The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1919-08-14

- MIN. isn't that mean? He belong
TO Jasper Holt. Father has offere
him a fabulous price, but he won't Sc
him at any price, he says. think he
perfectly horrid. OF course he onl
does nit just to be disagreeable b,
cause ne thinks l want him. TIKI
man makes me tired!"
There was a soft color on Jean
Cheeks and she looked up as II
challenge to defend her friera ha
been flung to her.
Perhaps he's fond OF the horse.
she said gently. as she glanced aroun
on all those scornful young faces.
He, fond Of anything! Oh, m,
| dear! You don't know hint" declare,
one of the girls.
II never was fond OF anything /,
his life" laughed another. why he,
the cruellest thing! You don't know
Jean"
t Men grow very FOND OF horses
said Jean, holding her he'd high ant
the roses in her cheeks deepening
. and their horses grow fond of them
A horse loves n who is kind tc
him"
She was remembering the proud
arch OF Jasper Hollis black as he rode
beside her in the woods but a short
half hour before.
Her words were met by a shout of
merriment, and a boisterous young
voice with a sheer In it pierced above
the laughter:
Kind to them! Jasper Holt was
never kind to anything in his life!
My dear, o simply don't know him!"
But do know him!" said Jean now
rising from lie rocker and standing
slim and straight against the vine
covered pillar Of the porch. IT know
him better than you all, and | know he
Is kind. He was kind and splendid to
me! No man could have done more!
| am sorry you feel that way about
him. 1t isn't right! He Is my friendi"
She had spoken! She had always
meant to-, ever since she came; but
there had been little opportunity with
out being deliberately disagreeable and
dragging the subject in. Perhaps
Eleanor had warned her. caller not to
mention Jasper Holt, for they usually
seemed to avoid speaking of him; but
she had always felt the time would
come when she could speak and let
them all know what she thought about
him, and o 1t had come and she had
spoken. Her heart beat wildly, her
cheeks were rosy red, and her eyes
shining starrily, but she stood I'M
abashed and faced them all.
A sudden silence fell upon the little
group and they exchanged furtive
chances of understanding as if a mu-
tual agreement sealed their lips to
things that they might say II she were
not with them.
"Oh, we'll, of course you're CRATE
full" said n girl in a conciliatory
tone. One couldn't help being CRATE
full under such circumstances; but he
would have been a brute not to have
pullea YOU out of the water and showed
YOU t!G way to Hawk Valley"
- s he wants his black to ride
in tSe armament said another girl
mis- ously, hoping to lift the cloud
thai nd fallen over them all. HE
has ~audacity enough for anything,
though he has never seemed to care
for anything going on in the town.
or course he has v been encour-
aged to have"
He wouldn't dare!" said another
with flashing eyes.
Why wouldn't he dare?" asked Jean
turning steady eyes to the naughty
young speaker.
Because 1t wouldn't be tolerated.
declared the girl still haughtily.
Il have seen him dare greater things
than that" said Jean with a far away
look in her eyes and something like a
smile on her lips.
The girls looked at ner a minute in
silence and wonder, in~terchanged
quick glances that said: "She does not
know" and change dthe subject. They
liked elan too we'll, and she was too
popular among the men for them to
risk angering her. so they chartered
on about what they would have in the
lunch boxes, and who should bring
what; but Jean with that far away
look in her eyes and that half smile
on her lips, as if she knew things that
were hidden from others, said no more.
They chartered and giggled and
chorused to the end Of their subject
and their time at last, and took them
selves away; but 1t was the dinner
hour and Harrington was coming up
the walk with two men who were to
be their guests for dinner. There was
just time for Jean to change her riding
habit for a dinner dress and hurry
down again, no chance for the rest
and the quiet thoughts that cried out
to have their way.
The evening was filled with callers,
as every evening had peen since she
came that was not actually taken UP
by some entertainment or invitation.
It seemed a wearisome time to Jean,
who longed for her quiet room and her
own thoughts. She watched the men
who were talking to her, trying to
please her; saw that they were good
to look upon. cultured. and refined;
saw that any n OF them would be q
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