Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1913-12-04
CHAPTER y-(continued).

~ 80 esAAS VOa8 VI LII liA0 4i6
| street young people; there was no neee
OF bidding to its fine. open, careles!
welcome any one of Harlan's set. 81
while the guests amused themselves
In the parlors the Judge sat at his pa.
per Mrs. Van Hart was before 6
bookcase. the wall light upon her con.
tour OF hair and brow. There was abou'
9 TIN unacceptable inference OF breed
fng, that same charm Of assurance, o,
power. OF books and gentle ways, which
the room itself dfsengaged-the grace
OF right living and Of love, that splen-
did -wholeaomeness OF the American
home.
Mrs. Van Hart looked up at them IL
surprise. She did not recognize Au-
relic. But Harlan's arm was about the
stranger. The lady arose with an ex-
clamation. MY dear, have you beer
hurt?"
NO" said Aurelie.
Mother" the boy began. and dropped
Aureie's hand and stood apart in Quiet
dignity. shes not hurt" His father
had lowered the paper and turned his
tell you. mother, we're engaged"
He saw his mothers blue eyes mar
row, heard the rustic Of the newspaper
In the Judges hand. From the other
room the Schumann song went on,
Mrs. Van Hart checked the flutter In
= VOICE.
xes. TO Aurel1e Lindstrom.'
kindly. Harlan knew at all costs they
would be kindly. II tho Van Harris
had sent q culprit to the gallows 1t
would be done without scene-and
Kindly: HIS mother was looking al
snem keeniy; then n laughed. briefly,
90 naturally. that, Tor q moment even
NV dNar-hA Aeated"
The girl did SO in q sort OF dream.
They had welcomed her! They had
called her "dearl" It was all SO I'M
utterabiy different, 30 beautifully DIFF
ferent! Her day of the jinnee had
d~awned--the most beautiful girl in all
America! Harlan's home opened to
her with love. Love, that was it--love
counted nothing Of her simple gown.
her want Of manner, her lack Of speech
and knowledge OF all this gentle life
love asked her In and opened all the
way!
face, his eyes upon his son with a
crushed despair. 80 glorified was she
with this. The mother went on: my
dear child" She hesitated, then
smiled easily. You surprise US. It Is
a-a-thunderbolt!"
"All summer. mother" Harlan an
swered doggedly-he knew the shock
they felt. if Aurelie was deceived
we've been meeting each other. It's
no sudden thing. / should have told
you-I hated to deceive ycu"-he
laughed bluntiy and looked ut Aurelie,
perched like d bird blinded by q Iight
upon her chair-"well. I'm sorry for
that. ant now TIM roin9 awav Ia
school- and I want Won to care for
AuraIia. lust 10 know Won. mother
5its viii 9ho "a much IL heri T wanted
"a hrin9 her nero. mother-homai And
then this fool beauty contest that wiley
Curran@ rot some al the town girls intc
i simply couldn't stand It'll.
sYas : hfs rnofher annwered. 4.F1is1
-hsr ~n,cfara vnaa .ent- n ~. sahom-
[ainahia M. Dickinson stelepEoned to-
nirht "a az M. Van Hart IL some
fhinS actionahi couId NOT he dom
about "a"
Harlan aneha mirthlessly. .rElist
dadn,t get thaspr4sa eogno one.u knoN
of nor! But Aureiie- His ,eyei
went hunsrlv TO Aurelie. dumb on ho,
rhair 1strivfnr 10 erasn WHAT n,,eht rhi
i ana.inr hsaufv. for he had neva,
thonrht5of that n herl The purity a
her ovai face. tho perfect line OF fe]
.rra,I throat har moi,th. h,.dded aiway,
With iaMshter. now rave as 4 nun
her hiscE heavy Hdaed eyes-he haf
srnaraiv loved them ali. Il
lsrrii.a reioined hia mother briefly
.naed mt he mentioned now. Harlal
-vo,,r enrnreynent > 8 extraor
Isdtnarvo mad urmured somethin,
thof fhev cnnld NOT understand. Th,
Judge too. hadImuttered. II the onl,
son had been brought home dead the!
thar enests IN the next room, so thor
n,,rh was the Van Hart inheritance
Ms song had ceased. a buzz Of "a,