The Dakota chief. (Gann Valley, Buffalo County, S.D.) 18??-1913, 1896-07-23
CHAPTER XXIII.
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she was Obeying the stern behests or
duty. What had ever been prominent in
her mind, in her long and obdurate hos
tility toward Cave Harding, was the
harm and disgrace which his courses and
associates might bring upon Camilla and
the impcdiment these might prove to set
Ting the girl creditably in life. And now
all that was over. Lady Prendergast saw
her beloved one fading away like some
lovely dissolving view, and knew only too
wei! thst it was a mere race between
them to the grave.
"Oh, let him come by all MEANS she
had exclaimed, somewhat astonishing
Cyril by i%nterrupting his long chain of
carefully prepared arguments. who
knows but seeing him again, forgiven by
ME. and repentant, Camilla may wish to
live for his sake if not for ours And the
formerly hard old lady felt, as she said
those last words, the old wild jealous re-
volt within her; but valiantly she subducd
the feeling.
And when,'' she asked. "would you
propose that l receive him."
''Why. the sooner the kinder, both to
him and Camilla"
''Shall | ask him here on a visit!"
This was so much more than Acton
had dreamt Of that it almost took away
his breath. An intuitivc feeling told him
that he had better not accept too much
all at once. He said:
"Oh, Lady Prendergast, there is no
measure to your bounty. | never con
templatcd such extreme goodness. But
no. my dear friend Harding has long been
accustomed to rough it. There is a spare
room at the rambling old farm where
am staying; let him come down to me
there. ut any rate for the present. One
favor more. | see Camilla coming in.
May | be so selfish as to claim the pleas
urc of imparting to her the news of your
generosity? Oh, how she will love YOU
by all means, so run along and meet
her"
He waited for no second bidding, and
accosted Camilla upon the lawn, with:
"You see / am an earlier visitor than
usual to-day. / have a piece of news
which will startle and delight even you"
The girl flushed up but that meant
nothing. She did so now many, many
times a day for little or no apparent
cause.
Delight me-" she said, surprised, yet
Indifferent.
Your lear grandmamma has asked
your father to come and see you here.
lie begged me to try whether she would
consent to an interview, and Lady Prem
dergast, nObly forgetting all differences,
at once expressed a wish that both Mr..
Harding and myself should take up our
abode here"
The tears rushed to Camilla's eyes.
Knowing her grandmamma as she did,
this complete abandonment Of the policy
of years, this utter yielding up Of that
iron will, and for love of herself, as she
well knew, was to the girls mind some
thing ineffably touching. She wanted in
s~tantly to take the old lady in her arms,
thank heaven that the last barrier be-
tween them was broken down, and weep
out her thanks upon her bosom.
She could now, indeed, love her without
reserve.
"And you have done this-for me 2"
she said, giving her hand again to Cyril.
1t was, Of course, his cue to make the
most capital he could out Of the matter,
but his cleverncss told him that this was
best to be done by modestly affecting to
ascribe all merit to others, and depre-
eating the idea that he deserved excessive
thanks.
Il merely ~endeavored," ha said, "to
carry out your fathers earnest request
that he might see you again on any
terms. Lady Prendergast's wv gener-
Gus heart, and her deep love for you, have
done the rest"
1T is very well for you to put it in that
way: but | am confdent-I take nothing
from my gran'ma's goodness in saying
that without your zeal, and also your
delicate tact, ali might have failed. Now
do not deny it. That is my conviction,
and in it | remain iorever-mind, for
ever"
And she laughed with the drops still
dancing in her eyes.
Then off she went To do her other
mnksgiving.
Acton remained for awhile, sauntering
among the flower beds and butterflies.
He told himself that he had decidedly
Scored" as he put it. Presently he
Joined the ladies within, and agreed TO
stay for dinner. The letter sent off that
afternoon to the prodigal father, and his
coming arrival, formed the staple of con
vcrsation among the trio. a gayer tone
than usual reigncd around, and the hours
flew by more pleasantly than they had
been wont to do for some time.
Cave came down four days later. and
having happened to win Il few sovercigns
lie night before, he was in the highest
s3.ritS. Acton drove to meet and bring
linn from the station, and both men cana
t. dinner at Silvermead. OF course there
We. nothing like a fuss or a scene. The
father kissed his child and shook hands
NJ! Lady Prendergast as if he had dined
win them every day for a month past.
ii, spirits CHANGED to be up, and SO all