Hot Springs weekly star. (Hot Springs, S.D.) 1892-1917, 1895-03-01

herr And again his tender COINCIDENCE
smotc him. us if he had not done half
enough, as if his passive acceptance Of
fate had been of itself an error. Should
he resist now? Seeing that his sister
mad come to him for refuge, should he not
hide her-that was impossible, nor. had it
been possible, would he have STONED to
any concealment-but openly protect he1
against her husband, her mother. and all
the world?
His head dropped in his hands to "thirS
it over" But he had grown unused t.
solitary thinking now. YEARLY he Aoked
round for the second self, always beside
him, ready at least with the sympathy
which is often almost US good us counsel,
sometimes even better still.
But it was almost an hour, quite the
middle of the night, before Silence came
IN. She looked very pale and tired; but
there was a deep joy in her face. With
her light curls dropping over her white
dressins-gown. she stood beside him. a
vision of peace.
Dear, you put me in mind of one of
Fra Angelico's angels"
Blu ! have been doing no angels work.
l nave been washing baby. She looked
SO sweet, though she is SO very. very
small. Then 1 put her to bed beside hcr
mother. who said she felt quite safe and
comfortable"
Poor Bella! And you'll fear Won nre
terribly worn out, my darling"
"Oh, no; I like looking after nconle.
And you-you are glad to have one of
your 'ain folk under your roof? la it
not strange. after our talk to-night?"
Very strange. And" with a kind of
sad apology, you will be good to her?
You don't dislike her?"
"Dislike herr"
mo; there are likeable points about her.
poor girl! And she has suffered so muchi
What shall we do with her? 1 have been
wearying myself with thinking. Can she
stay hcre?"
vi course she can. We have contriycd
admirably; 1 rather like contriving. She
brought no clothes for herself, but she
does not forget her baby She had n
great bundle of all things necdful. l do
not believe she cares for it after all. She
laughed, actually laughed, when she saw
1T so happy i'll its bath, which was our
wasli-tub. Only think! neither she nor I
have ever washed n baby before; we were
quite afraid; but Janet, who has had lit
tile brothers and sisters-siX. / think
came to the rescue n helped us. Poor
Janet, she was so proud!"
Thu simple, wholesome. domestic de-
tails-comedy ncutralizing tragedy-Rod-
erick laughed Mt them, and felt more
comfortcd than he could tell. Then,
turning to his wife, he pressed his lips
on the small right hand, SO soft, yet so
busy and so strong.
Goals of firc-coals of fire." he MUIR
INJURED, much moved.
Silence did not at first understand the
allusion. then she said, Eyes, Goals which
melt and purify all sterling ore; that was
how my father always explained the
text. And who knows?-she may be
softcned yet"
MY mother" !
IL have been hearing all about her, how
good she is, how generous and warm
hearted. And she was always so proud
of you. She thought you ought to marry
a countess, at least, and you married only
me! 1t really was n little hard for her.
Roderick drew his wife down upon his
knee-a FRA Angelica" but a mortal
woman still-and buried her head on his
shoulder. He did not speak, or nothing
that she could hear, but she felt his tears.
The said locals of fire." when duly
hcaped up, warm others besides those
they are meant to melt. Seldom had
there been a brighter breakfast table
than that in the little parlor at Blackhall;
even though Bella kept it q long time
waiting-"which must never happen
again." said the young master to the mis-.
trcss. But for once both ~forgaye. md
when Mrs. Alexander Thomson sailed in
her splendid clothes contrasting strangely
with her pitcously white face. knelt viii,
her brother md his wife around the fam.
lily hearth, md then took her seat nj tho
simple family table, all the misery out-
side, the dreary past, the doubtful future.
could not take away a certain sense NJ
peace.
But the simple breakfast of porrid,o
and tea, bread, butter and e which
always satisfied Isoderick, had. 10 CON
fcss the truth, its difficulties with the
guest. Despite her condescending smile.
it was evidently not exactly what Mrs.
Alexander Thomson was used to, and she
felt that she was condescending. Also.
after the first warm pleasure of meeting.
both brother and sister became conscious
of that curious sense of strangeness
which, Notwithstanding the closest tie
of blood, rises up after awhile between
those whose lives have drifted wide apart.
never to be united more. So much so.
that by and by conversation tagging, It
was quite q relief to hear a feeble wai)
overhead.
(TO be c%ontinued.)
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Rnried I.naf Txventv.f3va voor. 0,a