Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1883-01-04
A LITTLE COWARD.

umphantly down the avenue.
She was q coward. She did not deny
It,, and was sometimes very much
ashamed of it. But no one had seemed
TO mind it, until Agatha Merirale 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 Agatha. You see,
until Agatha came they had been SC
happy at De Rossett. Little orphan
Madeline Leigh had never been so hap.
Ply in her life as here at the hall with
sweet Lady de Rosset, who was her
guardian, and her son, Sir Robert.
They were Sc kind and good to her.
They petted her and loved her so. And
now Agatha had come, and for two
weeks had monopolized Sir Robert and
kept the house in a turmoil of gayefy,
n laughed at Lima, and made her life
wretched.
Lina's maid reported that everybody
said Sir Robert was TO marry Miss
Meriyale. Lima made a stern resolve
that she would run away from the hal
when that event took place. Run
away! She would run away now! Not
far though-she was too much Of a
coward to venture far into the world
alone; but she would 90 away across the
fields to ''Aunt Margaret 81 as She
called Lady de Rossett' widowed sister.
in-law, who lived in a quiet, comfort
able house q mile away from the hall.
Mrs. Harrington was an invalid,
paralyzed, and confined to her bed.
She was rather a grim old lady, and
most were inclined to shun her; but
sweet, bright little Lima had won her
way into the old lady's heart, and was
always welcome at the lodge.
Yes, she would run away to Aunt
Margaret's, and prehaps when she was
missed, Sir Robert might feel a mo-
ment's uneasiness about her. Selling
her hat and a light shawl, she flew off
across the park, calling Leo, Sir Rob-
erts pretty colley, to 90 with her. Lima
did not like to cross the field alone, be-
ing possessed by a great terror Of bulls;
but with Leo she would not mind il
much.
Leo was calmly taking a nap on the
front portico, but he started up and
raced after her with n Joyous BARK.
But at the little gate that led from the
park into the fields, Lima was greatly
disconnected by an unexpected e%ncount-
er with Sir Robert and Miss Merivale,
who came laughing and talking along
the path, both looking bright and hand
some m the golden rays Of the setting
sun. =
She brushed past them with n hasty
Good evening but Sir Robert turned
back to speak to her.
asked.
ITO Aunt Margaret's," she answer
ed, not looking at him.
alone, Lana? Are you not afraid?
If you will wait a little while, / will 90
with YOU Sir Robert said, looking
down kindly at the GIRLS flushed cheeks
and ayerted eyes.
mo. thanks" Lima answered. hasti-
~. II will not trouble you. Leo
will take care of me. And you would
be late for dinnerif you wentlwith me-"
May | come after you. then, after
dlnner?' Sir II bert asked.
Thanks, I'm not coming back. /
shall stay all night" was the hurried
answer, and Lima turned to go.
But Sir Robert detained her a mo-
nlent.
Lima" he said, in a low tone, ..what
makes you avoid me so, lately. What
have | done to offend your
Lima raised her blue eyes hastily to
his, for u moment, and then dropped
them again.
Il have not avoided you" she said,
coldly." You have been very much
occupied with-other people. There, |
will not detain YOU
She waved her little hand |haughtily,
and walked away from him. He watch
ed the pretty, white-robed figure for "a
moment. and then Leo came and fawned
on aim.
'Leo, Lco,' called Lina's voice.
AGO, Leo" said his master, and the
obedient dog trotted oil down the path
after the girl.
Ii was rather drcary at the lodge
that evening Mas. Harrington was
ont of humor, because her agent had
failed to call that day to receive Il, 600
mat She wished him to deposit for her.
And Perkins, her nurse and housemaid
icy tde maid-seryauts all go Off to a fair
d the village, .where they will certainly
got into mischief" Mrs. Harrington
said.
But when Lima had talked to her and
made her laugh a little, she forgot her
grievances, and chatted way very
pleasantly. At 10 o'clock She declared
She had laughed till she was tired, and
Lima must give her her drops and let
her 90 to sleep.
There! the spoon is gone. Where
can Parkins have put it, Child, would
YOU mind running down into the pantry
and bringing me a spoong would ring
for Parkins, but She told me she wanted
to get up ONE muslins this evening,
and would come up rs s0on rs she had
finished
Lima did not altogether like to pass
down the long stair and silent entries
leading TO the pantry. but She went
and Leo trotted after her. As she stood
iu the pantry, looking round for spoons
with 10 light but a faint CLEAN from the
hall lamp, q sound of voices caught her
car.
The pantry was on the ground floor,
its iron-bound suffered window look
ing into tbe garden. The sound was
outside the window. and Lima paused to
listen The first word that caught her
ear startled her.
"A thousand pounds, and all the old
woman's %jewelry and platter said a
man's voice in n husky undertonc.
YES was the reply in y woman's
~voice-thc voice, Lima knew, of Par
kins, Mrs. Harrington's model, soft
voiced, lady-like nurse; ''and there won't
be any trouble about it, because | have
let the women 20 away TO stay all night,
and sent the gardener on n FOOLS errand
70 Misses brothers.. twenty miles off,
'But this girl that came tonight
what about hor?' asked the man.
ooh, she will so to her home pres
emily, and stay there if she is wise.
She'd be no hindranee. anyway silly.
timid little thing. But its as well to let
her get out Of the way said Parkins,
Aeoolly.
"But see here, Molly, why not do it
NOV? Then Wen have more time to get
AWAY before daylight" sand the man.
II tell YOU it's not safe before II
o'clock Parkins said positively,
People may come in. Sir Robert don't
ike her out of her sight for long, and
that idiotic young Marsden may come
incoming in. Wait till half past II, and
the west door here viii open. And, jim,
look here. when you get this swag, you
are to take me with you-your wife,
mind
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