Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1914-03-05

He could run on thus with these two
Janet, with whom he had been a
schoolmate, and Harlan, whom he had
loved after his return. These two had
made life liyable in his shabby years
they had understood. They had made
him keep faith with himself. II need
you two" he murmured; 'oh, / need
you!"
They saw his eyes, the fondness in
them, watching out the door. Then
he cried out.
Carmichael's bus was at his plat
form. Two women were getting out.
One was a stout light haired person.
The other was Aurelie L1ndstrom. She
dropped her suitcase and lifting her
veil. ran forward to Mr.. Curran. And
h kissed him!
Mr.. Curran colored. He was dunn
founded. He gasped. This Aurelie!
This being, SO mischievious with
laughter, so ripping with life, so COM
plete with happiness, and confident
with saucy tricks and clothes n per-
sonality.
Glad to see me, mon ami Yes
no" She was laughing on, chattering
her %barbarous French. "Me-the little
savage! Aurelie! Am I changed?"
She turned with an odd f~oreignness
and shrugged, displaying herself for
him. And Their she saw Miss Vance,
and checked herself. Then Harlan, and
gasped. But she came to him with
the most natural grace and held out a
and.
And Harlan-glad to see me, are
you?" Then to Janet. and you? I
She turned with a little flutter of hap
p1ness. Janet decided that Aurelie had
discovered herself, a rare trick of maxi
ing the most Of whatever came her
way, with a natural players percep-
ton Of values. 1t all enhanced her
1~O1J~~1y III 80 20 49,
neTs of the world, and she had the wit
to utilize it. In no other way could
Janet account for tho amazingly
changed Aurelie. Her lonely pride. her
defeated pathos were gone.
She introduced the stronger with a
man, and she was our heavy woman"
She sank into Mr.. Curran's chair with
an air of having done the situation
carelessly well. Then she raised her
big black eyes limpidly to young MT.
Van Hart, with that belying spiritual
ensnared him. She knows how to be
the coquette," unused Miss Vance-and
glanced keenly at Mr.. Curran.
Mr.. Curran was staring at Aurelie
with frank delight. Janet was swift
ly aware that his dependency Of the
clouds, his unacceptable romance, the
love Of the bizarre and the daring, had
seized him. "Aurelie, you incredible
child" he cried. "How-how-splen-
didly o look"
Indeed she did. She knew it. She
found happiness in it.
MI. Curran," h smiled, you're the
only person-except Uncle Mich-who
eve understood me a bit"
Harlan and Janet were silent. If
Aurelie was the vulgarian, this. was
supposable in her world Of vulgarians.
NJ wi JNo11roor would n r,,,~ +hof
the thing was to get the money and
the press stuff. He was confident that
Miss Lindstrom could do both. And
wear clothes. What else was need
ful?"
Wiley saw Harlan's eyes fastened on
Aurelie's hand. He knew that Janet
also was thinking of the story Of Hen
McFetridge's diamonds. But Aurelie
wore only one little ring! Mr.. Curran
glanced defiantly at the others. Janet
looked at him with a sudden sickness
Of heart. He was shining eyed. 1t
took this to delight his vagabond soul
"a girl of fluffy clothes, the charm Of
adventure out in the world. airs and
appealing graces, the typical feminine
and he had succumbed.
Janet" he cried. dc you re-
member her? The little rabbit hunting
savage up in the hills, the defying
school child with a heart none could
ever flnd?"
with a smile. Nobody!"
Indeed not" drawled the languid
babies and beggars. I wonder how
many rehearsals she's been fined just
for them!"
"It's fun!" bust out Aurelie. ITO
have some money and give it away.
And to tickle babies-it makes 'em
stare so! Miss Norman and I are go
ing to New York and try to get on,
but honest, I'd rather have a baby
Young Mr.. Van Hart looked at MI.
Curran. Mr.. Curran laugher grace
smile. She was concluding that
Aurelie was comical. Slangy, droll,
good hearted, honest-but all that
spiritual chasteness of her face-when
she was not laughing-would be
harmless after ALL
New York." went on Aurelie. IF
one is going to really act, one must go
there. And starve. maybe. But Ada
says I won't. She knows We'll get on.
and the managers will listen to me.
You know they said in Denver it
wasn't Just my face. They said l was
worth wilhelm the newspapers
"She certainly is" put in Miss Nor
part so hard-all the tricky bits. And
1t doesn't seem work with her. And
she can wear clothes, and in the bust
ness that's everything"
The heavy woman" looked down
at herself. She vas quite 40 and the
stock companies had made her feel It.
IAN old trouper like me- she went on,
watches a lot Of these kids smoke up
and go out. But Aurelie, here, is class.
Where she got 1t, God knows!"
when Hen and Ben make another
fortune" pursued Aurelie. they're go
ing to buy the tin opera house and
I'll come back a leading woman and
show these old grannies something!"
Miss Norman laughed YEARLY.
Plainly Hen and Ben were provocative
of glee to professional people. angel
Hem" she murmured.
Good old Hem" said Aurelie. Then,
quite innocently, "Mr. Curran, do you
know Hen McFetrick wanted to marry
me?"
"N-no-' Mr.. curran looked evas-
lively at Harlan. Janet had an i'm
preston that Harlan was fighting down
a blaze of anger.
But then" ven on Aurelie-"every-
body was good to me-"
Wanting to marry YOU, Aurelie?"
tfaltered Mr. Curran; do you call that
being good to you?"
"of course" demurely, 'at least its
interesting" h
Harlan was on his feet. He at
tempted to pass her, n she looked up
lin wonder.