Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1909-06-11
VI.

Raridan was ut the station to meet
some guests OF Evelyn's, as he had prom
Used. He had established q claim upon
their notice on the occasion of one of
his visits to Evelyn at college, and he
greeted them with an air of possession
which would have been intolerable in an
other man. He pressed Miss Warren for
news of the Connecticut nutmeg crop,
and hoped that Miss Marshall had not
lost her accent in crossing the Missouri.
Annie Warren was as reserved and
quiet as Evelyn could be in her soberest
moments; Belle Marshall was as frank
and friendly as Evelyn became in her
lightest moods. Evelyn had been the
beauty of her class her two friends were
what Is called, by people that wish to
be kind, nice looking. Annie Warren
had been the best scholar in her class
Belle Marshall had been amongst the
poorest; and Evelyn had maintained a
happy medium between the two. And SO
it fortunately happened that the trio
mitigated one aaother's imperfections.
Evelyn had discussed with her father
ways and means Of entertaining her
guests. He preferred large functions.
He wished Evelyn to give a lawn party
before the blight Of fall came upon his
IOWCAS dAAu IuDDSly pul Suc pClsuau
ed him to wait until after a pending
carnival. The ball of the carnival was
near at hand and she proposed that they
give a small dinner in the interval.
'I'll ask Wary AMI Mr.. Saxton. Peo-
pie were already coupling Saxton's name
with Raridan's.
"Oh, yes, that's all right"
II don't want very many ia like to
ask the Whipples:" she went on, with
the anxious, far-away look that comes
into the eyes of a woman who Is weigh
ing dinner guests or matching fabrics.
Cant you ask Wheaton," ventured
Mr.. Porter cautiously, from behind his
paper.
IF you say So" Evelyn assented. "He
isn't exciting, but Belle Marshall can
get on with anybody. I'm out of practice
and won't try too many. -.rs. Whipple
will help over the hard places"
Finally, however, her party numbered
ten, but it seemed to Wheaton a large
a~ssenblase. He had never taken a lady
in to dinner before, but he had studied a
book Of etiquette, and the chapter on
Dining Out had given ulm q hint Of
what was expected. 1t had not, however,
supplied him with a fund of talk, but
he was glad to find. when he reached the
table, that the company was 50 small
that talk could be general, and he was
thankful for the shelter made for him by
the light banter which followed the set
Ting If chairs. Saxton went in with
Evelyn who wished to make amends foI
his clumsy reception on the occasion Of
his FIRST appearance in the house.
General Whipple persuaded Miss Mar
shall to tell . negro story, which she did
delightfully."-. while the table listened.
SoutheYners are, after all, the most nat
ural takers we have and the only ones
who can talk freely of themselves with
and she told her story with . nice sense
Of its dramatic quality.
They had their coffee on tho veranda,
where the lights from within made .
pleasant dusk about them. Porter's
heart vas warm with the Joy Of Evelyn's
home coming. She bad been away from
him . much that ne was realizing for
the ant time tho common experience OF
fathers, who lind that their daughters
have escaped suddenly and inexplicably
from girlhood into ~womanhood and ye:
tho sirl heart in her had not lost Its
freshness nor it's thirst for pleasure. She
had carried of her little company charm.
inrly: Porter had enjoyed it himself. and
he felt young again in the presence OF
youth.
General whipple had attached himself
Ia nne OF the couples of young people
that were strolling here and there in the
grounds. Porter and Mrs. Whippde held
the yeranda alone; both were uncon-
sciousfy watching Evelyn and Saxton a,
they walked back and forth IN front OF
the house, talking gaily: and Pcrtei
smiled at the eagerness and q~uickuess 81
her movements. Saxton's deiibera&enesy
contrastcd oddly with the girls light, step
Such a girl must marry a mar worthy
OF hep: there could be 10 question q
that; and for the first time the t6ought
Of losing her rose in his heart and numb
ed it.
Evelyn and Saxton had met the 9th
crs, rho were coming mp from the walks
and there was a redistribution at the
house /; it was too beautiful to 30 In, thec
said, and the strolling abroad continued
A great hood Of moonlight poured ovel
- srssnds. = breeze stole - Asa