The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1915-08-12

y were to do so"
IT'S just the thing" cried Eric. TT
. good of you to excuse Mary's attitud
q Uncle Horace. She'll come to he
q senses N a little while, I'm sure. Yo
e will be most heartily welcome at
a Horace pursed his lips as he shoe
his head slowly. You'd better as
Mary first, my boy. Then let me kno,
/ II we will be welcome"
Mary was surprisingly docile about 4
: she was no fool. She sensed the thin
+ that was in the air.
An right, Erie. I'll do what yo'
; think best. Mrs. Paulding cut me tc
day in the street. That shows how tn
wind blows. You poor BOY! I am sol
ny on your account"
Il can't bear the thought Of" he be
gan. but instantly checked the words
He came e to saying something tha
would have hurt her.
she waited for a moment, her lip!
parted as II prepared to cry out agains
the expected pain. Then they tremblec
with the Maynard little smile tina wa.
her greatest charm.
Good old Erie! You came near t.
saying something horrid, didn't YOU? p
She put her hands on his shoulders
facing him. isn't this aver so much
nicer, living here as we do? You know
1t is. / think"
It's great, Mary" he cried warmly
Let them gossip" she said cheerful
y, dit1oush there was a darker glow
IN her eyes. ut won't make any diff
ference after I'm married and out OF
reach OF them. It's Just because I'm not
married that they're talking. and look
ing at my back after I've passed. and
all that sort of thing. But"
He clasped her hands in his and bent
over her fiercely. You can't marry
Jack Payson. Mary" he cried. 'I can't
permit 1t. There is a reason, a com
pelllng reason. Why-why, I'd kill him
before I'd See"
Now, Errie!" she cried, snatching
her hands away. Don't say anything
you'll regret. I won't listen to YOU"
Why. he's-he's a. No, 1 won't Jay
It'll" he groaned.
"A thief? I'll say 1t for you. He isn't
n and you know 1t, but even if he
Were, what u have we for boast
ing?"
Good heaven. Mary"
Wen. let's change the subject" she
10 sharply. You'd better hurry on
or you'll miss your appointment with
Judge Bright. Have YOU sent the plans
to him?"
He took two or three turns IN and
down the room, pulling himself togeth-
er.
No" he said. breathing deeply. "The
understanding was that I was to show
tnem to Joan first Of all. She's not
here. See here, Mary. how do things
stand with you and Joan?"
- don't know, Erie. T wish Z did.
we had a tiff a couple of months ago.
she said something horrid about John
Payson and / replied in a way she did
no like. / said he was a good deal
more OF a man h a that Sallonsby
CHAP and that he'd still be a ma when
her fine gentleman was pegging
around with locomotor ataxia or some.
thing-Why, Erriel What Is the mat
tel? s a
face. -
Paul %sallonsby? You mean she's"
shes mad about him. They The
words died on her lips. He had Turned
very white The truth was revealed n
her. Impulsively she flew to his sida
oh. Erie! I didn't know ii was like
q You care for her-in that wayo
On, Eric! I'm SO sorry. IL thought
~ Was only a boy and girl affair."
He held her sobbing, in his arms
His ~bloodless lips were working, but not
N the effort to speak. Some
thing had been shattered.
a little later he left the house and
mace MS way across to Judge Bright,s
nome. All zest in the building pro-
syscl was gone. He had no heart In the
long cherished enterprise. 1t was now
a cold, dull business transaction. moi :
labor OF love.
He could not believe it Of Joan Al
lowing for the distance that senarafed
them, there had been ample time for q
letter 70 have reached him from the
West Indies. The fact that sho had
LEI. no word Tor him In Corinth, not so
mucn as a line, was even more com
vlncing to his unwilling mind. She
found someone else to taka hfa
place. The fond dream was over. He
was awake after the long, sweet sIeen
or securtty-aWake to find that while
ne slept she had slipped away from him
believe IL OF her.
Els ear were somewhat lessened bv
the warmth of Judge Bright's greeting
Inc old Justice was frankly gIad
70 see him. There could be no doubt
as to b genuinness Of his affecfion.
nor was his enthusiasm owe the pros
pecls OF MS young friend a whit di-
minished by the years that had fallan
upon both OF them.
wish Joan could see you AZ this
moment, Eric" he said. as he yvr,rng
the tail handsome fellows hand. sShe
mas often wondered what the frun
years would do for you. Upon nv
sonl. you are the living image Of your
ma one looked at twice, let me saw
70 YOU. It does my heart good il see
YOU, my boy. And 1t would do yoi1rs
good TO sec my JOAN" His eyes rlow-
ed with Joy n pride. ..Ah. 81 bow.
she is wonderful
Eric flushed. II am sorry she IL MOI
st home. Judge Bright. IL had LOOK
60 TO seeing her. you may be
The Justice poked him with his
tnnmb y believe there was q bov and
girl attachment. wasn't there?"
! am afraid 1t was no more than
that said Eric soberly.
Judge Bright gave him q keen Klance.
III not tell her that YOU put IL ia lust
nose words he said. ana Eric won
kdered not little.
Later on, they Tell 10 discussing the
GRsans Ior the new house. Some az
sh;ric,s enthusiasm returned.
s0x course, we can't do anything M
tlssnea returns from this pleasure
|crnlse.1 said the Judge. Shed q
forgive me Il took Il step without co14-
sualing her You've no idea how conf
Vieselysspe has me under her thumb
q men .dos yous expectEh her to RETURN
ITS hard % say. They were 10 start
H0It1 THIS week. coming direct TO Bos@
I'D. put AZ seems that new plans have
neen made 7 had word yesterday that
x