Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1910-07-08

Ing himself caught, n half at the
sight of Olive Merriam's blue eyes, her
glowing cheeks with their furtive dim
pies and the fair hair that Zelda was
now compelling her to wear in the pre-
vat1ing mode.
II am delighted; i am proud of YOU"
he declared, quite honestly.
II think-I may say that I recipro-
CATE replied Olive. Il haven't seen
you for a long time-Uncsle Rodney
except at a distance
Altogether my fault and my loss! l
trust that the distance may be con-
siderably lessened hereafter"
A number of people were watching
this by-play with keen interest. Some
thing had surely happened among the
Merriams. 1t had been many years
since so many members of the family
had been seen together at any social
gathering.
There's a draft somewhere said
Mrs. Forrest, suddenly. I'VE must be
going, Rodney. And now, Zelda, don't
stay out all night. Mrs. Carr is going
to take you home. You'll be sure to be
sick If you're not careful. And"-Zel-
da was looking at her aunt i%ntently-
Miss Merriam, / do hope you will
come to see me. l never go anywhere,
1 Soi How ALI DledSe remember HE
to your mother"
And pray remember me. also laid
Rodney Merriam, feeling Zelda's eyes
upon him.
oh, Zee," said her uncle. in a low
tone; lit was all fine: but how did Pol
lock come to be In the show?| don't
care to have you know him."
o course l shall know him"
But / prefer"
Please don't prefer! I'm having a
little fun tonight. and I can't be seri-
Gus at all. Some other time-good-
night"
What do you think of that girl
asked Mrs. Forrest, when she was
alone with her brother in their car
riage.
II think she's very pretty. if yon re-
fer to Olive Merriam, and has nice
manners was his reply.
There seems to be no way of check
ing Zelda's enthusiasms. I hope that
girl won't take advantage of Zee's
Kindness" said Mrs. Forrest, as her
brother left her at her door.
Il shouldn't worry about her If I
were YOU"
Il certainly shan't; but you were al
ways down on her father
Il was always a good deal of a fool,
too" said Rodney Merriam: and he re-
fused to be taken home in his sisters
carriage, but walked homeward from
her door through High street, beating
the walk re~flectively with his stick.
At the Athenaeum Zelda was enjoy
ing herself u~nreservedly. Her cousin
Olive had been presented to a repre-
sentative MarlOna audience In a way
that had commanded attention. and
Zelda was thoroughly happy over it.
She did not care in the least what peo-
pie might say about the healing of old
wounds among the Merriams. It gave
her the only unalloyed joy of her
home coming to see Olive established
socially On a footing that was, she
told herself, as firm as her own.
Balcomb, who was much swollen
with pride by his success in the op-
era, was talking in his usual breath
'ess fashion to a young friend from
Re country whom he had asked to
witness his triumph. Beyond Pol
locks head Zelda could see Balcomb's
profile, though she could not hear him.
h a regular piece, that girl. l.
was scared to death for fear she'd
throw me in that duet-we'd never
suns 1t together-but l carried it
through all right. She's that stunning
Miss Dameron's cousi She's rather
stuck on me, TIM afraid-I've done lit
tie things for her-theater and SO on,
but I'll have to cut it all out. She
amusing. but 1 can't afford to have her
misunderstood my attentions. When Il
fellow finds that he's got a girl down
fine she ceases to be interesting. It's
the pursuit that's amusing; but when
they begin to expect something Cum
ming? we'll, / should say!"
Pollock heard him distinctly, and he
shut his eyes two or three times in a
quick way that he had when angry,
though he kept on talking to Zelda
about the evenings performance.
I'm afraid you're jealous of Mr..
Balcomb. He got more applause than
anybody"
HE deserved all he got for making
such q monkey of himself"
Hes a man of courage; he proba-
bly, thought he could afford to do it,
"All Of -that?' said Pollock.
"A rising young man," continued
Zelda.
"A person. / should say, of most
egregious and monumental gall'-and
Zelda laughed at his earnestness. She
had not heard Balcomb's remark about
her cousin, but h knew he had said
9Ometnln8 mat lTTllaleO FOllOck. Inat
young officer left her quickly when
Leighton came up for the dance thai
had now begun.
e. Pollock f0uf1d EaseoHlb IN moment.
The promoter was standing at the side
Of the hall. his eyes ~nervOusly search
ing forttheF girl with whom he had N
gagged the dance
mr. Balcomb,r said Pollock, at his
elbow, may I speak to you a moment"
Certainly said Balcomb. in his us
ual amiable fashion. only I'm engag-
ed for this dance and have lost my
partner
That's my own AK declared Poll
lock, but my errand is brief. Let us
step but here
He led the day to a door opening up
on the main stairway Of the building
and they paused there. Pollock with
his back to the door, facing Balcomb.
He carried n glove in his hand and
was very trim erect in his evening
clothes,
Mr.. Balcomb, l was so unfortunate
as TO overhear conversation of a
homer ago-with some one 4 didn't
knRw. but that dcesn.t matter-in
which you referred to . young lady-a
young lady Who came here tonight
under you escort. In terms that a gem
tlemAn would mot use.v
eonfeeoed seaweadropper I don't