The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1891-01-09
CHAPTER XII.
BABY's ILLNESS,

If Mrs. Allenby had expected her
eldest daughter to be surprised or fright
ened she was disappointed, and she her
self was not prepared for the long look
of slow resentment Victoria gave her.
The words stung her and haunted her
when the girl had gone. IF anything
goes wrong now, I for one shall never
forgive you,n-and that was a daugh-
ter's mercy; her reward for keeping the
trouble to herself.
When Michael first came home, his
sister-in-law had intended to tell him,
aid it would have been her wisest
course, but he was a difficult man to APP
proach. In his b%ehayiorto her there had
always been an u~ndercurrent Of grim,
good-humored irony; he wa n of the
very few who knew exactly what she
had been, and her stately imitation-an
almost unconscious imitation-of the
duchess she had served only amused
him. He knew, too, how hard she had
driven his brother along the working
road OF his profession, for the sake of
keeping up appearances, till he broke
down under the strain, and he did not
like her the better for it; but where his
brothers children were concerned he
would have been more than kind. more
than generous.
She had, however, let the chance 90
by. He had questioned her as to her
circumstances, and she answered in a
way which led him to infer that they
were just as he saw them. If he took
the trouble to inquire further, she was
not aware of it; but her creditors were
quite satisfied; the veritable Michael
Allenby, SO often spoken of by her, had
arrived and was located in her house.
They saw him in the carriage with her
and her daughters, and they knew that
he was nearly a millionaire. They took
her orders, and did not trouble her with
accounts. They no longer looked upon
her as a doctors widow with a doubtful
income and no ready money; she was
Michael Allenby's sister-in-law, and to
have asked who he was would have been
like inquiring as to the monetary status
of Rothschild.
Mrs. Allenby went to Oranmore
Square next day. and her horses stepped
as If no mercenary consideration had a
lien upon them. George Hyde rode
with her, curious to see how she would
meet her sons neglected widow; he saw
that she was making mental prepara-
lions for it.
Mary and Margaret we're in Mary's
own sitting-room when they arrived; it
would have been termed an ante-room.
being quite at the back Of the house,;
but it was long and large, and would
not have let so well as any of the others;
that,-as George told Mrs. Allenby with
quiet mischief,-was only why Mary
kept it for herself.
"But, good Heavens!o said that lady
in dismay, "you never mean to say she
will receive her Uncle Michael there?''
II am afraid she must said George:
"she could not very we'll ask him to the
kitchen or her bedroom, and all the rest
nre let"
sob, this is quite too dreadful. l
never thought of it before. That old
!, gentleman mustgo; I will tell her 500
"Yoa had much better tell him So"
said George.
Oh, will; / wonder if heis athome.
Michael would never forgive me- il he
saw Arthur's wife and child, in the
reality of the case, pushed away in a
dull back room such as my butler de-
clined to sleep in. Dear me! the reality
never struck me before"
George only smiled. He had spent
many pleasant hours in that dull back
room, and could very willingly have
spent his lifetime there had it been
necessary.
And it was in this dull back room
Mary received her husbands mother
vito a calm and quiet grace, and a
dignity which took that lady by sur
prise. Mrs. Allenby, true to the role
she had set herself toplay, put her arms
found the girls neck and kissed her
with fearful ewes.
ut is too late now" she said, "to
speak of what might have been If we
had met before; l only hope it is not too
late for us to learn to love each other"
mot so bad," George said to himself.
Il wonder where she got it from, and
how will Mary answer it?n
Not even as he expected; but with
her sweet voice, low and steady, and no
sign of a tear, she answered so far in
Mrs. Allenby's own words.
ut is too late to speak Of what might
have been if we had met before, but it
is not too late to let the future speak
for itself. l am glad you were pleased
with Artie. Margaret tells me MI. Al
lenby was delighted with him.
DIR. Hyde said to himself this was
well done. She had, in d few words,
accepted the reconciliation. without
losing her own dignity or throwing a
shadow of blame on Arthur's mother.
In few words more she had led the
conversation into a safe channel, and
five minutes later the only one not quite
at case las Mrs. Allenby herself.
She had a smile with every word she
spoke-a smile for every word she list
ened 70: went throughthe events Of
the preceaing evening, from baby's ex-
;aordinary i~nstinctin finding out Uncle
Atichael to the moment Of departure,
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