Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1891-01-10
CHAPTER XII.
BABY's ILLNESS.

II MTS. AlleDDy Uau expected ner
eldest daughter to be surprised or fright
ened she was disappointed, and she her
self was not prepared for the long look
or slow resentment Victoria gave her.
The words stung her and haunted her
when the girl had gone. IF anything
goes wrong now, / for one shall
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.iaw had intended to tell him,
and il would have been her wisest
course, but he was a difficult man to APP
proach. In his behavior to her there had
always been an undercurrent of grim,
good-humored irony; he was one 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. lie 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 go
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. Ii he took
the trouble to inquire further, she was
not aware of it; but her creditors were
quite satisfied; the veritable Michael
Ailenby, so often spoken of by her, had
arrived and was located in her house.
They saw him in the carriage with her
n her daughters, and they knew that
ne was nearly a millionaire. They took
her orders, and did not trouble her with
accounts. They no longer looked upon
her as adoctor's 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 a Rothschild.
Mrs. Allenby went to Oranmore
Square next day, and her horses stepped
as II 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-
tions for it.
Mary and Margaret were in Mary's
W sitting-room when they arrived; it
would have been termed an ante-room,
-SeiHgFufts at the back of the house;
but it was long and large, and would
not have let 20 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 Heavensln said that lady
In dismay, 'syou never mean to say she
will receive her Uncle Michael there?"
II I'm afraid she must said George;
s'she could notFvery well ask him to the
kitchen or her bedroom, and all the rest
are let.n
'Oh, this is quite too dreadful. I
never thought OF it before. That old
gentleman must go; l viii tell her So"
You had much better tell him So"
said George.
"Oh, I will; I wonder If heis at home.
Michael would never forgive ms II 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-
clincd to sleep in. Dear mel 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 1t was in this dull back
Mary recel yed her husbands mother
vita 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 to play, put her arms
round the girls neck and kissed her
with fearful ewes.
1T is too late now" she said, Ito
speak Of what might have been II we
bad net before; / only hope 1t Is not too
late "a usJto learn to love each other"
"Not SO bad,p George said to himself.
II wonder where she got it from, and
how will Mary answer ityn
Not even al he expected; but with
her sweet voice, low and steady, and no
sign Of q tear, she answered 30 far In
Mrs. Allenby's own words.
1T is too late to speak Of what might
have been if we had met before, but II
is not too late to let the future speak
for itself. l am glad you were pleased
with Artie. Margaret tells me Mr.. Al
Ienby Was delighted with him.
DIR. Hyde said to himself this was
well done, She had, in . few words,
accepted the reconciliation without
losing her own dignity or throwing .
shadow Of blame ON Arthur's mother.
In a few words moro she had led the
conversation into a safe channel, and
five minutes later the only I'M not quite
ut ease -5-assxrs. Allenby herself.
She had q smllo with every word she
spoke-a smile for every word she list
ened to: went through the events Of
the preceding evening, from baby's ex-
t~laordinary instinctjn flndipg ont IIncla.
Michael 70 the momene 6f depeFtars.