ls added tenderly.
While they were thus occupied, both
Jem and Miss Fearun made separate sal.
lies into the room, bat each retired Oh
finding that their attention was not to
be diverted. In the afternoon there was
a long walk through the beech woods. and
although Nellie was with them, her part
was distinctly that of a third person.
But Nathllde was not to get through
this day without an interview with her
husband. She was skilfaiIy intercepted
In a twilight visit TO Sir James. and fol-
lowed from the room by him. How mad
~ her heart thumped as she walked along
the dusky passage al his side,
There was a seat running round the
recess of a window through which could
be seen a young moon in the pale west
ern sky. against which the tree branches
drew a dark tracery.
"Do you mind stopping here a mo-
mentt' Stewart said. motioning towards
the seat.
why? II is so cold and dismal here"
And she shisered.
Il should be glad OF a few minutes OF
your society, and | should not have
thought that you would find it cold in
your furs. But as you prefer. | can
come to your s~itting-room If you have
no dress 10 try on"
"0h, | suppose that 1t Is not too cold"
And she stopped.
As there was no escape, she chose the
place from which il was possible 10 bea.
n retreat.
So she stood looking down on the wan
winter night. and Stewart stood looking
DOWN at her for so long in silence that
from sheer nervousness she was driven to
speak first, and 90 ask
We'll, what in it:'
Il merely thought it as well to ascer-
tain IL my fellow-conspirator had any
report to make. II is some time since I
hare been honored by ONE
IL her one were impatient, his was in
clsiye TO haughfiness. The echo of ii
seemed TO linger in hers as she answered /:
There Is none thar know OF. As
you nave heard, l have been as frank as
possible with your cousin"
"Yes, that was right enough" be
agreed then suddenly. "Do you think
that yen are playing an altogether wiss
gamer
She was startled into looking up, aud
read only ernness In his face.
I'm what way she demanded.
In allowing Norman to ~monopolize so
much Of your society" Then. as he saw
a quick retort coming, Far be it from
me to dream of interfering with your
new friendship, only are you quite sure
Of the object on his part of SO much in
innate conversation r
is it impossible that the object may
be GOODWILL and kindiiness?" she fash
ed out.
-Not at all he replied, "or even ad-
miration."
And if it were admiration. what
should ii matter to you. so long as | do
not fail to carry out my b~arsain?"
The tanng had broken down his en-
forced s~elf-control.
by Heaven, 1t Is a bargain that /
have had about enough Of" be said
hoarscIy and the words seemed to strike
her as a blow.
The voices of two approaching servants
broke the spell. and, turning, she hurried
away, never pausing until she had gained
the shelter OF her own room.
II Mathilde had not appeared to firt
with Norman Stewart before that even.
ing, she certainly did so then.
Ito be c~ontinued.)
An Amateur.
Dickcnr-Im narar uainu an an