Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1895-03-07
CHAPTER X-Contlnued


Bella broke up, and before Mr. Alex
nnder Thomson appeared In the draw
ing-room-a he was sure to do In Il con-
dltion euphuistlcally termed merry, "
But Mrs. GrlcrsOn had first to be Spo-
ken to a little, and she sat close beside
his sister, who, in passing, he felt
catch his hand,
"ROdy"
Was there ever man. old or young,
who hearing himself called by II faml-
liar voice, the pet name Of his child
hood, could stonily turn away? Poor
Rodcrick, anything but stony-hearted,
certainly could not.
"What do you want with meF he
whispered, pretending to turn over n
large volume Of photographs which his
sister held.
"She-I came here on purpose to look
at her-she is much nicer than l eX-
pected"
'Thank YOU Is that all? Then will
pass on. was going to say goodnight
W hl@ blltlpOll.
The tone, studlously polite, was ex-
actly what he would have used to any
strange lady. 1t seemed to cut his sis
ter to the heart
Frederick, what can do? I dare not
veX mamma. She holds all my pin
money; and he is-oh, so stingy! So
If had but known
"You did know; | told you myself"
said Roderick sternly, "But it is use
less talking. AS one makes ones bed
one must lie on It,"
81 know that. And you"
"There is no peed to speak-we had
better not spehk-either of me or
mine"
AT this instant the gentlemen were
heard coming up; and one Of them,
approaching, tapped her on the Shout
der,With a jovial "Wcll, my dear"
A SILVER Of epugnanCe-almost of
fear-passed over poor Bella from head
to foot. Well might the sapient Mr.
Alexander Thomson observe that
"women are FOOLS" but the greatest of
all fools is the woman that marries
fool for his money.
"Jardine! here still? Do introduce us
my wife and me-tO our charming
sister-in-law, Or, rather introduce her
to us, if Bella thinks it more proper"
eyes, yes, bring her here. l beg you
will, and quickly. Don't you see every
body is looking at us?' said Bella, hur-
riedly.
Let them look; it is nothing to me-"
said Roderick and was walking away,
when he felt a little hand slipped un-
der his arm.
81 came not to hurry you, dear, but
TO tell you that Mrs Grierson offers to
take us home in her carriage She is
so kind. like her so much"
Il knew you would, my darlingr .,
Bella heard the Words saw the look
and the look which answered it. A
sudden spasm, almost like despair,
passed across her face--the despair
which Il woman, any woman, cannot
but feel on catching glimpse of the
heaven she has lost or thrown away.
But she righted herself speedily; and
having much of her mothers clever
ness, Slipped out of the difficult posi-
ton by coming and taking Silence's
two hands with an air of frank pleas
ure.
You would not carry off my brother
this very minute, when l am so de-
lighted to see both him and you?
am Bella. OF course you have heard
of Bella? Nay; you must let me kiss
you, my dear"
The tone, If a little patrOnizing, was
kind; and though the soft cheek turned
scarlet it did not shrink from the kiss
Silence stood, neither shy, nor afraid
nor ashamed, to receive the greeting of
her husbands sister. But when Bellas
husband came forward, with rough ex-
uberance, to take his share in the sa-
lutte, she drew back.
ut is not our custom in Switzer-
land" she said in French to her hus-
band; and as she extended the tips of
her fingers, it would have taken Il
holder man than even Mr.. Alexander
Thomson to offer kiss to young Mrs
Jardine.
All this little scene passed within half
Il minute, attracting no attention eX-
cept from the Griersons, who stood by.
I'VE are OBTAINING you, and making
our family relations needlessly pub
lie" said Roderick; "but the fact is,
my wife and sister had never met be-
fore. They will meet again shortly,
hope"
Il hope so, too" responded Mrs.
Grierson, in tone which showed that
the gentle old lady was fully cognizant
of the Jardine history, as no doubt, in
some form or other, was everyone pres
ent, or would be, within ten minutes
Indeed, as Roderick took his wife from
the room, he felt that, like the cele-
brated wit in the anecdote, they cleft
their character behind them"
What matter? What did anything
matter, so long as he held fast that ten
der hand, which, in the friendly dusk
of the carriage, he had taken, for he
felt 1t trembling much. But neither