The Warner sun. (Warner, Brown Co., Dakota [S.D.]) 1885-1???, 1886-06-04
LEA.

of startled eyes, brown and beautiful,
and a pair of gray ones, hard and cold,
met, and Lea Caxton and her step
mother were mutually silent. The
latter saw that her blow had told
told indeed upon the heart of the girl,
but only flaming red upon the oval
cheek betrayed the cruelty the sword
thrust. eff you think" continued
Mrs. Caxton, chat you are going to
escape rom my control by marrying
DR.. Danton, you are very much mis-
taken. He will never marry you.
Men like him look higher for wife"
Where DR.. Danton could have
searched to have found purer, sweet
er, or prettier girl it would be hard to
say. Her stepmother knew that the
pale perfection OF the girls face had
won her favor in the eyes of the sum-
mer boarder; more than that she
would not admit. DR.. Danton was q
rich city gentleman. If he chose to
spend a few quiet weeks in Roseville,
and meanwhile pay afew compliments
to Lea, it was nonsense that the girl 8
head should be turned. More, she was
not willing that her step-daughter,
whom she had rebuked and thwarted
from her infancy, should meet with
any such windfall of fortune as a rich
husband, thus making her independ-
ent of her.
"You needn't hurry to finish your
DRESS" said Mrs. Caxton, with sar-
casm. "It won't make any difference
whether you wear blue or white Tor the
picnic"
Then pretty Lea rose, shook out the
ileecy folds of the azure skirt she was
at work on, and went upstairs. In
her chamber she was at. least free from
insult; but she could not sew. She
hung up the beautiful dress she had
been hurrying to complete, and throw
ing herself upon the lounge, covered
her face with her hands, and a few hot
tears trickled between her fingers.
Meanwhile, gentleman with fair
beard and o very direct pair OF
eyes was walking in the garden and
casting sharp glances at the south
piazza, where Lea generally sat with
her sewing in the pleasant autumn
days. Her dog lay there-her canary
sang there; but she was not to be
seen.
He threw himself upon rustic seat
at last, and uncovering his shapely
head in the shadow of the leafy locust
tree, sat crushing his soft felt hat In
his hands, evidently lost in thought
not unpleasant thought.
Now Mrs Caxton, in spite of her as
sured words, was not altogether Sc.
cure in her own mind regarding Dr.
Danton's intentions. A desire to be
so made her walk that way, with a
black lace scarf about her head.
"Good afternoon, DIR. Danton. Are
you going to the picnic?"
eff Lea goes, was the composed re.
sponse.
In fact, the gentleman had SO much
the air of q man who knows his own
mind that Mrs. Caxton was at o. loss
how to proceed. The FORMER, however
cut the interview short by saying:
eff Lea is at leisure, Mrs. Caxton,
wish you would ask her to come into
the garder for a little while"
Now Lea, when summoned, was very
10th to obey, and when she came dowr
the box-lined path and DR.. Dantor
rose to receive her there was strange
restraint in her manner.
ssYou wish to see me?" she asked ii
q constrained voice.
sCertainly did. / always want tc
see as much OF you as possible; anC
as your step. said you were at
| leisure, I thought youhad better come
out in the sunshine"
There was no responsive smile anc
blush. LEAFS fine black brows con
| tracted,. and the young man was sur
| prised.
HE considers me plaything fol
his leisure" thought Lea, and was
/ silent.
But at 10 this.gir was not stoica
enough to resist man like DIR. Dan
ton when he chose to be winning, am
pow he chose to be very winning, IN
deed. Lea's coldness melted beneath
i the air of chivalrous tenderness Will
! which he devoted himself to her enter
tainment; and soon Che old pleasan1
light was in her eyes and smile o.
her lips.
4 What are we to do at this picnic
/ Leaf 90 wandering about in tn
damp woods? Why do they neve
choose a sunny place?"
"Possibly on account Of our com
plexions, said Lea demurely.
"That's the trouble with your pic
MICS, Lea--not sunshine enough. 70