The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1916-10-05

niece Estelle hero this week." he OBJ.
served. Her father 10 . visionary
fellow, generally hard up and I'm
afraid tho poor girl has had but few
gayeties in her life. Has II struck
you that young Blair is a tribe atten,
tive in that direction?" he inquired
anIiously.
Really. I had not noticed It." Mrs.
Aldsn's lips stirensd q tribe dissp-
provingly.
Nevertheless. I am OF the opinion
that something will develop between
those two" no urged. And now"
she glanced across at him. tell mo
what are your arrangements for your
trip to Palm Beach,"
But before Kendrtck could comply,
the door to her sitting room ws1 fung
open and Ruth and Fleetwood Blair
appeared hand In hand on the
threshold.
Wish Us happiness, mother" the
girl cried sxubsrsntly. Fleetwood
and are engaged"
For snce, Mrs.. Alden Loaf her suave
poiss.
Her eyes were nxod In q glare Of
Departing rage upon Blair. She lift
Cd her hand and pointed toward the
door with . gesture not to be mic
taken.
~Invoiuntsrfly Blair took Q step back
ward. tAsn halted and glanced toward
Ruth. Instantly she moved over to
his sids and thrust her arm in his
IT there's no place here for him.
then there II nons for mel" she cried.
Then with her head held high. and
her arm linked in that Of her lover.
she passed out Of tho room and from
the house.
Mrs. Alden lettering to . chair,
sank down weakly into II and gave
way TO tear.
Finally the telephone upon q near.
by stand rang. Lstlsssly Au. Aldsn
took II up. But all at oaos her ex-
preston changed. . gisam Of ANNA
ton returned to her eye.
Listen" she whispered 70 Ken
drick. They have gone to Peace Al
den's In New York-Ruth's maiden
aunt, you know-and Peace 10 trying
to get me to come there and consent
to = reconciliation.
IT'S the only thing to DO" sho do
cided impulsively. "Otherwise. Peace
says. they are planning to rush OF to
Jersey City or some othcr impossible
place and get married tonight: where
as, By seeming to yisld now ] can
gain time"
In Batson Hendricks big, luxurious
limousine. which he had placed at her
disposal with himself as an escort.
she outlined tho plan Of campaign.
When she aliShted at Aunt Peace
Alden's old red brick house down on
Washington square and gave him her
hand ct parting. there raj q light In
her eyss ~ II she already foresaw
victory.
Hastily she subtusd her manner.
however. ~ she rang the bell aad was
admitted BY the gray.hairr Il old butler.
Mrs. Alden made q most effective
entrance. Her sxprassion one OF ma
ternal solicitude. she started eagerly
toward her sistsrinlaw; then halted,
rs II Just -coming to . realization Of
the presence Of the young people.
For . moment she stiKsnsd. but ap-
parently c~onauer1ng herself. turned
with the semblsnee Of . rush Of All.
tated feeling and ciaspsd her laugh
ter In her arms.
my little girl" shs mVrmsrsA bro
kenly.
There was Just the rixht admixture
Of humility and surrender In her man
ner n she sxtsadsd . rclsnting hand
TO Blair.
"You will let ns have her for Sust
. little while ioager. won't your- she
coaxed with . wfstfui smile. You'll
give Ee the s~stssfaction 81 seeing
her married from under my ewn roof.
with o proper trousseau. and q hock
or pretty ~Sridssmaids. and = cake
and all the rest Of t. A girl ~ orly
have one wedding. yo1 know-rset-
wood.
"of course. hs will.- Aunt Peace
insisted. bsaming 1t them from
among her pillows svs her suocssa
a. an exponent Of her name.
80 Il was anally axranged. after .
discussion In which Nra Alden cum
ningly managed to got Aunt Peace to
cast the deciding vote that the mar,
Rage should BE deferred for six
months, or until the young mining en-
gineer had . chance to determine
what advantage might lie in certain
prospects" Of which he told them
One day ~ she was leaving the
house for 3 walk. Ruth stopped for q
moment to ask her mother = question.
Nn. Alden was seated at her desk.
20 absorbed In . note shs was writ
IND that she was not conscious Of the
girls presence until Ruth stood behind
her.
Then she started almost guiltf,y,
and quickly turned the haif.w1ttsn
sheet ever % ~ to hide it, contents
-Bscrsts. chr cried Ruth ana riay'
fully tried TO wrsst the note away "a
q 70 80 e whom II WAS a~Aarssssd;
but her mother objected - stcatiy
tAaa astsr : nospsae 49, lssssts4 IRON
~ sR0r&.