Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1883-08-16

l CdhC dIQ uIiiuk ItI tea, W tHc WASH uc'
light of the little woman who loved tho
handsome Kate as il she were her own
child.
| Poor Miss Pinkleton had romance in
her life; and many of the old neighbors
used to say that when she was young
many, many years ago, she was the pref
test girl in the country for miles around
They used to tell of handsome John Stan
| ley who courted little Miss Pinkleton-
and indeed was engaged to be married 10
| her-a brave manly fellow as tall again as
the pretty girl he loved-with blue eyes
and yellow hair, which, little Miss Pinkle-
ton used to say when she did speak of her
romance 'would be called golden if it
were on young lady's head;' but John
had gone to sea, as mate OF the bark SAL
batross," and John had never been heard
of since; and that, said the patient little
circulating library woman twas nigh ON
thirty years agow
But these little tetc-a-tetes were over
! for poor Kate now, and she pinned at home
fervently praying that her cousin would
soon take his departure; and she was
greatly astonished one morning to learn
from Mrs. Markham, that Walter Dillon
had taken up his residence altogether al
the mansion, and thereafter Kate was al
most entirely confined to her room.
This kind of life began to tell on the
fair girl-thc roses fed from her checks,
and her step grew gradually listless-she
lived among her piano and her books, she
was an excellent musician and painter
Of more than ordinary talent-in either
department Madam Devenent used to say
that she could make n fine living if the
riches of her father took unto themselves
wings and flew away.
But was this seclusion the only cause
of Kate Dillon's pallid cheeks, or listless
weary steps! Was there not something
more potent at work TO create the strange
languor and lassitude that was gradually
taking possession of her?
Indeed there was.
Something totally unsupported by the
environed girl, but thoroughly understood
by two:of the inmates Of Windemere.
Mrs. Markham knew the cause of the
gradual change in the physical appear
ance Of the poor girl, and she was patient
ly expecting another change, and one
more terrible still
What was it
One night-it was about eleven o'clock
Mrs. Markham was summoned TO the
presence Of her master in the library.
1t was stormy night. The rain bat
tered against the panes-thc thunder
grumbled and the lightning flashed con-
tmuously without-the great elms bent
and surged undert the fierce winds-some-
times the low grumblings of the thunder
would cease, to give place To sudden
crash which came down upon the earth
like the roar of some concealed artillery.
Such crash burst over the roof of the
mansion as Mrs. Markham opened the IL
brary door and entered the presence of
her master.
Her face was shastly pale as she stood
before him.
'Oh, Peter, what terrible nightr she
exclaimed dropping down upon the floor
beside him and resting her head against
the old mans knees.
1T is indeed. Martha. an awful night"
and the bony hands Of old Dillon wan
dered over the heal of the housekeeper
with every sign of fondness.
"Here," he said, stretching out his hand
to decanter near, 'tastc a drop Of this
brandy; it will do you good"
The woman drank the brandy, and then
rising to her feet, she bent over the old
man. and, strange to relate, pressed fer
vent kiss on his wIinkled brow.
The face of Peter Dillon was softened
as he gazed upon the woman--lorc pure Tore,
looked out from his eyes, and met warm
and sweet response from the woman at his
side!
What strange revelation is this? Let
the progress Of our story tell. There was
n pause of several moments before either
spoke again. At last the old man said in
u low tone of voice; We'll, Martha, how
are You getting on-have you given her
the-the-"
'fes, Peter, this is the sixth time that
/ have administered the powder, and it is
working splendidly; in two or three weeks
she will be as plastic as putty in your
hands or mine-and / have no fears but
what she will do as you wish. Then you
must hurry up your arrangements, for
will not dare administer the potion longer
than the time already specified"
'She does not suspect anything" re-
turned the old gentleman in the same low
tone.
Suspect anything! Impossible. She
probably lays it all To her continued con-
tincment. which by TIE by, helps me ma
terially."
"In three weeks time, you say, she will
be ready
"ies, surely in that time if nothing hap
pens to interfere. Aud that reminds me
by the by, that she has received letter
from New Hampshire, with an invitation
to visit there; it is from one Of her school
friends. She will call upon you to allow
her TO accept the invitation. You must
refuse"
"Of course-of coursc--but she will
doubtless take on about il considerably,
won't She"
IL think not. | will administer
stronger dose than usual 10 morrow. which
will tend much to ncutralizc her spirit of
opposition"
"That is well-but MmtAa-what if
there should be discovery of this2"
'Have no fears, Peter, VIC are safe IN
that respect-and that reminds newly
did you give Walter that check for $4,000
this afternoon
II had to give it to him-he is in some
money trouble OF another, the result Of
his gambling, no doubt. l trust that it is
no more. 1 wouldn't have given it if 1
could have helped myself, you may de-
pend. But how did you learn it Z"
II was listening at the door," replied
Martha coolly.
The old man smiled and Martha con-
tinued:
'You must cease giving him money; it
will only deepen our troubles. He must
remain more at home-it is only for few
weeks, and then-well then he'll have
plenty to squander, and time enough to
do it in. But he must remain more at
home"
"I'll have talk with him. have no
doubt he will see that it is to his interest
to do So" Here the old man paused for a
moment and looked iiresolutely into the
face of the woman before him-hc hest