The Red Cloud chief., 1892-05-13

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You may write," Mrs. Challock an.'
swered, after n pause. "But ! did not
want To part with you till you were
married, tell him that. And oh! Olive,
don't say much about your stepfatherl
He might be n WORSE man than he Is,
you know; but II troubles me sorcly
that he doesn't take to you. I've been
m unfortunate woman, Olive-vcry un-
Fortunate"
Eyes, mother; you were very unfor-
tunate in losing my father" Olive said,
quietly.
Mrs. Challock began to cry In q noise
less fashion. Now and then she paid
this tribute Of silent tears to the de-
parted, and blamed Fl evidence, in her
spiritless way, for having removed him.
She always spoke Of herself as n won
an who Ind been badly used by the
powers above, and wen so far rs to say
that an angelic guard ought TO have
been specially provided for n defense.
less widow. When her mother vas In
this mood Olive was apt to bctray n lit
tie impaticncc. AS Mrs. Challock dried
her tears she began to bewail her fate
in the usual strain, and the girl spoke
out Mt l2st:
"Thcrc Is Mrs. Hooper, mother" she
said, ''shc was left q widow, and she
has never married again, and yet she
was no better defended than you
were"
"Oh! Olive" moancd Mrs. Challock,
shakingNhcr head, ''she WIS far better
defended than WIS. Not by angel
guards, perhaps, but by n plain face;
| and n woman can have no safer protec-
ton than that"
Olive looked, half pityingly. nj the
sweet, faded face by her side, and felt
thats there WOO -soms. truth In thess
words. She knew that she herself had
moro beauty than her mother had w
possessed; Mrs. Challock had oftep told
her so. but Abe, thought, with aAgirl's
happy confidence, that her defense was
sure and strong. Nichacl's love for her
and her love for hm-this would be her
shield and bucklcr. She put hcr arm
round her mothers Shoulders, and
| spoke In q carcssing tone:
"rhen you will let me writc TO Uncle
Walker" she said. Don't frcV little
mother; Lucy says II will be best for
me to know something Of London be-
fore I go TO i've there a. Michacl'swife.
II would be trying for him 10 have 10
tench mi everything"
.Your father never thought II n trial
to teach me-" sighed Mrs. Challock, her
head still running on the past; but
then he had wonderful patience. Iouly
wish ] had learned more. Yes, Olive,
you may write, and see what comes OF
it." +,
But some time passed BY before thss
letter was written. g.S VIZ,
Poor Jnnc's love troubles pressed 50
heavily on her mind that she fell i'll,
and Olive had to help In nursing; and
thon Mira Challock herself grow sick
and claimed her child's care. These
illnesses were not alarming, but they
,changcl Olives plans for awhile, and
the summer seemed to slip away una'
wares. And Just after tho harvest had
been gathered In, and the sun shonc
calmly over folds that were shorn OF
all their wealth Of gold, Lucy Cromcr'a
life story came to an end.
"Stay with me o. much MS ypp can,
Olive" she said, when she had given up
her place ON the little couch downstaiSs.
~ have had friends and lovers, hot
never one sister till you came to mo-
So Olive spent hour after hour In thl
small bedroom under tho" thatch. and
sunbcams md wandering brcczes made
their way through the open lattice.
There was q thick wreath. OF ivy and
roses round the window; the swallows
had not yet taken their departure, and
b~ird-notcs and whispers Of many leaves
came to her like familiar voices. And
Lucy, too, lay listening to the music OF
the dying summer with o great peace
in her heart.
They talkedto each other in these last
hours more freely than thcy had eveI
spoken before. All the shadows Of tho
past Ind been swept away from Lucy't
soul She, looked back onthe path thu,
shc had troddcn vwfth such ys6rJfcet
and saw II illumined with q divine
light, It was just the same path thai
she had known always; there was the
place where she had stumbled over the
sharp stones, and risen bruised ant