Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1915-05-20

to assure father he wouldn't consider
1t a personal affront If he forbade you
coming TO see me, as you've been doing
since we got home safely from Eddy's
Islands,
hTlcs smile was a grim one. I'll bet
my head he doesn't come,'' he said.
5 here, Joan. what is it YOU are try
ing to get at? Don't, you want me to
come? Are YOU afraid to be seen with
me?"
No. no." she cried. You know bet
ter than that"
Then You do like to nave me Gomez"
OF course, l do. That is, if YOU caro-
to come" The last was a maidenly at
ter thought.
In awfully keen about you, Joan"
he said, a warm flush mantling his
cheek. The remark seemed to put an
effective curb on conversation. Neither
could think Of anything 10 say, and
one of those. sileuces nsued in which
the heart beats are painfully O and
the flesh creeps In delicious dread.
Father is very fond of YOU" she
said at last, with an effort.
I've always thought you didn't like
NE" he said, ignoring her remark "You
seemed to despise me, up to the day
we went sailing"
How perfectly silly"
We'll, you did, he insisted d%oggedly.
u don't like YOU a bit more now than
l ever did, she said calmly.
1t was an ambiguous confession and
he did not grasp it at once.
I'm sorry" he muttered.
We'll, it's the truth" she assverated,
conscious OF a thrill of satisfaction in
her own cleverness.
He could think of nothing better to
do than to shrug his shoulders, AMI
deliberately change the subject.
We'll, leaving me out of it, are you
going to cut Mary"
"How can o ask" she cried, in.
d~ignantly. II love her"
His face frightened. Good! Just you
be nice to her, and rll-Ill die for you.
Don't let 'em turn you against her. And
say. she isn't going to Miss Lexis, lie.
member that"
You are not going 10 take her
away" she cl!ed in alarm.
"Oh, but I'd like to-" he exclaimed. Il
must think Of a way. We can't stay
there. l won't nave her insulted by"
Eric, listen TO me" she said earnest
compassion, but In their depths there
was something that steadied him. 'You
must not do anything ISL There is
too much at stake. You can't afford to
take Mary away from-from a home,
no matter how unpleasant 1t may be
TOT lef now.
But I will be in college next winter
he groaned. Who will there be then
to protect her from-them?" He was
about to say Chetwynd, for his cousin
had been uppernlost in his thoughts all
the time. Joan, it's getting too hard
tc bear. I'm almost a man. I can look
out for her any place In the world. I'll
give up college and work for her. I'll
work in the streets II that will"
And you might compel her to take
Worldiness of this sage remark caused
him 70 stare hard at her.
You don't think that?"
She veered. Let me tell you what l
am going to propose to Mrs. Blagden, .
am going to ask her to let Mary go to
the :Sinnox schoo with ME next winter,
II is lovely there,
ny George. that would be great"
W could room together. l Know she
can get in If MIR. Blagden writes to Miss
Drake, the principal. Mary's nearly 16.
If Mrs. Blagden only will consent
Eric struck his knees with his
clenched fist to emphasize his next re-
mark. She'll consent, all right. She'll
just have to. That's a great idea, Joan,
and is fine OF you to think OF
it." He heaved a sigh of re-
lief. 1t will make things easier all
around. I've been worried half to death
about leaving her"
But you must give Up the thought
of taking her away with you she said
earnestly. II ave been afraid that you
might really run away sometime. You
must not do that, Eric. | couldn't bear
it,"
"Why-why, you are crying" he ex-
claimed.
II couldn't bear it," she sobbed. Still
he did not recognize the true motive be-
hind all her distress and anxiety. He
could not see the heart Of her as 1t lay
swimming in the moist. t~ell-tale eyes.
He only knew that she loved Mary.
Don't mind me-" she said. drying her
eyes and smiling. Tn so silly"
"Oh. if / only could tell you-if 1
dared to he stammered in the de-
spair Of wild alteration.
ike a sensitive animal, she took
alarm. and shrank back into the cor
ner OF the window seat. Fer instinct
told her that there was danger In the
air-the joyous danger she courted u
still was afraid to face.
world he went on, and the incest"
he, added hastily, fearful Of the way
she would take the outburst.
She trowned-a very pretty frown.
but d%esolating. He took ii to be q sign
Of her displcasure. He had gone too
far. He. had offended her. Did he but
know IL, however. there would have
been no frown If the last three words
had been left unsaid.
Joan, from her position. saw her IA
Their and Adam Carr leave the stone
bench and walk together toward the
front gate.
CONTINUED next week.)