The Dakota chief. (Gann Valley, Buffalo County, S.D.) 18??-1913, 1894-12-06
CHAPTER VII.

Rodcrick did not appear among his
family until the next day, or rather
the same day, for it was four in the
morning Def re the last guest departed
n he household sunk into %quietness.
Then. Bella Jardine knocking at his
door. had Teen greeted with a frater-
nal growl; and the traytul OF iood
which. according to the family faith
that the wa to the heart is through
the stomach, she brought up to him,
wa, left unta,ted on the door-mat.
Let me alone: / will sec you all at
breakfast" were the only words that
could be got out of him. Angry. sor-
rOwful, and utterly wOrn cut in body
as we'll as mind, he threw him elf on
the bed in the cold iireless room
evidently he hal not been expected 50
~soon-rolled himself up III Il bearskln
rug, which he had bought at Ncucha-
tel, in p.anninE that neycr.to-be for
gotten daC at Lausanne. and slept for
many hours. Slept so heavily Tat
when he awoke. long after midday. he
was surprised to find the fire lighted
and a dainty little breakfast standing
beside it. also his feet, stretching odt-
side the rig. we e carefully wrap ell
up in one OF his mother 5 shawls.
III bStA III ~ o'ti Nv fi"'A
him comfortable" as was her habit to
do, as much a, she could-perhaps
gil inc him, %unfclt, the kiss that he
might not have cared for. the tear
which would only have veXed him.
Poor mother. And he was her own,
her only son.
Roderick was touched. When he
came down stairs the first thing he
did wds to look for her al over the
house. and when they met he kissed
her ~aifectionately.
Forgive my being SO rude as to 90
to bed at once: but | was very tireI.
And you: You have been up, spite OF
your fatigues, and locking after me as
usual! / did so ENJOY my nice break
fast. Thank yOl, mother"
lie kissed her again, and then sat
down, not knowing what else 10 sa?.
Would she speak trat. or must he, on
the subject which never left his mind
for a moment:
YES, you we're quite wearied out with
your long journey, my dear boy" said
Mrs. .Jardine. ~ on must have
travelled night and day, to have got
back so soon.
Gould | do otherwise. thinking you
were il, mother: and naturally / was
somewhat aSlOllSncQ "
40 find us in the middle of a ball?"
broke in Bella, who sat surrounded by
a heap of wedding 1inery. 1T must
have been a little per lexlng. But we
thought that frightening telegram was
Roderick drew back, flushing
angrily.
Hold your tongue. Bella" said the
mother. but. M dear Rody, / never
said / was Ill; only said / wa, not
we'll which was quite true. How
could it be otherwise. after your
letter."
You did get my letter, then my
Two lettcrs::"
yes. both" And there ensued an
awkward silence
The critical moment passed seized,
u%nhappily. by neither side. for H.od-
erick. excessively lrritated. wa ked in
stantly out Of the room and out OF the
house.
It is astonishing how long clever
pcople-and she was a decidedly clever
woman in her way. vas Mrs. Jardine -
can shirk a difficulty, or avoid an I'M
pleasant thing. lie hardly knew how
it came about, but ltoderick had actu-
ally been two whole days at home,
taking his place at the foot of his
mothers s%umptuous table, and enter
tanning, with gentle courtesy ana we'll
disguised WEAKNESS, her endless
guests, falling back into old ways 80
completely that he sometimes asked
himself if the last two months were
not merely d morning dream: yet not
Il syllable HAD been breathed Of his
intended marriage or of Nile. Jardinc.
IL was not til the third day after his
return, which, being the day before
the wedding wa, of necessity kept
free from visitors, that ltoderick sue
ceeded in finding his mother alone.
Coming into hey "boudoir." Us she
called it, the little room OH the draw
ing-room, which she made her place
of refuge when she wa not in sutfi-
ciently grand toilet Tor visitors. he
saw her sitting there, fer five quiet
minutes.
Mother, you ought TO rest: You will
b. i'll if You don't. said her son, going
I'D to her W tn honest anxiety.
III rest by and by" she answered,
when TO morrow is over. oh, these
weddings. It's all very well for the
Young folks; but-the parents. How
ever, this is the last Cne. | have nc
more girls to marry"
No. mother" said Roderick, sitting
down by her, both out Of real tender
ness and because he felt that now was
the golden moment which must not he
let pass by-for there wa a kind look
in her eye and a tremor in her voice
such as had not greeted him evcrsince
he came home: mo, mother, your
daughters are all safely disposed of.
And whom your son marries he will
faithfully promise that his wedding
shall give you no trouble"
Mrs. Jardine drew back, then looked
at the door, as If feeling herself caught
in the tolls and anxious to esca. e; but