The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1910-02-03

n ASg1ll suspected the Otners ano
he shook with rage at the thought that
ness. When Payton rose to go. he
rose also; and when, by chance, Payton
sat down, he sat down also. At once
the E~nglishman understood; and
thenceforth they sat with frowning
faces, each more certain. with every
moment. that, the other removed, his
path to the goal was clear and open.
There was claret on the table, and
the Major did not spare 1t. When no
rose to his feet to retire he was heated
n flushed, but not drunk. "Where,D
that young cub?" he asked.
Asgrill shrugged his shoulders. II
can't hope to I'LL his place." hesgsaid
with a smooth smile. But ! VIII be
doing the honors rs well as I cam
"You are very officious, 1t seems
to me-" Payton growled. And then.
more loudly. I'm going to bed" he
said.
I'm his absence" Asgill answered,
with mock politeness, II will have the
honor of lighting YOU"
You needn't trouble"
Faith, and it's no trouble at ALL
Asgill replied in the same tone. And,
taking two OF the candles from the ta-
BILE, he preceded the Englishman UP the
stairs.
The gradual ascent Of the lights
and the mems footsteps should have
But either she disdained concealment
or she was thinking of other things,
for when they entered the passagesh e-
yond the landing they espied the girl
standing outside the Coloneps door.
A pang shot through Asgilps heart and
he drew in his breath.
She raised her hand. "Ah." she said,
"he has been crying out! But I think
1t was in his sleep. Will you be making
as little noise as you camp,
Asgill did not answer, but Payton
did. Happy mani" he said. And, be-
ing in his cups, he said Ii in such q
tone and with such a look that a deep
blush crimsoned the girls face.
Her eyes snapped. Good night" she
said, coldly.
Asgill continued to keep silence, but
Payton did not take the hint. wish
I'd such a ~guardian!" he said with a
chuckle. I'd be a happy man then!"
Asgill's face was dark with passion,
but Good night Flavia repeated cold
ly. And this time the displeasure in
her tone silenced the Major. The two
men went on to their rooms, though
Asgilrs hands itched to be at the 9TH
er's throat. A moment later two doors
closed sharply.
Flavia remained in the darkness OF
the passage, but she no longer listened
she thought. Presently she went back
to her room. p.
There she concluded to stand and to
think. And the blush which the Majors
insinuation had brought to her cheek
still burned there. 1t was natural that
Payton's words should direct her
thoughts 20 the man outside whose door
he had found her; nor less natural that
she should institute a comparison be.
tween the two, should consider how the
one had treated her, when he had held
her struggling in his arms, when in hel
despair she had beaten his face with
her hands, and how the other had treat.
ed her in the few hours he had known
her! Thus comparing he could not blu,
find in the one a nobility, In the othei
"a d~readfulness. Looking back and
having Payton's words and manner
fresh in her mind, she had to own that
in all his treatment Of her, Colonel Sui.
Ivan, while opposing and thwartinl
her. had still, and always. respected
her.
Strange to-. say, she could not nov
understand that rage against hin
which had before carried her to such
lengths. How haC he wronged her
She could find no sufflcing answer. A
curtain had fallen between the pas
and the present. The rising? It stood
on a sudden very distant. very dim, 6
thing Of the past, an enterprise roman
tic, but hopeless. The contemptuou,
words in which he had denounced Il
rang again in her ears, but they M
longer kindled her resentment: the,
convinced. AS one recovering from
sickness looks back on the decisions o.
fever, Flavia reviewed the hopes ant
aspirations of the past month. She saw
now it was not with q handful Of plot.
tiers and peasants that Ireland could bt
saved or the true faith restored. i.
She was still standing a pace within
her door when a foot stumbled heavily
on the stairs. She recognized II fol
James footstep-she had heard him
stumble on those stairs beforehand sht
laid her hand on the latch. She hat
never had a real quarrel with him unit
now and, o~utrageously rs he hat
treated her. she could not bear to sleel
without making an attempt to heal the
breach. She opened the door ant
stepped out. =
James light was travelling up the
stairs, but he had not himself reached
the landing. q She had just noted thi.
when q door opened and Payton looked
out. He saw her, and still flushed will
claret, he misunderstood her presenc,
and her purpose. He stepped towart
her. x,sy~ :
Thought So" he chuckled. Still lis
tening, Ell? Why not listen at my door
Then 1t would be a pretty man and &
pretty maid. But Nv caught you. 9TH,
Shot out his arm and tried to draw he,
toward him. There's no one to see
and the least YOU can do is to give m,
a kiss fol-, a Forfeit"
Continued Next Week.
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r. MhA& g. Co..