The Dakota chief. (Gann Valley, Buffalo County, S.D.) 18??-1913, 1895-02-28

"That was natural. But now all that
are his are minc-as is also quite natural.
Come"
Bella graspcd the offered hand and rose,
saying. with Il feeble laugh. "ltody. your
wife must be an exceedingly good wom-
an"
Cola va sans dire. | hope" said he,
trying 10 laugh as he hurried them away
upstairs. and sat down over the tire,
thankful to be alone.
Most men dislike scenes. he moro than
most. The sight of his sister, the sound
of her familiar voice. even down To the old
boyi>h pet-namc. which belonged cXclu-
sively to those early days-his wife had
never used it-affcctcd him deeply.
Then. too. he was Il man. with all Il
mans feeling about marital rights and du-
ties. To find himself Shcltcring a run
away wife. though cven his W sister.
was very distasteful. Still every broth
erly and manly emotion blazcd up into
righteous Indignation at thought of Bella's
wrongs.
ITO strike internationally strike her.
Poor. poor girl. If | had been at hand-iI
she had had Il brother TO stand up for
her.. And again his tender conscience
smotc him, as 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
had come To him for refuge. should he not
hide hcr-that was impossible. nor, had ii
been possible. would he have stopped To
any conccaimcnt-but openly protect her
against her husband. her mother. and all
the world:
His head dropped in his hands to think
it over" But he had grown unused To
solitary thinking now. Wcarily he looked
round for the second self. always beside
AIM. ready Mt least with the sympathy
which is often almost rs good as counsel,
sometimes even better still.
BUt il was almost an hour. quite the
middle of the night, before Silence came
IN. She looked very pale and tired: but
there was Il deep JOY in her face. With
her light curls dropping over her white
drc>Sing-sown. she stood beside him. Il
vision of peace.
Dear. YOU put me in mind of one of
Fra Angelico's angels"
But | have been doing no angels work.
have been washing baby. She looked
50 sweet. though she is So very. very
small. Then | put her to bed beside her
mother. who said she felt quite safe and
comfortable
Poor Bella. And you-I fear YOU are
terribly worn out, my darling
oh, no; | like looking after people.
And you-you are glad to have one of
your ain fox under your roof: Is it
not strange, after our talk tonight"
Very strange. And" with a kind Of
sad apology. you will be good To her:
You don't dislike her."
Dislike her.
NO; there are likcablc points about her.
poor girl. And she has suffered SO much.
What shall we do with her. ! have been
wearying myself with thinking. Can She
stay here"
. course sh" can. We have cuutrivei
admirably; | rather like coniriving. She
brought no clothes for herself. but she
does not forget her baby. She had Il
great bundle of all things ncedful. l do
not believe she cares for it after all. she
laughed. actually laughed. when she saw
it SO happy in its bath, which was our
WasL-tub. Only think, neither She nor |
have ever washed Il baby before: we were
quite afraid: but Janet. who has had Ill
TIC bIbtHtIS ana NlNltIN-SiN. | lllllh-
came 10 the rescue and helped us. Poor
janet. she was SO PROUD
The simple. wholesome. domestic de
tailS-comcdy ncutraliZing tragcdy-ltod-
erick laughed AT them. and felt more
comfortod than he could tell. Then.
turning to his wife. he pressed his lips
on the small right hand, so soft, yet 50
busy II 50 strong.
Goals of firc-coals of fire" he muir
INJURED. much moved.
silence did not at first understand the
allusion. then she said. YES. Goals which
melt and purify all sterling ore; that was
how my father always explained the
text. And who knows?-she may be
softencd vet
Ny 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. ut least. and you married only
me. II treaty. was n little hard for her"
Roderick drew his wife down upon his
kncr-a FRA Angelica" but a mortal
woman still-aud buried her hcad on his
shoulder. He did not speak. or nothing
that she could hear. but she felt his tears.
The said Goals of fire" when duly
hcapcd up. warm others besides those
they are meant to melt. Seldom had
there been a brighter breakfast table
thau that in the little parlor at Blackhall;
even though Bella kept it Il long time
Waiting-"Which must never happen
again. said the young master to the mis-
tress. But for once both f~orgave. and
when Mrs. Alexander Thomson sailed in.
her splendid clothes contrasting strangely
with her pitcouSly white face. knclt with
h"r brother and his wife around the fam
lily hearth. and then took her seat at tho
simple family table. all the misery ont
side. the dreary past. the doubtful future
could mol take away Il certain sense Of
peace.
But the >impl" breakfast of porridge
and tea. bread. butter and eggs. which