Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1916-03-01

admit that it added grace and beauty
to her figure. as we'll as u certain i'm
pressiveness impossible to petticoats;
and yet l felt u sense of diSappolnt-
ment. For her retention of the cos
tune could only mean that her fathers
influence was still dominant.
You wished to see me-" She asked:
and again 1 was surprised. for l had
supposed she would apologize for the
delay to which l had been subjected. In
stead, she spoke almoS us to a
Il had an appointment for this al
%terncon," l reminded her Striving to
keep my vcxation from my voice.
oh, yes" and she came a few steps
into the room. but her face lost none OF
it's GOODNESS. L had forgotten. 1t is
not to speak of business"
No." I said. lit is to speak of your
going to friends of Mr.. Swain and me
for a time, at least"
You will thank Your friends for me.
she answered calmly; but | have de-
cided to remain here"
"But-but,' l stammered. taken
aback mt the tinality of her tone, dc
you think it WISE"
"Ycs-far wiser than going to people
| do not know and who do not know
me"
And safe" l persisted; do o think
it safe?"
Safe" she echoed, looking at me in
astonishmen,. "Certainly. What have
| to fear"
/ had to confess that l myself did
not know very clearly what she had to
fear, so I temporised.
Are you keeping the nurses"
No: [ do not need them. Thcy left
an hour ago"
But the servants 1 said, in a pam
ic. they are here? They are going to
stay"
Your questions seem most extraol-
binary to me. MIR. Lester. OF course
the %servan will stay"
"And-and the Hindus?" l blurtcd
out
Yes, and the Hindus, as you call
them. This is their home. 1t was my
fathers wish.'
j save 1T up: her manner indicated
that all this was no concern OF mine,
and that my Interference was q mere
impcrtinence. But l tried one parting
shot.
Mr.: Swain is very anxious you
should not stay here" said. He will
be deeply grieved when he learns your
decision"
To his she made no answer, and.
finding nothing more to say, sore at
heart, and not a little angry and re-
sentful. l started to leave the room.
There is one thing more" /
said, turning back at the thresh-
old. Il shall have to go in
to the city tomorrow. but I
snail come out again in the evening.
You'd it be convenient to have our
business conference after dinner?'
Yes" she agreed; that will do very
WE'LL"
AT s o'clock then?"
Il shall expect you at that time" she
~assented; n with that I took my
leave.
1t was in a most depressed state of
mind that l made my way back to Cod
frcy's; and I sat down on the porch and
smoked Il pipe of bitter meditation.
l'qr 1 felt that. somehow. Miss Vaughn
was Slipping away from me. There
had been a barrier between us today
which a not been there before, a
barrier of GOODNESS and reserve which
! could not penetrate. Some hostile
Influence had been at work; in death.
even more than in life perhaps, her.
fathers will weighed upon her. <
coeld Imagine how a feeling of re-
morse might grow and deepen, and
u:ge her toward foolish and useless;
sacrifice.
n Just then Mrs. Hargis came u
and told me that someone wanted mo
on the phone. 1t was Swain.
They let me come out here to the
office to phone to YOU" he said. as
ne heard my exclamation of surprise.
"Si1nmonds happened in and told them
it would oe all right. He's here now"
And they're treating you all right"
They're treating me like the star
boarder," he laughed. And then his
voice grew suddenly serious. Have
you seen Miss Vaughan?"
Yes 1 answered.; for / knew Of
course that the question was coming.
''Wcll?"
Miss Vaughan refuses to go to the
Reyes Swain,
There was a moments silence.
'Ihcn where will she go?'
she Won't go anywhere"
You don't mean,' he cried. panic in
his voice. that she's going to stay out
there"
Yes: h laughed when 1 mentioned
danger: There's n consolation-the
servants will stay
did you tell her how anxious I vaa
for her?"
Yes. l did my best, Swain"
And 1t made no difference"
NO: it made no difference. The
iact Is. Swain, ! fancy she's a little re-
morseful about her father-his death
has unnerved her-and there was the
iuneral today-and, as a sort of atone
ment: n trying to do what she
imagines he would wish her to do"
II wished her TO become a priest
ess," said Swain. his voice CHASTITY.
on. well, she won't go that far I
assured him cheerfully: and no doubt
IN a rev days. when the first impress
sion OF the tragedy has worn off, she
will be ready to go to the Royces.' ri
keep suggesting 1t. and I'm going to
have Mrs. Royce call on her."
THANK you, Mr.. Lester" he said.
but his voice was still shakin Il
TINS sort OF knocks me out hadn't
%foresecn it. I'll have to think IT over.
But there's n thing you can do"
What is it""
Watch the housed" he cried. watch