The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1915-05-27
III I'M nm
MARY MIDIHORNE
GEORGE BARR M~cCUTCHEON.
Author of "Graustark4" .-rruxton King etc.
Copyright 1911. BY Dodd. Mead & Co.
I'LL I'LL I'LL
CHAPTER vIII.-(Continued)

CHAPTER VHI.-(Continued).
Mr.. Carr is going" she said, ssingu-
1arly interested in what was going on
out of doors. He leaned forward to look
and. accidentally, their hands touched.
Ihey drew them apart as if each had
come in contact with a burning coal.
They laughed convulsively, in apology.
He's a strange man. said Eric
hastily, covering his confusion. hen
his face clouded. 81 say, your father
looke at me in a mighty strange way
out there. Just as if I had been doing
something / shouldn't nave DONE"
She hesitated, uncertain whether to
add to his distress of mind or to COM
plete what she had set out to do in the
beginning.
Your aunt told him yesterday that
4 is afraid of you, Eric" she blurted
u Wrathfully. She says you once
tried to kill Chetwynd, and that some
times she catches "a murderous look
IN your eyes when she offers the slight
est reproof or advice"
Eric laughed. He was able now to
enjoy the situation. They expect me
to slaughter someone before I die" he
chuckled.
she was very serious about it." pro-
tested Joan, displeased by his levity.
She says that Mr.. Presbrey works
with you by the hour, trying to-
Please don't taught" she cried, pouting.
I shan't tell you anything more"
Il can't help laughing" he said.
Don't begrudge me the chance to laugh
at Mr.. Presbrey. Why, Joan, he gets
me off in a corner and prays over me
as If l were the original sheep that
was lost from the other 90 and 8. I'm
half way to the bad place all the time,
according to him. and he's in a contin-
.ual scrap with the devil over my re-
mains. But I have good news for you:
MI. Presbrey says I've got a splendid
chance to get into heaven in spite Of all
that. All I have to do is to follow him.
He'll get me in. slick as a whistle. He's
going to get Mary in, too. He's got
Uncle Horace and Aunt Rena waiting
at the gate right now. All they have
| too"
you shouldn't %scoff," she cried, but
smiled in spite of the reproof.
We'll, I'm glad that your father
doesn't believe I'm as bad as they make
me out" he said soherly. "He-he shook
hands with me twice out there, and told
me ID find you here. That shows what
he thinks Of me-"
Her face frightened, a glorious light
suffused her eyes, her lips parted in a
warm, glad smile.
"oh, I am SO glad, Eric. II was
AFRAID he might be prejudiced against
you. You know how much store he
sets by Mr.. Blagden. And he can be
very hard when he wants to be. He
he has to be heartless sometimes, my
father does"
Eric returned her smile with one
shackies Of fear and self restraint fell
away from him. His heart leaped up
end in n swift rush overcame the
tim1d brain that stood in It's way. 1t
swept all resistance aside and tri.
umphed over reason. The look in her
q half cry, he slipped from the seat
and sprang to her side. Before either
really knew what had happened his
arms were around her and he had
kissed her, eagerly. bravely, full upon
the lips.
.oh. Joan, joan" he whispered. She
did not move. but closed her eyes, and
appeared to have stopped breathing.
Then he felt a dreadful fear stealing
over him. AS the chill Of shame and
remorse began to creep over him. the
slender body quivered in his arms, and
her hand caught n Of his as it was
about to be withdrawn. She convul
sively pressed it to her lips. Then her
eyes opened and looked into his. Tears
swan in them as he looked down, dazed
and unbelieving.
Eric, Eric" she whispered, so soft.
y. SO timidly that he could hardly hear
the word. You dear, dear Eric"
He was dumb with joy. His lips
moved. but the words remained smoth.
cred in his throat. She returned he,
head on his breast and began to cry
softly. Physical expression Of love was
new and b~ewtldering to them. They
were amazed, frightened, abashed.
"Are-are we going to be sweet.
hearts2" he asked, out of the maze OF
strange sensations. He only knew. o,
felt, that something vital was expected
Of him in this wonderful moment. some.
thing decisive, and honorable, and ex.
acting. Her handclasp frightened with
face more completely in its resting
| place. and a delicious pink covered heI
| cheek n the little ear that was left
exposed. He repeated the question, al,
most breathless with the eagerness that
filled his soul. tingling from head tc
that was growing SO full and com,
mandirg hat he could understand 1t
even as he doubted his senses.
The faintest nod Of the head an.
swered him. He caught his breath
striving to find an outlet for his feel
ings. The words came in a whisper:
Tive had dreams, but they were
never like this. Oh, I've dreamed 1t l.,
900 times. I never thought it could be
real. Are o sure, Joan? 1t isn't be-
u I'm so strong you-you can't get
away, is 1t? You are not angry
NV, " IL III llOl ollSI y, LllC . Sic
cried softly. ooh, I'm so ashamed.
You-you don't think I'm bold and
He kissed her again, triumphantly.
The eternal ma in him was solving
the problem. Victory! Conquest! That
is the man Of it.
II didn't believe it could ever hap
pen" he cried, aglow with bliss. Il
don't see how I aver got up the courage
to dc it. Why, until now, I thought
you liked me just on Mary's account.
What funny things girls are. And you've
been liking me like this - all the
timer"
Not like this" she said wistfully,
looking up for the first time n meet
ing his eyes. I'd never thought OF
| this"
Wen be sweethearts forever" he
| hesitated and then uttered the word for
the first time, shyly. awkwardly-
darling"
IF you will always like me-" she
Hurmured.
you won't let anybody come between
us, will you?" he demanded. You'll not
let them change o with their stories
about me?"
e