Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1915-05-19

Sec
Eric, listen! What she said to me
will never change my ove for Mary. l
told her go. You must him it cruel in
me to have told you, but there is Il rea-
son. She said they We're going to send
Mary off to q. private boarding school
to Miss Lexis. You know what sort OF
a place it is. People send girls there
when they can't manage them at home.
It's like a reform school, a place for in
corrigibles. Oh, Eric, she must not be
sent to that dreadful school,"
He set his jaw after the first spastn
of dismay had gone out of his face.
She'll not go there" he said. clench-
ing his hands until the nails hurt the
flesh. Il know a way to stop that little
scheme"
His soul glowed with triumph. He
was thinking of the blow he could strike
in return, a narrowing blow ut the very
heart of Blagden pride.
Joan ven on with V haste.
purging her mind of all that oppressed
it. Mrs. Presbrey said she hoped No
n would ever heal that 1 removed
my shoes and stocking. People wouldn't
overlook such immodesty. Why, Eric,
you didn't think l was doing wrong at
the time. did you?" She was b%lushing.
Mrs. Presbrey is a narrow-minded
jay" was his specific rejoinder.
Your unit went o to say h a Nh.
)tS6AC q COAlIillS oP llI4S lASCI 1lOOll
to assure father he wouldn't consider
it 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,"
Eric's smile was a grim one. IN bet
See here, Joan, what is it you are try
ing to get at? Don't you want me to
come? Are YOU afraid to be seer with
meo"
No, MOI" she cried. You nov bet
ter than that"
Then you do like to have me come?:"
"Of course. 1 do. That is, if you care
to come" The last was a maidenly at
ter thought.
I'm 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 to say, and
n Of those silences ensued in which
the heart beats are painfully loud and
the flesh creeps in delicious dread.
Father is very fon Of you," she
said at last, with an effort.
I've always thought you didn't like
me-" he said. ignoring her remark You
seemed to despise me, up to the day
we went sailing"
How perfectly silly!"
Il 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.
Tin sorry" he muttered.
We'll. it's the TRUTH she, a~ssverated.
conscious of a thrill of satisfaction in
her own c~leverness.
He could think Of nothing better 10
do than to shrug his shoulders. and
deliberately change the subject.
We'll, leaving me out of it. are you
going to cut Mary"
How can you ask?" she cried, in
dignantly. 81 love her.
His face frightened. Good! Just you
Don't let 'em turn o against her. And
say. III isn't going to Miss Lexis, re-
member that"
You are not going to AXE her
away?" she cried in alarm.
"Oh, u I'd like to-" he exclaimed. Il
must think of a way. We can't stay
there. l won't a her insulted by"
Eric. listen to me" she said earnest
ly. Her dark, serious eyes were full of
compassion. but in their depths there
was something that steadied him. You
must not do anything rash. 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
for her now.'
o0l \ "AIA 0S Al AAS ASAS !
he %groaned. Who will there be then
to protect her from-them?" He was
about to say Chetwynd, for his cousin
had been uppermost in his thoughts all
the time. Joan, it's getting too hard
tc bear. I'm almost a man. l can look
give UP college and work for her. I'll
work in the streets If that will
And o might compel her to take
to the streets. too" he said. The
worldiness of his sage remark caused
him to stare hard at her.
You don't think that?"
She veered. Let me tell you what I
am going to propose to Mrs. Blagden. I
am going to ask her to let Mary go to
the ssinnox school with me next winter.
1t is lovely there"
BY George. that would be great"
I'VE could room together. / know h
can get in il Mr.. Blagden writes to Miss
II 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 nave to. a a great idea, Joan.
and its fine Of you to think of
It." He heayed a sigh Of re,
around. I've been worried half to death
about leaving her"
But you must give up the thought
Of taking her away with you" h said
earnestly. 81 have been afraid that you
might really run away sometime. You
must not do that. Eric. 1 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. tell-tale eyes.
He only knew that she loved Mary.
Don't mind me-" she said. drying her
ouoa md smilin0 ssIem ~ silly >,