Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1894-03-02
the MARTLET SEAL
BY JENETTE Il. WALWORTH.
Copyright 1892 by ]. b. Lippincott Co.

spots out there under the big trees.
The guns were all stacked in the corner
Of the green-tinted hall. A solemn still
ness pervaded White Cliffs, indoors
and out. The harsh crealSing of the
big front gate on its new wooden
hinges made John turn his gloomy
face in that direction. The next mo-
ment he was on his feet with a NUT
tered exclamation of amazement.
Ida Fairbanks, accompanied by
Stepniak, her Danish hound, who
walked on one side of her with dignified
self-possession, and by Ninette, whose
methods OF progression suffered severe
ly by comparison with Stepniak's, was
coming towards him.
Amusement swallowed up every
other sensation in John Lorimers
breast, but he was conscious of an I'M
controllable physical repulsion as
Sinette, running swiftly in advance of
her companions, seized his hands and
put up her small red mouth with an
imperious demand:
kiss me, Uncle John. l amt come
back here to live. My aunt Ida says my
papa is" But Ida drew her back
ward.
"Ninette, You and StepnialS are to sit
Just here" She halted at the lowest
step and waited for Ninette TO arrange
herself and her short draperies to her
own entire satisfaction.
al could not leave her behind" she
said, apologizing to the shuddering dis
like in Johns eyes, because / have
sent the woman Celeste away, and no
one else can control the child. | had
TO come. ! heard that Mrs. Lorimer
was i'll, and thought-ahl | hope she
will not say may not come in. Life is
so short, and SO full of the anguish we
neither make nor can unmake for our
selves, that everything else seems so
pitifully small 1t is monstrous"
~ will tell my mother that you are
here" said John, looking at her, as if
he only half comprehended the mean
ing of her presence or of what she said
He turned mechanically towards the
front door. Ida put out OBTAINING
hand:
mot just yet, please. have some
thing | want to say TO you. 1t may
amount 20 nothing, but still ! think
you ought to hear it. have sent Celeste
away"
$50 heard You say" John answered,
coldly What was that child. sitting
on the low stone steps with her
dimpled white arms clasped about
Stepniak's neck, while she whispered
secrets" into his long, silky ears, but a
thorn in his flesh, reminder of his
miserable matrimonial defeat? Why
should the dismissal of her bsnne be re-
ported 70 him?
"Yes; | had TO send her away" Ida
stood before him, twisting her hat rib
bons about nervously, as confused and
tremulous as a shared bird.
John Lorimer looked at her with
polite attention.
"Oh, it is nothing but cowardice that |
makes it SO hard for me TO repeat her
vile threats And yet you ought TO |
know Perhaps you can find meaning
20 them that cannot"
You are agitated. Miss Fairbanks.
Pray be seated"
lie brought a chair. but she waved it |
aside and plunged into her story with
Impetuous earncstness;
II was agitated feel calmer now.
II is not easy TO repeat such miserable /
things When Celeste found that she |
had lost her place she rallied out at me
with a tempest Of insulting words /
Some things she said seemed to throw
some light on-on-"
Mrs. Lorimcr's hight?" John asked,
steadily.
Yes. That is why am here She /
came into my room after her box was
gone, and, standing before me, with her
bad bad face working with passion, /
5airly shrieked into my face: I am not
done with the Fairbanks yet have
loved and hated them 10y turns and the
good Lord has put it into my power to
hurt every one of them You pass for
a saint: no one but Celeste Bougereaux
knows that it was because Of you that
John Lorimer's poor young wife was
driven to despair 1t was |, the de-
spised Celeste, not he, the man who had
sworn TO love and protect her nor you,
che saint who can do no harm, that re-
egived her back. wet and shivering and
heartbrol1en, that night - the night
shat Then she broke off with that
aendish laugh that always made me
shudder, adding: All, well! that will
keep until ! have use for IL. Celeste
Bougereaux has u storchouse for family
secrets. 1t is very full, but there is
room for few more Then she rushed
from the room, bat as Cato was driving
ter from the door | could hear that
Mdeous laugh of hers"
John looked at her uncomprehend-
mgly. There was no more to- tell. APP
parently. She stood before him flushed
and silent.
well? l always knew that the wom-
An was a devil | wondered at Mrs.
&C the child's aunt employing her. |
suppose she had her own reasons for it.
But what are her rawlings to you or TO
me?o
"By themselves, perhaps, nothing;
but one link discovers another. DO you
Mr. Lorimer. the evening
you were SO good as TO take me To old
Jsham's cabin to meet Dennis, my hus-
band that is 20 be?'
Perfectly"