The Red Cloud chief., 1882-08-25

NOSoS III fetufooo II. boy0erTys
. trne s1if3y: '.but she h quite n well
CONS 70 Nsadowlands - II she were;
especially ~ her blood relations choose
70 ignore her existence"
Mrs Horton 6ushsd Q little; Miss L.
onie BIT her lip; and Bess shook her cur
" head - Uncle John On the sly.
Thoe same evening. Bess wAs Siding
on the back-door step. peeling velvety.
crimson. rare-fpe peaches for supper.
when Ashley Gray came along the cio-
veredged path leading from the stile
down In the orchard. which he. - .
very intimate friend of the family,
whose home sdjoined Meadowlands.
found IL convenient now and then 10
make use Of.
"Go round to the parlor and see the
ladies'" said Bess. o. she laid the last
peach. glowing and pink-hesrted. In the
high cut-giass dish
81 don't want to see city folks" said
the young man.
but you must go this time" an
swered Bess, "for / must go in. /
promised TO set the table for Aunt Peg"
So he went, and It somehow happened
that the next night he went without
urging; and the next night. All. Bess
little. rufied white pillow soaked up tws
or three pcarly tears!
The long summer DAYS were waning
at last IL was late August. suitry but
sweet. softening with the vague promo
nitions OF the coming autumn, odorous
with the spicy scent Of herbs, and bright
with dashes Of intense color here and
there. Mist crowned the hills, and
languid loneliness was everywhere.
Bess stood. in the pinki-h gray of the
cleaning. upon the broad balcony. her
head resting against a square, white
pillar, the sprays Of the Madeira-vines
above just sweeping her d~usk-brown
curls.
And Mr.. John Bayberry stood and
watched her-watched her with HE
black eyebrows drawn together in a
line. and set grimness about his mouth
scarcely visible beneath his shaggy
mustache.
"Bess," he said. at last. .you have
seen all this Irritation and tOmfoOlery
going on between young Gray and your
Cousin Leonie?"
YES" answered Bess.
"And-do you care' Excuse me,
Bess. but ! want to know"
snap" replied Bess. lifting her head and
smiling straight in his eyes. IL cared
q little at first, but ! don't now-not q
| bit!''
| Mr.. Bayberry came a little nearer her.
"Bess-Bess." he said. lingering q
little Ovcr the name. IL have found
cause lately to rejoice that you are real
ly no relation Of mine. Can you guess
why. Bess? Are you glad. too?"
She dropped her head again. answer.
Ing nothing.
Tell me-" he said. "You can sure
ly guess my meaning?"
"l-what right have Il"
Never mind about the right. Just
tell me if you are glad. You shall not
regret it."
"Yes. them" she murmured, radiant
ly ~blushing; Il am glad"
Meanwhile Mrs. Horton and her
daughter were holding e private con-
vcrsatiOn in their own room.
MIR. Gray proposed last night. Leo
nie?"
Mrs. Horton spoke carelessly, vet she
glanced half ~uneasily at the young lady
rocking idly by the window.
"He did"
81 hope-l suppose You refused
himP"
"Of course" returned Miss Leonie, |
carelessly. THAT was only a neat fir
tation. Bess is welcome to him now. /
presume she will be consoled. il he is a
cast-off glove"
''Meadowlands is q splendid place,
Leonie, and valuable"
land Mr.. Bayberry is . very hand.
some man."
The two ladies smiled and understood
each other perfectly.
Later Miss Leonie sauntered down to
the balcony.
Bcss was still standing in the shade Of
the Madeira-vine.
Leonie sat down upon the step and
yawncd
Bess was nobody, that she should
trouble herself to be ceremonious.
"Don't you find your position here
very tryingP' asked Leonic, in her
most languid. indifferent tone.
"Why?' queried Bess.
20. it must be very unpleasant to be
dependent o a man who is in no way
related to you"
IL don't mind it n Bit said Bess. in.
dulging in a little laugh all to herself in
the Madeira shadow.
You see. Miss Leonie." said John
Bayberry. directly behind her. ..Bess is
soon to have the best right in the world
to be dependent on me. You have
often observed that we are not related;
but we shall be. for Bess will be Mrs.
Bayberry before the autumn wanes."