The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1911-10-13

ltiNtd an iIltl GSAIlS- HISIG ~ IllltI lliu-
ton.
DO you like poetry?' she asked
changing the subject.
"Some'at."
"Aiy favorite poet is Tennyson. Is
he yours too"
This was dangerous ground for Mark.
He had a special fondness for poetry.
and was more likely to betray himself
on this than on any other subject.
NO." he said; II love Shelley best"
"Why. Mr.. Slack, how can you un-
derstand Shelley? I can't"
"Waal. he is kinder obscurelike."
"Do you remember any Of his poems7
II you do l would like to hear you re-
peat it."
"Waal. I mought give you a few
lines Of the ode to the Spirit o. Ma
ture.'"
please do"
Mark would have done we'll to let the
lode to the Spirit of Nature" alone:
but with a beautiful girl beside him.
the half sinking in the west and
all nature In repOse, he m~Omentarily
forgot his assumed character entirely.
Suddenly he awoke to the conscious
ness Of ha wing given the whole poem
In his natural tone and with his ordi-
nary accent.
"Mr. Slack" said his listener when
he had finished. did you learn that
from a man in Jasper?"
"No-no-I-waal." he stammered. II
read 1t In a book"
He stole a glance at his companion.
but failed to detect any unusual ex-
preston on her face. He took courage.
"What do you raise on your planta.
ton? ?" she asked.
"Oh. we put in some potatoes and
corn and straw this year."
straw"
"No. no: not straw" Mark was as
little conversant with the farmers art
as he was familiar with the poets. II
mean hay"
The girl looked at him and smiled.
"The wheat was all gotten in early
this summer. ] am told" she remarked
casually.
"Yas. We got In ourn early. We jest
finished up before l kem away"
"Why. Mr.. Slack"
Mark knew that he had blundered
again.
wheat Is gathered in July" she in
formed the young farmer.
sI ~oon tho oorr ~ IN coiN u,;IA1v
'The corn comes later. 1t is ripen-
Ing now"
Mark felt It was all up with him 50
far as deceiving Miss Fain as to his
being a farmer. but he struck out
boldly to undo some Of the mischief.
"Waal. you ee. Miss Fain. to tell
the whole truth. dad be don't reckon
much on my farmer. He says I
oughter be a professor or somep'n o
that sort"
"A gentleman. for instance"
Mark made no reply. For the first
time he detected irony in her tone.
"Mr. Slack-if that is really your
name. which I don't b~elieve-you are
certainly not very complimentary to
my Of perception"
How so?"
"ln trying to make me think you are
not an educated gentleman"
Mark saw the futility Of keeping up
the sham with Miss Laura Fain any
longer. He resolved to give her 30
much Of his confidence as was neces.
sary to keep her from ~betraying him.
II will be frank with you. I am not
what ! have pretended. but I Am not
here to injure you or yours"
Are you a Union manT"
yes"
"A northerner?"
YES; but let that sufice. You would
regret 1t II l should con6de anything
more to you. Yet from this brief inter
view I have learned to trust you SUN.
GENTLY to place my life in your keep.
ing"
She thought a moment. A faint shud.
der passed over her.
II don't want to know your secret"
will you tell your mother what you
have discovered" asked Mark am.
iously.
"Not for worlds"
"You suspect He paused and
looked at her inquiringly.
"Yes. yes. Don't say any more
Don't breathe another word. Only 60
away from here as soon as possible"
Il shall 60 tomorrow morning. I
shall always hold you in grateful re-
membrance. You are q Splendid
lovely woman. I owe you
"Yes. yes; go-go early"
She rose and went into the house.