Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1914-10-23

emerged from the grounds as he was
passing and gave him = cool lmpeT-
sonal nod. He guessed THAI Is was her
recreation hour and marked TIE I1n
The quick leaping interest should hasT
been a warning to him. Perhaps =
was, for:
I'm making a fool of myself" hr
growled. What do l know Of thla
woman"
On the third day thereafter, at tbs
same hour, he passed the hospital
This time Kazia appeared lone. Shv
gave him again the cool imperscHA
nod and would have passed on. BS
he drew the horses up sharply aH&
called: "Kazia!"
She paused, hesitated a momshs.
then went over to the curb.
will you drive with me for a
while?"
Il ought to walk" she answered.
Please, Kazia." It did not seem
absurd to him that he pleaded.
She hesitated again, then
Yes" she said.
He would have alighted to help her
to the seat, but she forestalled him.
Don't get out" And she vas be-
side him.
He touched the horses with his whip
and they sprang forward.
You aren't WELL" she said abruptly.
And he, ascribing to that fact her
unexpected compliance, was at the mo-
ment almost glad Of his disability.
rs it obvious? / believe I'm not.
To f,a% 49, looto~ hoe or1ara1 mo fN
get out and play find it very hard
work. That's why-that's one reason
why-I asked you needed company.
The circumstance" he smiled, Ought
to appeal to you professionally"
Nurses are VIGOROUSLY hard
hearted"
"Yes? Then l can't work on your
sympathies. On the whole, I'd rather
have it so. You'll have to admit it
took courage to ask you to play with
me, because-you'll admit again-you
weren't exactly cordial the last time"
What did O expect?"
But 1 expected nothing" he re.
torted. Il didn't know you would be
at Romans. Why. hadn't even heard
of you for-I've been counting it up
IA years. That isn't gross fiattery, is
it? But, of course, you aren't the sort
Of woman that likes fiattery. Are
you?"
Then you're not so sure, after all?
But l do like it."
Il must remember that" He
chuckled. Playing becc mes distinctly
easier. Isn't it lucky l happened along
by the hospital just when l did?"
"But I thought" She almost
smiled. Il thought it was a habit"
so you've seen me? Now you men
ton it, / may as well confess that
this isn't luck, but the result of a very
clever plot. I've been driving past
the hospital almost every day in the
sneaking hope that just this would
occur"
You say, a sneaking hope"
you see," he confided, I'm easily
frightened. How could l know hat I'd
find you $3.50 beautifully human
Are you preparing to snub me for
that?"
Il am considering it." The smile
was unmistakable now. But won't,
because today is one of the days when
l can't help being beautifully human.
I'm SO healthy that sometimes l just
have to take a vacation from myself"
And I'm SO unhealthy that, though
I'd like to. I can't give Truitt b slip
for even an hour. He's a persistent
beggar-as you may have noticed the
last few weeks"
They laughed.
1t was a clear afternoon, beautiful
with the mellow radiance Of autumn
sunshine. But the wind that swept
sky and air clean was crisp and pene-
trating. To her, superbly healthy. it
gave only a rare tinge of color that
enhanced her charm, gave the last
needed softening touch. His wasted
body, despite the heavy o%vercoat he
wore, could not resist the chill breath.
But, though he knew he would prob
ably pay later for the exposure, he
would not by so much as a minute cur
tail the hour.
II haven't had SO pisasant-its q
puny word, but let that go-so pleas
ant a time in years." he declared.
II see," she laughed. you have
taken me at my word"
But / mean it." he protested. "Td
like you to believe that mean it."
He became grave.
.Since that day at Romans I've
been thinking a good deal Of what we
said-about my having harmed you.
If regrets-but there's nothing SO use
less. That sort Of thing isn't easily
forgiven, is it,"
"Oh, very easily"
.You are thinking that I give too
much significance to u little affair.
l do not"
mo. / mean / have never blamed
you. OF course we were too young for
it to have any lasting Significance.
And. II L remember Alright, l invited
it-and so put you IN what must have
seemed a very tragic euandary at the
time" The most critical ear could
have discerned nothing ungenuine in
her ripping laugh
CTO BE CoNTINUEDJ