The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1914-10-09

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old estate. And | know you have even
bigger plans. too"
He nodded, suddenly serious and
thoughtful. There's a lot I'd like to
do. It's not only the house and
grounds. There are other
things. For instance. back on the
mountain-on my own lands a set
Element they call Iiells-Half-Acre.
Probably it has well earned the
name. It's a wretched collection of
novels and surly men and drabs of
women and unkempt children, the
poorest of po%or-whites, Not one of
them can read or write. and they live
to put a Misunderstanding school up
there. And then
He ended with a half laugh, sudden
ly conscious hat he was talking in a
language she would scarcely under
stand-in fact, in a tongue new to him
self. But there was no smile on her
lips and her extraordinary eyes-cool
gray, shot through with emerald
were looking into his with a ~frankness
and sympathy he would not have
guessed lay beneath her glacial pla-
cidity.
To Katharine, indeed, 1t made little
difference what philanthropic lads tbs
man she had chosen might affect nj
regarded his tenantry. Ambitions Ike
these had a immortal flavor hat did
not displease her. And the Fargo mil
lions would bear much harmless ham
mering. A change, subtle and incom-
municable, passed over her.
Il shall think of YOU" she sighed,
"as working on in this splendid pro-
gram. For it is splendid. But New
York will miss you, John"
"Ah, no. I've no delusions on that
score. dare say I'm almost forgotten
there already. Here | have a place"
Her head. leaned back against the
cushion, turned toward him, the pale
orchids trembling OF her bosom-she
was so near hat he could feel her
breath on his cheek. A new waltz
had begun to sigh it's dangerous meas
ures.
Place." she queried DO you think
you had no place there? Is it possible
that you do not understand that your
going has left-a void?'
He looked at her suddenly. and her
eyes fell. Before he answered. how
ever, the big form of Major Bristow
appeared, looking about him.
1T has-left a void" she said. her
eyes still dcwncast, her voice just low
enough, for me-"
The major pounced upon them at
this j%uncture. feelingly accusing John
of the nefarious design of robbing the
assemblage of its bright and partic-
ular star. When Katharine put her
hand in her cavaliers arm, her eyes
were dewy under their long shading
lashes and her fine lips ever SO little
tremulous. 1t had been her best avail
able moment. and she had used 1t.
AS she moved away, her faint color
slightly heightened. she was glad of
the interruption. II was better as it
was. When John Valiant came to her
again.
But to him, as he stood watching
ACl hIOtC Al6HIly lIOII ulAAl, llCsC was
vouchsafed illumination. 1t came to
him suddenly that that placidity and
hauteur which he had SO admired in
the old days We're no mask for fires
within. The exquisite husk was the
real Katharine. Hers was the lowell
ness Of some tall white lily cut in
marble. splendid but chill. And with
the thought, between him and her
there swept through the shimmering
canlle-lighted air a breath OF wet rose
fragrance like an impalpabln cloud,
and set In the midst of it a misty star
tinted gown sprayed with Hles-of-the-
valley, and above 1t a girls face clear
and vivid, her deep shadow-blue eyes
fixed on his.
The music of a two-step was lam
gushing when, a little later, Valiant
and Shirley strolied down between
the garden box-hedges, cypress-shaped
and lifting ~spire-liEe toward a sky
which bent, a silent canopy of manve
and purplish blue. Behind them
Damory court lay a nest Of woven
music and laughter. The long white
muslined porch shimnered goldenly,
and beside it under the lanterns dial
lied a flirtatious couple or two, ghost
like in the shadows.
Come" he said. Let me take you
to see the sun-dial now"
The tangle had been cut away and
a narrow gravel-path led through the
pruned creepers. She made an excla-
nation Of delight. The onyx-pillar
stood in an oasis Of white-moonflow-
ers, white dahlias, m%ignonette and mar
~cissus: bars Of late lilies-of-the-val-
ley beyond these, bordered with Arum-
lilies. white clematis, iris and bridal
wreath, shading out into tender paler
haes that ringed the spotless purity
like dawning passion.
White for happiness" he quoted.
You said that when you brought me
day we planted the ram
blers. Do you remember what l
said? That some day. perhaps, should
love this spot the best OF Gil at Damory
He was silent q moment. trac-
ing with his finger the motto on the
AN~Ns~ IT, teyHyA-- 49, NAAAN- N