The Goodland republic. [volume] (Goodland, Kan.) 1891-1907, 1891-10-30

uoo0 Woulu DC uuLl
uma, kneeIIng at the chamber window,
saw that cloud too. and bowel her sunny
head; and she prayed-ah, how earnestiyi
with bitter tears, for her lover. She
had not told her aunt of interview
with Sir Philip Darrell The old lady had
received her with the JOY OF one relieved
from keen Anxiety; and she had told lima
that Roland had called twice, and had
gone to search for her. lima had been
very Penitent; but she had Only said that
she had been for . long ramble and did
not know how the time had passed-whieh
was strictly true; and Miss Duraford had
been satisfied With the sxplanatI
But now the old lady could not sleep,
for she saw the black cloud hanging In tile
sultry sky; and she stole softly to Iima's
chamber and opened the door. The girl
started up from tbs window and came 20
meet her.
"AuntieP'
"My dear ehud,n said Miss Durnford,
ait IL past eleven, and you are not even
undressed. What are you doing By the
open Window"
"watehing that cloud, auntLe. I am
not tired"
Miss Durnford could not see the speak
er's face distinctly In the dusk OF the apart
ment; but she drew the slight form to
wards her, and said gently
al cannot sleep tonight, aud came TO
see II you were wakeful too. Ny heart
falls me"-and her voice fIltered-Gs when
1 think OF Sir Philip DArreIl-stlil at the
Court"
lima gently disengAged herself from her
aunps embrace, and went back 10 the
window, not knecling down this time, but
standing with her forehead resting against
the glass. Presently she said softly, with
out looking round to where her aunt still
stood
al do not believe in the curse, auntIe."
0Ilma dear" returned Miss .Durnford,
"you must not mind my saying this, that
! hope you are not speaking 80 because you
do not wish 70 believe In misfortune CON-
ing TO Sir Darrell. 1 mean, l hope you
do not think too much OF him. You under
stand meP
ayes, auntie; I understand"
Miss Durnford paused; but lima said
no more; aud the old lady felt disappoiut-
ed. Why could not tAe child be frank
with herr Surely, she thought, I'm fear
and perplexity, nothing had passed be-
tween linn aud Sir Philip? II there had
been anything, the child ought TO toll her.
Miss Durnford did not know how difficult
Is such confidence to a sensitive nature,
even IL willingly offered, aud lima was not
willing. The secret belonged to herself
and Sir Philip, for the present at least.
Its revelation could only make her aunt
unhappy, and perhaps angry. Why should
any Que knOw1 So the girl stood silent.
'9Ilmu," said Miss DurnfOrd s'you make
me anxious You are not opeu with me,
as you should be. l do not want to blame
you; Sir Philip is most fascinating man,
and tt would be nothing strange If you
had allowed him TO engage your fancy"
Faney-when the very sound of his
name thrilled through every neryel But
the girl shrank from the prim phraseolOgy,
and felt that she could not give her CON
ddence; besides, had she right to do so1
It was true that her lover had not uttered
. word that Implied he desired secrecy:
but she would not-indeed she would not
speak of what seemed to her too solemn
and sacred to be talked about.
"Auntie," she said pleadingly-and
there were tears In the sweet young voice
-''please do not ask me any questions to-
night-another time perhaps, but not now.
Don't think me unkInd or ungratefali but
| couldn't say anything Tonight
Miss Durnford sighed heavily.
"You American girls" she said aadiy,
care so independent, | cannot understand
you. When L was your sge, sought my
mothers help when was In trouble; but
you fight your own battles ut seventeen.
Good night, dear; go TO bed aud try TO
get some sleep"
lima was alone again. independents
did not now feel the need OF even n mother;
and = mother, she argued-she had never
known her owu-was something that the
kindest OF auntS could not be. Her lover
seemed Rll-suficient.
." Father to me thon art. and mother dear,
And brother too. kind husband of my heart,
So speaks Andromache."
And so spoke lima. Even with regard
to Roland Sabine she felt strouger-she
a a a
might have spoken To her aunt, aud SO Nv old
| ed au interview with him; but this ideL did
not occur to her. She, could, in her fear,
run away from him altoge ther; but 20 ask
| any Que TO inteTpose on her behalf was
contrary to her nature; and, after all,
sue thought, Roland had 4 right TO see
her. Certainly she would not seek an
| interview, but she would no long n avoid II.
At the turn OF night the rain came. II
| fell suddenly, like u vast sheet Of water
from the ayenS, with the ro1r and hiss
| OF n cataract. 1t bsat down the flowers In
the gardens; IL laid fiat the corn in the
fields; It converted many dry mountain
| watercourse into a brawllng stream. Vii
| layers, started out of their sleep By the
| touring OF the torrent, drew back their
curtains aud gaxed forth Ia terror and the
thoughts OF ali turned to tue grand old
castellAted mansion of the DSrrells and
| its doomed lord.
job HestOn arose and went to his daUgh-
| ter's chamber and knocked Mt the dQ-g.
''Lass, lass, get up and look at the rain
Il hzs not fallen like this for more than
twenty years"
The girl was at the door In an instant.
| with . white scared face.
"Father, IL the Mill safeP'
"Aye, for tonight, yes; but, ZeIb, II IL
rains like this for two nights more, thu
| river will be over its banks, aud this time
the MIL viii go."
| 0And Dark Darrellf" said Zeph in \
low tone, amer a pause, filled by the rush
OF the rain, mingling with and almost
| drowning the roar OF the weir.
| sSWhy." replied Hestou steadily. sEhe'll