Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1913-11-27
MkMN.2n ASTERIING Mvn. OF THE GREAT
&#&6G93 MIDDLE WEST
8{EzeMID[ANDERS
MM By
~. CHARLES TENNEYI JACKSON
MkR&SH x z ,--r q The DEYN SOULS. NY BROTHERS
KEEPER etc. etc.
F"SU~E cevhkA4 1914 h pobe xaduc ~o..~
CHARLES I~FNNEYJACKSON


was taking her on exultantly, now. by
the trail down through the laurel and
boulders which led to the end Of the
street back of Curran's house. She
was frightened: h had never seen
him SO ardent, so rebellious.
Tonight? 2" she cried-"oh, Harlan
my dress!"
IT'S a lear little dress!"
Her hand went to the flower in her
ton.
Don touch it! It's a bit Of flame
just like you" He laughed. This was
so easy! This was what they should
have done long ago! All his life had
been without secrecy or reproach; and
now, to take his sweetheart by the
hand and go down %buoyantly to the
town to face them all! How easy it
was under the witchery of the Septem-
Der moon!
They were both laughing. nervously
yet with happiness. when he lifted her
down the last rock among the night
damp leaves and burst through the
sinsinawa. looking down in the pools
at their reflections. They were COM
Ing to the first houses. the lamp in
the window, and somewhere the muir
muir OF voices from neighbors visiting
on the lAwns-his people. kind and
sANo PSOplO. Lucy SIlOulO De llcI pcOpl0
now. This was the beautiful answer
he would mako to conventions and
curious eyes and tongues-to take her
by the hand and lead her among them.
Love was enough; love was all-and
they should see!
They came about the corner OF the
old News building. On the platform
walk a man stood who was staring off
SO strangely above the sugar trees Of
the Square that Harlan did not, at
first, recognize Wiley Curran himself.
Under one arm he had the exchanges
from the nights mail; at his feot, in
the moonlight, lay an envelop. and In
his hand was the key-ring with which
lie always opened his letters.
Harlan drew his sweetheart on. But
not until they were directly before Cur
ran did h latter appear to notice
them. Then he stared down at the
opened letter In his hand NJ mutter-
ed: The girls got it-wait till the old
town hears that"
"Wiley?"
."Hello. Harlan" responded Wiley
absently. Then his black eye fell upon
Aurelie. He started. IVY. how did
you know"
George!" the editor roared: did you
hear from emp" Then he seized her
hand frantically and shook 1t. Miss
Ltndstrom-it's the greatest thing thai
ever hit h old town.
She had no idea what he meant.
Harlan i%nterposed. Whats the mat
ter, Wiley?"
Don't you know? Then what the
mischief are you bringing her here for %
The ditor shook the letter before them.
"This?"
"Aurelie? Why we don't know any
thing you're talking about? What?"
.Aurelle." Went on the editor,
you've won the beauty contest"
She continued to stare at him. "You
got it," cried Curran. THE Sunday
editor of the Chicago Chronicle wrote
me this-he wants a column of dope
about you. They'll print your picture
the prize winner!"
Prize winner!" Harlan shouted.
You're crazy! How did the Chronicle
get her %picture?"
Il sent 1t to EN-. Last spring when
the Chicago paper started this beauty
contest. Vawter, the photographer, and
l were looking over that bunch of high
school ptctures-the Junior bunch. And
we entered three Of 'em! The Mills
girl and Elsie Dick1nson-and Aurelie's,
And Aurelie's won it!'
Harlan stood pallng before him.
"Elsie-and Aurelie! The picture?
What picture? I never saw any pic
ture!"
with lilacs in her hair! vawter caught
something in 1t that was indescribable,~
He started again at Aurelie, hungrily,
fascinated. as II seeking the thing that
men would call beautiful In her. why,
girl, I never looked at you before
never thought you were so-so-good-
looking!"
Harlan tore the letter from his hand
and was reading 1t.
h editor looked at the girls mute
and puzzled face. 1.-THE most beautiful
girl in the west-that's the way they'll
spring 1t! The syndicate-thirty Of the
biggest papers In the United States
will publish the picture, and twenty
million people will see it," He danced
up and down. "Aurelie, you little
madcap, you'll be the most famous
woman In the country"
Still she looked at her lover expect
antly, uncomprehending.
Harlan seemed gasping for breath.
Then he crushed the letter and slam
med it at the editors feet. "Aurelie-
her picture! You big damned fool,
Wiley! Her %picture!"
And Selling Aurelie by the hand, he
whirled about and dragged her after
him from the sidewalk. The editor
continued to watch them until they
were lost in the sugar-tree shade of
High street, still like one bereft Of his
senses Even the startling idea Of the
judges son and Old Michigan's girl
coming from a tryst down Eagle Point
trail to town together could not awak-
en- him. After a while he muttered:
The most beautiful woman In Amer
ica-maybe the whole world! Biggest
thing ever hit the old own since Jay
Smith killed himself up above the First
National bank! Aurelie, the beauty
prize winner!"
CHAPTER v.