Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1891-01-02

IOOT DcihSi Anu Whab n
little thing she isl Come mp stairs
darling, and let ma take Off your things ab
once. My maid shall / 9 yours after to-day
but just now should like TO have you fot
half an hour all to myself.
She is Genis' mother, and she hqt
lost the first slender symmetrical curvea
and outlines, yet there is still an honest
youthfulness about her sngularly attract
i've. Her mouth is large and loving, her
eyes blue; ard the soft lace cap that rests
upon her head hides hair that is as soft and
silky as girls, and without thread Of
gray in it.
"Denis told me so muah about you, " says
she, when sho has helped the Duchess to
take OF her things, ''that / feel as il ,
knew you. But with you, OF course, 1t 10
different. 1 must be more or less an utter
stranger to YOU"
"Oh, no! II Dcris talked of mo to yos
no must, think, have talked even more OF
you to me; and all he said was of such a sort
that | knew if did not love you it would
be my own fault.
Ibid he? Did he really describe meg"
says madam, delicate color rising 10 her
check. sob! Nogahl if l could tell yop
what a son he is" Her gentle face is indeed
aligbt with lovely qualification. "Bu,
you are tired, dear child. You must take
gas of wine"
She fuses over the girl in a mild and
kindly way for little while; taking evident
pleasure in her, and presently, sittins
down, takes one of her hands between hsi
Cwn.
~ am glad you have como back to lre.
land, " sayS Norah, after a while. 'Seif.
ihly glad, l mean. Your coming has made
you known to me-"
and l am glad, too, for certain reasonsl
but for the rest confess j am a coward,
Norah, where Denis is concerned, and }
dread the results of this Witt"
''Bat why? The people round here-are
they so disaGected towards Their lanilordy'
"What a saperHuoas question is disioyal
Kerry! Have you forgetten the tragic
event that occurred within tho past two
years on this estate? Arc you ignorant OF
the daily, hourly crimes that are being
conlm tied throughout the country? Wheb
Denis deci led on com g over aud superir,
tenJiag affairs himself felt dared not IA
try to influence him against the decrecs OF
his conscience, Tut l felt also that he carr
riel his life in his hands, ana that 1 shoIlI
never know happy moment spent amongS
these bloodtmrsty creatures"
"Siu they may respect Denis when they
would not a paid agent"
"A vain hope. They have not respected
him. Already he has had two threatening
letters, and last week twenty-five pooq
dumb, defenseless bsast5-eows of bis
were most brutaily mutilated. IL sickens
me to think of it, " says madam, who has
grown rather pale. And IL they will mol
spare innocent creatures that can not
thwart or harm them, how will it te With
those who''-She stops abruptly, and o
strong shudder runs through her frame.
~ assure you dwell always on,the WORST
side of it, she says.
"But il Denis were to Try to conciliate
them" hazards Norah.
''That is not to be hoped for You have
seen only Denis happisst moods, those he
keeps for his mother" with very loving
smile, ''and the few he really likes, as hv
hikes you, child; but he can be tsrribly de-
terlnined at times, and the death Of thai
poor young man, his agent still ranldes in
his mind. There are mutterings in tie
very air we breathe, warnings in every
breeze. 1t is in terror / seek my bed al
night; scarcely know what it Is / dreap
yet fear overwhelns me now and than, and
feel certain at least Of this, that revenge
viii be attempted"
''But revenge for whatg'' asks Norah,
growing anxious. "How has Denis exas
perated the people?'
''For oEs thing he has refused to accept
their terms tvery iniquitous one9 with re.
gard TO payment OF rents that arc now,
some Of them, over three years due. He
will give no quarter, he says, to those who
gave no quarter TO his murdered agent. he
will mete ont measure for measure full aud
perfect. He is wrong, rerhapsg" questions
the anxious mother, looking at Norah, ASH
for contradiction
Zone can hardly blame him, replies she
with sigh.
''Not /, for one; and yet fear his un-
compromising attitude may-may-Dear
Norahl" rising to her feet and beginning
rapidly 10 pace the room, ~ CANNOT
put my fears into words, but know and
anticipate only evil from our sojourn here.
Well, well, - making an effort to Overconfen
Ler agitation, ~ have no right to press my
troubles upon you in this the first hJur OF
our meeting, and indeed yoa must be q
witch to drag them from me thus, for
confess to you, Norah, l have never yet
limited of them to living soh save you, hest
it should come to Denis ears and dishearben
him by making him think was unhappy
here"
"You would not leave?' uncertainty.
'Oh, mol / may be unhappy now for
ger threatened wouh lie more than could
endure. You SEQ l tell you ALL, smiling.
''There must be some subtle sympathy be-
tween us to make me thus confide in your
She signs and again IrcssS tfe girlB
thin little hand lingerhgly Detyeen both
her own soft, white palms.
~ am glad You ike me-" Says the Ouch
ess slowly.
cit is more than that, / think" sa-s
madam, in her gentle, earnest way. Shelf
looking with strange, fixsd expression al
Eorah. Again she sees In the girls Leauti
full face that vivid likeness to her dad, 70
the lover husband of her youth.
'Do you know" she says, leaning to-
ward her, II am going to make believe
you are my little daughter whilst you are
with mel have often wished had ona
really, Not That Denis''-quickly, as ie
fearful Of doing injustice to her beloved
son--''ever left me much to wish for, but,
still you know, daughter must 90 q PFC
cious IttH
"You have Katherine" says the
Duchess looking at her strangely.
ayes; yes And she Is n very dear girl,
too. Hes; OF course.n There Is slight