The Mellette County pioneer. [volume] (Wood, Mellette County, S.D.) 19??-1971, 1913-01-17

A,ccK, not waiting for replies to her
remarks. Its good TO see YOU again!
And | like Il here better than In
Egypt. don't you? Don't you think
this apartment jolly?"
The shaded lamps made n pretty
light over Miss Reynier's cream-col-
orcd silk LOUNGES, over the delicate
lace on her waist. over her glossy
dark hair and spirited face. As Aleck
contemplated that face. with Its eager
yet modest AID womanly gaze. and the
noble outline OF her figure. he thought,
with an unwonted towering OF imagi-
nation. that she VAS not unlike the
Diana OF classic days. "A domestic
DIANA" he added in his mind. She
may love the woods and freedom. but
she will always return to the hearth"
Aloud he said: If you will permit
me. Miss Reynier. | would like to in
form you ut once OF the immediate
object OF my visit here. You must
be we'll aware" At this point Mr..
Van Camp. who. true to his nature.
was looking ~squarely In the face OF
his companion. OF necessity allowed
himself to be interrupted by Miss Rey-
nier's lifted hand. She was looking
beyond her visitor through the draw
ing-room door.
MIR. Chamberlain and Mr.. Lloyd
Jones'" announced the servant.
As Miss Reynier swept forward with
outstretched hand to greet the new
corners, Van Camp fixed his eyes on
Of masculine rage and submission,
Whether he thought her too cordial
toward the other men or too cool
toward himself. MAS not apparent
Presently he, too. was shaking hands
with the visitors. who were evidently
old friends OF the house. Madame Rey'
nier. the aunt Of mademoiselle. was
summoned. and Van Camp was ma
rooned o M sofa with Lloyd.Jones,
who was just In from the West
Aleck found himself listening to m
interminable talk about copper veins
and silver veins. a new kind Of assay
ing instrument. and the good luck at
tendant upon the opening OF Lloyd
Jones new mine. the Liza Lu.
Aleck was the essence OF courtesy
to everything except sham. and was
able to indicate a mild interest in Mr.
Lloyd-Jones' mining affairs. II was
sun cient. L.loyd.Jones turned side
wise on his end of the soft, spread out
plump. gesttculating hands. and
poured upon him an eloquent torrent
OF fact. speculation and hlgh-spirited
enthusiasm concerning Idaho in gen
eral and the future OF the Liza Lu
in particular. More than that. by and
by his cheerful. half.impudent manner
threatened to turn poetic.
It's great. living in the open out
there" he went on, BY this time in
GLIDING the whole company in his ex
ordium. You ride or tramp. or dig
rock all day: and at night you lac
down under the clear stars. thankful
for your blanket and your rock-bec
and your campfire: and more than
thankful IL there's a bit Of running
water nea by. It's a great life!"
Miss Reynicr listened to him will
eyes that were alternately puzzled and
appreciative. IL was a discourse that
would have seemed to her much more
natural coming from Aleck Var
Camp: but then. Mr.. Van Camp really
did the thing-that sort OF thing
and he rarely talked about Il. II had
probably been Mr.. Lloyd,Jones' firs'
essay in the world out OF reach OF his
was consequently impressed with his
achievement. II was evident that Miss
Reynier and the amateur miner were
on friendly terms. though Aleck hat
not seen or heard n him before. lie
had hobnobbed with Mr.. Chamber
lain in London and on more than one
scientific jaunt. The slightest flicker
Of jealous resentment cleaned in Al
eck's eyes. but his speech was rs slow
and precise AZ vel.
Il was just trying to convince Miss
Reyn!er that outdoor life has it's pc
culiar joys" he said. Il was ever
now suggesting that she should dig
though rot for silver. Does Mr.
Lloyd-Jones' lure seem more allur
ing than my little wrigely beasts. Miss
Reynier?"
II Aieck meant this speech for q
trap to force the young woman To in
dictate a preference. the trick failed
as il deserved to fail.
Il couldn't endure either your mine.
or your mudpuddies. You are both
absurd. and ! don't understand how
you ever get recruits for your hobbies
But come over and see this new en-
craving. Mr.. Jones: It's an old
fashioned picture OF your beloved
Rhine
Aleck. thus liberated from Mr.
Lloyd-Jones and his mines, made his
way across the room TO Madame Rey
nier. The cunning OF old Adam was
In his eye. but otherwise he vas the
picture OF deferential innocence.
Madame Reynier loved Aleck. with
his i~noffensive A~mericanisms and un
failing kindness; and with her
friends she was f%rankness itself. With
two men in Miss Reynier's hands for
entertainment. II seemed Ia Aleck
unlikely that either one could make
any alarming progress. Besides, he
was glad OF n tete-a-tete with the chap
erone.