The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1919-12-25

he did not wonder at her heat pr
Tor, but he did wonder at the \.
tality and vigorous life, instinc
even in her arrested stiffness O.
the moment.
"You have been very good t.
answer my questions" she said
but l did wrong in speaking tc
YOU"
Before the startled Noel graspe6
the rebuke, she had gone. Nol
could she have been traced, but in
the very act of flight her glance
encountered the French doll in the
show case. Her lingering was
hardly more than the space of a
drawn breath, yet it gave Noel
time to fling back his chair and
reach the door soon enough to see
which way she turned at the 0
ner of the street.
His swinging stride easily over
took even her lightfootedness.
Again he noticed. as he bore down
upon her, the enchanting grace of
her movements.
~ beg your pardon" he said.
when he was beside her. 81 sup
pose | deserved that reproach for
my clumsiness but not for my in
tention! I offended you; will you
accept my apology?"
She stopped short, looking up at
him.
yes" she granted, after a mo-
ment.
There was no encouragement in
the monosyllabIe; yet Noel per
sisted, urged on by an impulse as
wild as youth, and utterly foreign
to his own nature.
believe me, | am not so dull as
to mistake your reason for speak
ing to me You thought only of
that doll. You wanted It'll"
Yes she said again.
How curious an allure she had
for him! Noel marveled at it even
while he spoke. She was pretty;
but he had turned from absolute
loneliness, unstirred. No, there was
something eise-something which
had drawn his gaze to her alone
among the hurryiug crowd that
passed his window each day.
Il should like you to have the
he said, watching her. q
would not annoy or brighten you,
understand. Do you think
you could grant me the honor of
your partner in the dancing
contest, this evening? Probably
never should see each other
1t would be just an act
Of comradeship between passers
by on the great road"
Her, eyes, the color of topaz,
widened and darkened. Her
lips parted. Noel saw amazement,
anger, doubt, and refusal fit
across the transparent scroll of
her face. Then all were swept
away in the sudden dazzle and
flash of a smile all mockery and
young mischief.
"Do you dance-pretty welli'
questioned the girl.
The question, the smile! With
startling abruptness the clue was
thrust upon David Noel. This
shabby Young tniler Of city re-
the princess - the baby
princess Of long ago. That was the
lure that had shared his unsatis-
fled eyes, the trick that chance had
played him. Probably, the man
fixing her in his contem-
plation, she did not at all resemble
the Hon. Mrs. Lancaster. She was
too simple, too frankly natural for
that world; but she did look like
the child that Constance Bruce had
been.
Out of the whirling confusion Of
his discovery he managed to an
swer with the impassive face of
diplomatic training
II am not a professional, but
neither are the other dancers. You
accept"
Il want the dolll' she an
swered.
You are not afraid Of me?
There is no reason for fear"
mo" she naively agreed, and
hesitated. aBut-you are very
kind
He forestalled refusal.
II am not kind, but you remind
me Of some one who once was very
kind to NE, and / should like to
take with me, to the country where
I live, the memory Of having done
this trifle for you. May II
II must do it!' she breathed.
half to herself.
Ut is agreed, then he decided.
Where may meet You tonightf,'
BE rather expected that she
would name. the hotel or the street
before it. Instead, she replied
nth nnffros crrnn%nn. -