The Red Cloud chief., 1882-11-03
A LITTLE COWARD.

'eDyft Us
n%ominious safety while Agatha Merivale
mounted Stella and rode of triumphant
is down the avenue.
She was n coward. She did not DENY
IL, and was sometimes very much
ashamed of il. But no one had seemed
10 mind il until Agatha Meriyale came.
with her bold. dark eyes and her dash
ing ways, her riding and hunting; and
everybody admired Agatha so much,
even Sir Robert
She almost hated Agathal You see,
until Agatha came they had been s Il,
happy al DE Rossctt. Little orrhan
Madelaine Leigh had never been 50
happy in her life as here at the hall,
with swect Lady dc Rosseit. who was
her guardian, and her son. Sir Robert.
They were SO kind and good to her.
They pettcd her and loved her So. And
now Agatha had come. and for two
weeks had monopolizcd Sir Robert, and
kept the house in a turmoil of gayety,
aud laughed Mt Lima, and made her lie
wretched.
Lina's maid reported that everybody
said Sir Robert WAS TO marry Miss Mer-
iyalc. Lin made n stern resolve that
shc would run away from the hall when
that event took pla C. Run away. She
would run away now, Not far though
she was too much Of a coward to VEN
turc far into the world alone; but she
would go away across the fields { o
AUNT Margarct's," as she called Lady
dc Kossctts widowed si~stcr-in-law, who
lived in a quite comfortable house n mile
away from the hall.
Mrs. Harrington was an invalid. par
alyzcd and confined to her bed. She
was rather n grim old lady. and most
were inclined ID shun her; but sweet.
- bright little Lima had won her way into
the old lady's heart. and was always
welcome nj the lodge.
Yes, she would run away TO Aunt
M~argarct's. and perhaps. when she was
missed, Sir Robert might feel n mo-
mcnts uncasiness about her. Selling
hor hat and n light shawl, she few OF
across tho park. calling Leo. Sir Rob
crts pretty colley. To go with her. Lima
did not like 10 cross the fields alone,
being possessed by a great terror of
bulls; but with Leo she would not mind
il much.
Leo WAS calmly taking n nap on the
front portico. but he stated up and
raced after her with n joyous bark. But
Mt the little gate that led from the park
into the fields Lima was greatly dis on
ccried by On unexpected encounter
with Sir Robert and Miss Mcrivaic, who
came laughing and talking along the
path. both looking bright and hand
some in the golden rays Of the setting
sun.
She brushed past them with a hasty
good evening" but Sir Robert turned
back To speak To her.
Where are you going, Lina?' he
asked.
ITO Aunt Margarct's." she an
swcrcd. not looking at him.
Alone. Lima? Are you not afraid?
II you will wait a little while | will go
with you," Sir Robert said. looking
down kindly at the girls flushed checks
and avertcd eyes.
mo, thanks" Lima answered hastily.
IL will not trouble you. Leo wi take
are Of me. And you would b. late for
dinner if YOU went with me-"
MAY | come for YOU, then, after
dinner?" Sir Robert asked.
Thanks. am not coming back. |
shall stay all night" was the hurried
answer. and Lima turned to go.
But Sir Robert detained her for a mo-
mcnt.
Lima" he said. in n low tone,
"what makes YOU avoid me 20 lately?
What have | lone 10 offend you?'
Lima raised her blue eyes hastily TO
his. for moment, and then dropped
them again.
Il have not avoided you," she said.
coldly. "You have been very much
occupied with other people. There. l
will not detain YOU"
She waved her little hand naughty.
and walked away from him. He watched
the pretty. white-robed figure for a
moment, and then Leo came and fawned
on him.
LEO, Leor' called Lina's voice.
eco. Leo" said his master. and the
obcd!ent dog trotted of down the path
after the girl.
IL was rather dreary ut the Lodge"
that evening. Mrs. Harrington was out
of humor because her agent had failed
10 call that day TO receive a thousand
pounds that she wished him to deposit
for her. And Parkins, her nurse and
housemaid, let the maid servants all go
off 10 a fair in the village, .'where they
will certainly get into mischief" Mrs.
Harrington said.
But when Lima had talked TO her and
made her laugh a little. she forgot her
grievances and chatfed away very
pleasantly. At ten o clock she declared
she had laughed till she was tired, and
Lima must give her her drops aud let
her go to sleep.
There! the spoon is gone. Where
can Parkins have put it. Child. would
you mind running down into the pantry
mud bringing me a spoon? 1 would ring
for Pxrkins. but she told me she wanted
to get up some muslins this evening,
/, and would come up as soon as she had
finished"
Lima did not altogether like to pass
down the long stairs and silent entries
leading to the pantry, but she went and
Leo trot;ed after her. As she stood in
the pantry, looking around for spoons
with no light but a faint CLEAN from the
hall lamp. a sound of low voices caught
!, her ear.
The pantry was on the ground floor.
its iron-harrcd suffered window look
ing into the garden. The sound was
outside the window, and Lima paused
TO listen. The first word hat caught
her startled her.
"A thousand pounds and all the old
, woman's jewelry and platter said .
mans voice, in a husky undertone.
Yes" was the reply. in a woman's
voice-the voice. Lima knew. of Park
ins, Mrs. Harrington's mo lei. soft
voiced, lady-like nurse-..and there
won't be any trouble about it, because
] have let the women 90 away to stay
all night, and sent the gardener on a
fools errand to misses brothcr's twen-
~ miles Off"
But this girl that came tonight
what about her?' asked the man.
"Oh, she will 60 to her room pres
emily, and stay there if she is wise
She'd be no hindrance anyway silly.
timid little thing But IT'S y web 70