The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1910-02-03

not be worth one weeks purchase II
he wronged his girl. (.
And Asgill suspected the other; ana
he shock with rage a. the thought that
Payton might offer the girl some rude
ness. When Payton rose to go, he
rose also: and when, by chance, Payton
sat down, he sat down also. AT once
the Englishman 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 n open.
There was claret on the table, and
the Major did not spare it. When he
rose to his feet to retire he was heated
n flushed, but not drunk. where's
that young cub?" he asked.
Asgrin shrugged his shoulders. II
can't hope to fill his place. he said
with a smooth smile. But I will be
doing the honors as well as I can"
You are very o%fficious, it seems
to me-" Payton growled. And then,
more loudly, I'm going to bed" he
said.
in his absence" Asgill answered,
with mock politeness, Il 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 ia
DlG, llS pASSSuCo ZIG ~ Si}SllliloAl ny ~
stairs.
The gradual ascent Of the lights
and the mems footsteps should have
given Flavia warning of their coming.
Blu either she disdained concealment
or she was thinking of other things,
for when they entered the passage be-
yond the landing they espied the girl
standing outside the Colonel's door.
A pang shot through Asgil's heart and
he drew in his breath.
She raised her hand. All" she said,
"he has been crying out! But I think
it was in his sleep. Will you be making
as little noise as you can?"
Asgill did not answer, but Payton
did. Happy mani" he said. And, be-,
tone and with such a ooh that a deep
blush crimsoned the girls face.
Her eyes snapped. Good night" she
said, colby.
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 ma then!"
Asgilps face was dark with passion,
but Good night" Flavia repeated cold
~. And this time the displeasure in
her tone silenced the Major. The two
men went on to their rooms, though
Asgilis hands itched to be at the 9TH
er's throat. A moment later two doors
SiOSSd Sild ply.
Flavia remained in the darkness of
the passage, but she no longer listened
she thought. Presently she went back
to her room.
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 atura that
Payton's words should direct her
thoughts to 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 her
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 but
find In the one a nobility, in the other
"a dreadfulness. Looking back and
having Payton's words and manne
fresh in her mind, she had to w that,
in all his treatment Of her, Colonel Sui
livan, while opposing n .hwarting
her, had still, n always, respected
her.
Strange to say, she could not now
understand that rag against him
which had before carried her to such
lengths. How had he wronged her?
h could find no suff1cing answer. A
curtain had fallen between the past
civ Vic PAVoCASs Lie lLSllS !. 1t STOOD
on a sudden very distant, very dim, q
thing Of h past. an enterprise roman
tic, but hopeless. The contemptuous
words in which he had denounced It
rang again In her ears, but they no
longer kindled her resentment; thew
convinced. AS one recovering from
sickness looks back on the decisions Of
fever, Flavia reviewed the hopes and
aspirations of the past month. She saw
now 1t was not with a handful of plot
ters and peasants that Ireland could be-
saved or the true faith restored.
She was still standing a pace within
her door when a foot stumbled heavily
on the stairs. She recognized it for
James footstep-she had heard him
stumble on those stairs beforehand she
laid her hand on the latch. She had
v had a real quarrel with him until
now and, outrageously as he had
treated her, h could not bear to sleep
without making an attempt to heal the
preach. She opened the door and
stepped out.
James light was travelling IN the
stairs, but he had not himself reached
the landing. She had just noted this
when a door opened and Payton looked
out. He saw her, and still flushed with
claret, he misunderstood her presence
her.
Thought So" he chuckled. "St;l, lie
tening. Ell? Why not listen at my door?
Then 1t would be a pretty man and a
pretty maid. But I've caught you" He
shot out his arm and tried to draw her
toward him. There's no one to see.
and the least you can do is to give me
a kiss for a forfeit"
Continued Next Week.
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What to Say.
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