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

LhSASs Sllll UUuIlCteu una Sn0Wl-
cd. dressed richly in velvet and fur, but
with n face so haggari that it was no
wonder even her brother did not Mt first
recognize her-sat the .'lcddy."
"Bclla!"
YES. it's me-! You didn't know, I sup
pose?"
Dear Bella! so glad to see you" And
nc went over and kissed her affectionate-
". But Bella made no response. {.
stop a minute" she said. in n hard,
dry tone. Don't be too glad.t to see me.
Ask your wife first. I'm not respected.
I've run away from my husband"
Roderick started.
Not with II man-oh. no, thank YOU!
I've had enough of men'--with the ghost
of her old l%augh--"only with n baby."
She opened her fur cloak and discovered
the white long clothes of a tiny-such a
very tiny-infant, with such an old. with.
cred, ugly little face. Nevertheless, ST.
lcncc sprung to it and took it in her arms.
"Oh, you're quite welcome, if you want
1t. 1 don't, though it's my own" said
Mrs. Thomson, with another laugh. "a
month old. when it was born, I hated the
very sight of it, it was so like it's father.
Now-wcM, L endure it, that's all! Isn't
1t u miserable scrap of n thing"
1t certainly was; but in an instant
Silence, throwing off her wraps, had sat
down to warm its skinny, stone-cold legs
by the fire, with a look on her face that
even her husband had never seen before.
She seems born to he n mother, which
I'm sure l never was; 1 always hated chill
dren. They look exactly like young frogs
or toads. No doubt this will turn out a
toad. and spit in my face likc-only it's IL
L feminine. not ~ mnSr,,l;nn ort;nlo <l,,,J-
goodness! 1t can never grow up a man
like him."
"Do you mean your husband?" said
Hoderick, gravcly.
TO be sure. The man I was fool
enough to marry. Why didn't my mother
prevent me, as she tried to prevent your
marriage? But mine was all risht--or
she thought so-as she thinks still. I've
got II handsome house, horses and car
Iiages. butler, three footmen and n page.
Didn't l dodge them all clevcrly? Crept
out in the dark of the afternoon and took
n tram-mc. Mrs. Alexander Thomson
n common street tram-to the railway.
What would Mr.. Thomson have said?
Ha! ha! hal I wish he knew it, if only
just to vex him."
Frederick sat down by his sister, grievcd
and sad. She was in such an excited
state that he did not attempt n single
question. but she went on rapidly talking.
"Whnt II hunt thcrc'l be. Not that he
cares for me. not two straws. but it isn't
respectable to have ones wife running
away. And they will think 1 have gone
mad and killed the baby-hc knew I
hated it. But I nm not mad, 1 am quite
in my sober senses, Rody-is that a noise?
told the girl to bolt the front door. some
body might come after me, though I don't
think it. And they never would imagine
1 had come here to you"
no" said Roderick, with involuntary
bitterness. Nevertheless, 1 being still
your brother. and you having chosen to
take refuge with me, you are safe. BE
satisfied"
He laid his hand on her shouldcr-slc
was shaking from head to foot: thcn unity
ing her bonnet and cloak. he made her
lean back in thca arm chair.
Tears started to Bclla's eyes ..Thank
YOU: YOU were always kind to me, Rody.
and YOU have got used to woman's ways.
I see. But don't be uneasy. L shall not
faint-1 never do. I'm tough. like man.
ma, or should have been killed long ago.
He was such n brutc-you've no idea.
That is. when he was drunk. Sober. he
Oily u 1OoIs 1 IuuSl uuVe DeCI
blind-many silly girls are"-passing her
hand wcarily over her eycs-..but, oh,
Rody, fancy to wake UP after a week or
two and find yourself tied for life to a
drunkard and n fool! A brute, too, as
say. misunderstanding him by the
arm-"you. II man with IL wife of your
own and-ycs, 1 know!-would you be-
lieve that the very day before that moor
little wretch was born, he-he struck
me?"
Roderick sprang to his feet.
"Don't get furious. YOU can do nothing.
nobody can It's only the drink. He's
decent enough. just a fool at most, till he
drinks, then he's n devil; and 1 hatc him
as l hate the devil. It's right"
Right or wrong. YOU must keep quiet"
said the brother, himself making a violent
effort ut quictncss and s%elf-control. "My
wife"-the instructive appeal which had
become habitual now-".my wife, come
here"
Silence came. with the small bundle.
so piteously still. as if only half alive, in
her arms. She had beer going in and out
of the room with it while they talked.
"Your bed is quite ready. Come, sis
ter"
Bella, occupied with herself and her
brother. had apparently forgotten her
brothers wife. When Silence stood be-
fore her-the young mistress Of the house,
the woman with the womanly heart,
which that forlorn babe seemed already
to have found out, for it was fast asleep
on her warm brcast-this other woman,
the miserable fine lady, the mother with
the unmothcrly soul, was struck with a
mingled feeling. half surprise, half COM
junction.
"Ycs, of course we arc sisters. But 1
thought you would hate me-hate us all.
1t was Roderick l ran away to. l never
thought of you"
"That was natural. But now, all that
are his are mine-as is also quite natural.
Come"
Bella grasped the offered hand and rose,
saving. with a feeble laugh. "Rody, your
wife must be an exceedingly good wom-
am"
Celia va sa.,s dire, I hope" said he,
trying to laugh as lie hurried them away
upstairs. and sat down over the fire,
hnnkful tn no alone