The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1915-05-20

to assure father he wouldn't consider
it a personal affront il 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. .Tl bet
my head he doesn't come" he said.
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 seen with
me p"
NO, mol" she cried. you know bet
ter than that"
Then you do like to have me come.
"Of course. ! do. That is, il you care
to come" The last was a maidenly ats
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, n
one of those silences ensued In which
the heart beats are painfully loud n
the flesh creeps in delicious dread.
Father is very o of you." she
said at last, with an effort.
I've always thought you didn't ike
me-" he said, ignoring her remark. You.
seemed to despise me, up to h day
we went sailing"
How perfectly silly!"
We'll, you did," he insisted d~oggedly.
Il don't like you q bit more now than
I ever did" she said calmly.
It was an ambiguous confession and
he did not grasp 1t at once.
Tim 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 10
do than to shrug his shoulders, and
deliberately change the subject.
Well, leaving me out Of it. are YOU
going to cut Mary?"
How can you ask?" she cried. in
dignantly. 81 owe her"
His face frightened. Good! Just you
be nice to her. n Ill-Tll die for you.
say, she isn't going to Miss Lexis, Ie-
member that"
"You are not going to take her
away?" she cried in alarm.
"oh, but I'd like to-" he exclaimed. I
must think Of a way. We cant stay
there. ! won't have 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"
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 uppermost in his thoughts all
the time. Joan, it's getting too hard
to 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 If hat will
And you might compel her to AXE
RI tho ctrnnto fn0o che cnj6 IEHH Tho
worldiness of this sage remark caused
him to stare hard at her.
you don't think that?"
She veered. Let me tell you what
am going to propose to Mrs. Blagden. ]
am going to ask her to let Mary go to
the Sinnox school with me next winter.
1t is lovely there"
by George, that would be great"
we could room together. / know she
can get in If Mr.. Blagden writes to Miss
Drake, h principal. Mary's nearly 16'
Eric struck his knees with his
clenched fist to emphasize his next re-
mark. She'll consent, all right. Shell
; just have to. That's a great idea, Joan,
and it's fine Of you to think OF
It," He heayed a sigh Of re-
lief. ut will make things easier al,
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 saic
earnestly. II have been afraid that yor
} might really run away sometime. Yor
must not do that, Eric. I couldn't beal
it."
"why-why. you are crying" he ex
claimed.
1T couldn't bear it, she sobbed. Still
he did not recognize the true motive be
hind all her distress and anxiety. H,
could not see h 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 he,
eyes and smiling. I'm SO silly"
ooh, If I only could tell you-if
dared to he stammered in the de
spair of wild alteration.
} Like a sensitive animal, she tool
alarm, and shrank back into the cor
ner of the window seat. Her instinc
old her hat there was danger in tn
air-the joyous danger she courted blu
still was afraid to face.
| You are the prettiest girl in tn
, world" he went on. land the incest.
he added hastily, fearful Of the wa.
she would take the outburst.
> She frowned-a very pretty frowr
but d%esolating. He took it to be a sig
: Of her d~ispleasure. He had gone to
! far. He had offended her. Did he blu
7 been no frown If the last three word
! had been left unsaid.
, Joan, from her position, saw her ia
Their and Adam Carr leave the ston
3 bench and walk together toward tn
; front gate.
Continued next week.)