The Wahpeton times. [volume] (Wahpeton, Richland County, Dakota [N.D.]) 1879-1919, 1911-03-16

plexion, and her fine brown eyes, alter.
nately reflective and alert, were shad.
! ed by long dark lashes. Her eyebrows
were delicately arched, and she had a
good nose. She wore her hair well of
the forehead, which was broader than
In the average woman, suggesting good
mentality. Her mouth, however, was
her strongest feature. 1t was well
, shaped. but there were firm lines about
It that suggested unusual will power.
Yet 1t smiled readily. and when it did
there was an agreeable vision OF.
strong, healthy looking teeth of .daz-
cling whiteness. She was little over
medium height and slender in figure
and carried herself with that unmis-
taxable air of we'll bred independence
that bespeaks birth and culture. She
dressed stylishly, and. while her gowns
were of rich materia! and of cut
suggesting expensive modistcs. she
was always so quietly attired and in
such perfect taste that after leaving
her one could never recall what she
had on.
Tell me-" she repeated. "what dc
the papers say about the book?"
"Say?" he echoed. "Why, simply
that you've written the biggest book
Of the year. that's ALI"
"Really! Oh, do tell me all they
said!" She was fairly excited now,
and in her enthusiasm she grasped
Jefrerson's broad, sunburnt hand which
was lying outside the carriage rug.
! He tried to appear unconscious of the
contact, which made his every nerve
tingle, as he proceeded to tell her the
gist Of the reviews he had read that
afternoon.
'Isn't that splendid?" she exclaimed
when lie had finished. Then she added
quickly:
81 wonder if your father has seen it."
jefferson grinned. He had some
thing on his conscience, and this was
good opportunity to get rid of it.
He replied laconically:
"He probably has read it by this
time. sent him copy myself"
The instant the words were out of
face had changed color.
You sent him copy Of The Amer
lean Octopus"" she cried. "Then he'll
guess who wrote the book"
ooh, no. he WON'T" rejoined Jeffer-
son calmly. "He has no idea who sent
1t to him. mailed 1t anonymously"
Shirley breathed sigh of relief. 1t
fInf ffxy
should remain a secret. AS daughter
Of a supreme court judge she had to be
most careful. She would not embar-
rass her father for anything in the
world.
Suddenly jefferson asked her:
"Have you heard from home recent
ly?"
Il had a letter from father last week.
Everything was going ON at home as
when l left. Father says lie misses
NE sadly and that mother is ailing, as
usual"
She smiled, and jefferson smiled too.
They both knew by experience that
nothing really serious allied Mrs. Ross
more, who was good deal of hypo-
chondriac and always so filled with
aches and pains that on the few occa-
sions when she really felt we'll she was
genuinely alarmed.
The cab stopped suddenly in front
of beautiful gilded gates. 1t was the
Luxembourg. and through the tall rail-
ings they caught glimpse of we'll
kept lawns, splashing fountains and
richly dressed children playing. From
the distance came the stirring strains
of a brass band.
The coachman drove up to the curb,
and Jefferson jumped down, assisting
/, Shirley to alight.
They entered the gardens. following
the sweet scented paths until they
came to where the music was. The
| band Of an infantry regiment was play
ing. and a large crowd had gathered.
Many people were sitting on the chairs
provided for visitors for the modest fee
of two sous; others were promenading
round and round great circle having
the musicians in its center. The dense
foliage of the trees overhead afforded
a perfect shelter from the hot rays of
i luC Sll, OlIu TIC pidSc W Us 81 INV AtAA6
and interesting, so cool and so full Of
| sweet perfumes and sounds, appealing
to and satisfying the senses. that Shir-
ley wished they had more time to
! spend there.
"Isn't it delightful here?" said she.
Il could stay here forever, couldn't
you!"
"With you-yes." answered Jeffer-
son, with a significant smile.
Shirley tried to look angry. She
strictly discouraged these convention
! al, sentimental speeches Which con-
stantly flung her sex in her face.
"Now, you know don't like you to
talk that way, Mr.. Ryder It's most
undigniied. Please be sensible"
Quite subdued, Jefferson reiapsed
into a sullsy silence. Presently he
said:
II wish you wouldn't call me Mr..
Ryder. l meant to ask you this before.
You know very we'll that you've no
great love for the name, and IL you
\ persist you'll end by including me in
your hatred of the hero of your book.