Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1916-02-10
nUMBLED TO THE DUST.

In her fathers superbly-appointed
arawing-room. the shaded globes OF
the chandelier casting Il moon-.ike
radiance around her. aud the odor OF
hot-house flowers filing the air with
sweetness.
She was tall and eNquisitcly nodded,
with hands and arms like a Greek
statue, lovely turquoisc-blue eyes, and
her hair full of urange-brown lights,
while her rich red lips were curved
like Diana's, and painted in the in
tcnsest of scarlet. There was an arch
in her dark-brown eyebrows. a curve
to the corners of her mouth, that be-
tokened pride; but pride seemed only
a fitting attitude to Mss Ashburton rs
she stood there, her dress of amethyst
colored satin sweeping the carpet with
its lnstrous brcadtiis. and pearls Shin
ing in Ter hair and on her breast.
! Little Alice Morton opened wide her
eyes MS she glanced in.
"Aione, Evelyn? Why, I. thought
MIR. st. Markham was here!' she en-
claimed, tripping in like 81 bright lit
tie attendant sprite to Evelyn, the
queen.
S he was. just now"
"And has gone alrcady"
yes"
Alice looked intently up into her
friends face.
What does it all mean, Evelyn"
"Only that have refused him"
"Evelyn!" exclaimed Alice, i%nvolun-
tarily clasping her hands together.
lyon have really and truly refused
Mr.. st. Markhamp"
"Of curse | have!' Miss Ashburton
answered, somewhat .impatiently :.
What is there so very strange about
that?"
why, everything! He is so hand
some, SO good, s o gentlemanly."
81 am quite willing to grant you all
that, Alice" laughed Miss Ashburton
as she advanced slowly to the full
length mirror between the windows,
to adjust a tea-rosebud in her shining
brown braids.
Then why in the name of Cupid
and all his angels did you refuse himp"
Simply because am Ralph Ash
burton's daughter, and he is the son of
q mechanic"
But he is rich"
Eyes; but l am of too aristocratic
a nature to believe in self-made men.
Evelyn Ashburton scorns to place her
hand in that of one once hardened by
mental labor"
Did you dare to tell him this"
Evelyn arched her naughty eyes.
"Of curse l did. The mans temcr-
fly in proposing to me is too much-it
needed n check"
''Evelyn" cried Alice; II believe
you are half mad with aristocratic
pride! Do you expect to wed y prince
of the bloodP
mo; but intend to ally myself with
one who is worthy of the old name of
Ashburton. like Mr.. St. Markham
we'll enough-nay, l might even learn
to love him We're he mated in station,
descent, aud blood; but as it is l can
only wonder at his tcmcrity in aspir-
ing to onc so far removed from hint"
"Ah," said Alice, nodding her head
demurely; II see how it is. You mean
to marry Paul Cheswick, whose cousin
is an carl. But, beware; Paul will
never make half SO good Il husband as
st. Markham"
81 must be the Judge of that myself"
Miss Ashburton answered haughtily.
elias not the carriage come yet? Sure
ly mamma is late with her dressing this
evening"
We'll, Evelyn. of course you are
the best Judge said Alice, shaking
her sunny little head; but we are
hardly right to attach such unneces-
sary Importance to birth. There, o
needn't shrug your shoulders; l shall
say nothing more about it. one way or
the other"
Evelyn Ashburton shone that even
Ing at the ball. IL star of the first mag
nitude. Mr.. Cheswick wa devoted to
her. and she enjoyed the social pre-
eminence, as a girl of her mental cal
ibre would DO most apt to do. Yet
Evelyn had q true womanis heart, and
ever and anon a pang crept through
1t as she noticed that Mr.. st. Markham
was not one of tho festive thronr.
She had told Alice Morton that she
might have loved Mr.. st. Markham
had circumstances been different.
Was she quite sure in her own mind
that she did not love him ever as it
was?
NIL. anu MIS-. AShDrrt0n LETT the
ballroom earlier than Evelyn cared to
tear herself away from it's brilliant
whirl OF dissipation. and it was long
past II o'clock when ut last the car
riagc of the lady-friend. under whose
protection she had remained, left her
at her own door.
She tripped gai1y ND the staircase,
singing as she went bar or two OF
the last delicious waltz through which
she had wlirled, leaning upon Paul
Cheswick's shoulder; but as she opened
the door of her dressing-room, she
started back with a Slight cry of terror.
For there, close to the shaded lamp,
his feet thrust Quito greet the warmth
of the ruddy coal-tire, sat u grizzly
headed. shabby. elderly man, with a
worn. dissipated-looking face, features
which. however handsome they might
have originally been, were pinched
and ugly now, and eyes that were dim
and bleared.
WHO are your Evelyn indignantly
demanded, her hand upon the b~ell-rope
ready in an instant to summon aid.
The mar turned his head around af-
ter u feisurely fashion.
4 ~. l-.1 - -af --.9A lA