The Tabor independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1913-19??, 1915-05-20

to assure rather he wouldn't consider
1t 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. TIL bet
my head he doesn't come" he said.
"See here, Joan, what Is II you are try
ing to get at? Don't, you want me to
come? Are o afraid to be seen with
me?"
NO. mol" she cried. You know bet
ter than that"
Then you do like to have me come"
"Of course. / do. That Is, II you care
to come" The last was a maidenly af-
ter thought.
I'm awfully keen about you. JOAN"
he said. a war; flush mantling his
cheek. The remark seemed to put an
effective curb on conversation. Neither
could think of anything to say, and
one Of those silences ensued in which
the heart beats are painfully loud 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
me-" he said, ignoring her remark You
seemed to despise me, up to the day
we went sailing"
How perfectly silly!"
well, you did," he insisted d~oggedly.
II don't like you a bit more 10 than
I ever did" she said calmly.
1t was an ambiguous confession and
he did not grasp 1t at once.
"I-Pm sorry" he muttered.
We'll, it's the truth" she a~ssverated,
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.
"Wall leaving ma ont of II are Won
going to cut Mary?"
How can you ask?" she cried, in
dignantly. "I love her"
His face frightened. Good! Just you
be nice to her, and Pll-In die for you.
Don't let 'em turn you against her. And
say, she isn't going to Miss Lexis, re.
member that"
You are not going to take her
away?" she cried in alarm.
"Oh. but I'd like to-" he exclaimed. Il
must think Of a way. We can't stay
there. / won't have her insulted by"
Eric, listen to me-" she said e
ly. Her dark, serious eyes were full or
compassion, but In their depths there
was something hat 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"
II y 4 10 ~ NSAA~6O AA~NN AAAN~
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
give Up college n work for her. I'll
work in the streets II that will"
And you might compel her to take
to the streets, too" she said. The
worldiness of this sage remark caused
him to stare hard at her.
You don't think that?"
She veered. Let me tell o what
am going to propose to Mrs. Blagden. I
am going to ask her to let Mary go to
the Sinnox school with me next winter.
It Is lovely there"
by George, that would be great"
we could room together. l know she
can get in II 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 have to. That's a great idea, Joan,
and IFS fine of you to think OF
it." He heaved sigh of re.
lief. 1T will make things easier all
about leaving her"
But you must give up the thought
Of taking her away with you" she said
earnestly. IT have been afraid that o
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, tell-tale eyes.
He only knew that she loved Mary.
Don't mind me-" she said, drying her
eyes and smiling. I'm so silly"
"Oh, II 1 only could tell you'll I
dared to" he stammered in the de-
spair Of wild alteration.
Like q sensitive animal, she took
! alarm. and shrank back into h cor
ner Of the window seat. Her instinct
told her hat there was danger in the
air-the joyous danger she courted but
still was afraid to face.
you are the prettiest girl in the
world" he went on, and the incest"
he added hastily, fearful Of the way
she would take the outburst.
She frowned-a very pretty frown,
but desolating. He took 1t to be a sign
of her displeasure. He had gone too
far. He had offended her. Did he but
know it, however, there would nave
been no frown II the last three wore
had been left unsaid.
Joan, from her position, So her IA
Their and Adam Carr leave the stone
bench and walk together toward the
front gate.
Continued next weekly