The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1914-11-19

Don't be sillyi OF course you can.
This will blow over"
BLOW over7" he almost gasped.
Il mean the first effects. Try being
a martyr for a while, Leslie. II isn't
a bad plan. l can assure you. 1t may
interest you to know hat Challis pro-
posed to me three times before l
accepted him. and yet Il loved him
from the beginning"
by Jove!" he exclaimed, coming
to his feet with a new light In his
eyes. The hollows in his cheeks
seemed to I'LL out perceptibly.
Good nightr'
Il say. Sara, dear, youll-youIl help
me a bit. won't you? / mean you'll talk
1t over with her and"
MY sympathy Ia entirely with
Miss Castleton." she said from the
doorway. His jaw dropped.
He was still Eliminating over the
callousness Of the world In respect TO
lovers when she mounted the stairs
and tapped firmly On Hetty's door.
ASfSJ SualiolOu Wa Summing IN
the middle of her room when Sara
entered. From her position II vas
evident that she had stopped short In
her nervous, excited pacing OF the
floor. She was very pale, but there
was a logged. set expression about
her mouth.
Come In. dear" she said. In q
manner that showed she had been
expecting the visit. Have you seer
hlm!"
Sara closed the door, and then stood
with her back against It. regarding
her agitated friend with serious, COM
passionate eyes.
Yes. He is terribly upset II wal
q blow to him, Hetty."
Il am sorry for him, Sara He was
so ~dreadfully In earnest. But, thank
God, II Is overt" She threw back
her head and breathed deeply. THAT
horrible, horrible nightmare is ended.
l suppose 1t had to be. But the mock
cry Of it-think OF II, Sara!-the
damnable mockery OF I'll"
Poor Leslie!" sighed the other.
poor old Leslie"
Hetty's eyes filed with tears. oh,
] am sorry for him. He didn't deserve
It. God in heaven, II he really knew
everything! II he knew why I could
not listen to him, why I almost
screamed when he held my hands in
his and begged-actually begged me
to oh, It was CHASTITY, Sara!"
She covered her face with her
hands, and swayed as IL about to fall.
Sara came quickly to her side. Put
ting an arm about the Quivering
shoulders, she led the girl to the
broad window seat and threw open
the blinds.
Don't speak Of It, dearest-don't
think Of that. SIT here quietly in the
air and pull yourself together. Let
me talk to you. Let me tell you how
deeply distressed l am. not only ON
your account, but his"
They were silent for a long time.
the girl lying still and almost breath
less against the others shoulders. She
was still wearing the delicate blue
dinner gown, but In her fingers was
the exquisite pearl necklace Sara had
given her for Christmas. She had
taken it off and had forgotten to drop
it In her Jewel box.
81 suppose he will go up to the city
early" she said monotonously.
Leslie Is a better loser than you
think, my dear" said Sara, looking out
owe the tops of the cedars. He will
not run away"
Hetty looked up In alarm. You
can he will persist INN his atten-
tions," she cried.
"Oh. no. / don't believe you will
find him to be the bugbear you iinag-
inc. He can take defeat like a man.
He is devoted to you, he is devoted
to me. Your decision no doubt wrecks
his fondest hopes in life. but 1t doesn't
make a weakling OF him"
Il don't quite understand"
He Is sustained by the belief that
he has paid you the highest honor a
man can pay to a woman. There is
no reason why he should turn his back
on you, as a sulky boy might do. No,
my dear. l think you may count on
him as your best. most loyal friend
from this night on. He has Just said
to me that his greatest pain lies In
the fear hat you may not be willing
to accept him as a simple, honest, un-
presuming friend since"
"Oh. Sara. II he will only be that
and nothing morel" cried the girl won
deringly.
Sara smiled confidently. 81 fancy
you haven't much to fear In that direc-
ton, my dear. II isn't in Leslie Wran-
dall's makeup to court a second re-
pulse. He is all pride. The blow II
suffered tonight can't be repeated--at
least, not by the same person"
81 am so sorry II had to be Leslie"
murmuued Hstty.
BE nice to him. Hetty. He deserves
that much of you. to say the least I
should miss him II he found II impos-
sible to come here on account Of"
II wouldn't have that happen for
the world" cried the girl In distress.
He In your dearest friend. Send me
away. Sara, II you must Don't let
anything stand In thu way OF your
friendship for Leslie. vou depend on
him for so much. dear. can't bar
the thought g."
ssvys-h A~-~t 49, - n~as .~~