Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1896-02-08

she said, "only with the pulse Of life
beating through. It's not bit like dad
told me, ali bricks and mortar ard
blacks and miserable people. Oh, what
lovely horses!'' she cried out suddenly
and joyfull.. just like little child, as
LADY Appuld rrcombe's voice was heard
approaching them.
Lesley turned, with a wild, startled
gesture that completely disarmed her
aunt-the girl was SO young to begin to
be ashamed Of herself-so she took her
in her arms and kissed as much of the
extremely small face as she conveniently
could 1--WE are very glad TO see you,
my DEAR" she said, at the same time
taking in every detail of her appearance
with sense of establishment that Ronny
did not share, though he afterward re-
marked that he knew Lesley's clothes
must have been all right, because he
did not notice them. If they bad been
all wrong, they would have infallibly
stuck in his recollection, as most dis
agreeable things did.
And how is Malincourt?" inquired
Lady Appuldurcombe.
Dad is always WE'LL" said Lesley,
her eyes following Ronald as he left the
room.
What is his name;" she said, sitting
down opposite her aunt.
He is "nr,ny Kilmurray, said his
| mother Just as if she had said,
| Il like MIN, said Lesley calmly
"Be is not handsome. but he has kind
| 4 1, 10 III oil,
| Nd" She took her own small chin in
her palm and turned il up fiercely. II
wonder dad never said anything to me
about him
"Do YOU never read the newspapers:
said Lady Appuldurcombe coldly.
| "Never. Dad left off reading them
long ago, and never began. You see, ~
| Leslie looked ont thoughtfully at the
fast thinning park, 1--WE live in the open
air, dad and /, and we don't want to
hear about things and people we are not
interested in
"And do you never 1ead?" exclaimed
her aunt, horror struck. "Or is your
father the man who has a library full OF
books not one of which has ever beer
cut?''
Lesley laughed. 1t was battling
laugh, and her aunt could have boxed
her ears for it. The girl was moving
about the beautiful saloons, expressing
surprise at nothing, but pausing only t
, look at what was rarest and best.
I There are no Malincourts here" sh,
said as she came back slowly, and lift
ing her head in way peculiar to he
mothers family, who had all been swift
Of foot, long of limb, like herself.
And none of your mother peopl
are at Malincourt, l suppose?" saio
Lady Appuldurcomb a little coldly
"It's fine cid place, l believe, but you
father never wished to see any of us il
it,"
'And yet" said Lesley in voic
that trembled, she believes you capabl
of turning a silly fool into a sensibl
woman! You are the only one he eve
spoke Of, ever admired. And poo
mamma died so young Dad says yo
We're abroad with your first husband al
the while she was at Malincourt.'
Poor Cecilia said Lady Appuldul
) combe, and her heart warmed to her 81,
ter's child, at once so wild, yet so indie
; pendent, pride making her carry off
; difficult position with an ease she wa
far from feeling.
Lesley came over and kneeled dow
and the two women looked into eac
others eyes.
l 81 will be good" said Lesley quit
, simply, but struggling to keep down ii
3 tears in her throat. 1--WE come to 70
with bad character, know. but L
3 leave you with clean one. I can't fo
, give dad-yet-for bumihating me S,
but probably he'll be so wretched will
l out me he'll send for me back befol
t the end Of the weekv'
: "And supposing you don't want
: go?" said Lady Appuldurcombe-''t TIL
t is to say, of course, if you can do witt
g out Bob
"Oh, spare me" cried Lesley, star
1 ing up and putting her hands to chez
Y upon which lay bloom SO rich, so sof
t as almost to simulate art. There
@ one comfort, at least, that l am rid
= him! It's in the bond that he is not
!, venture near town while am here!'
d my dear said her aunt solemn
if irrelevantly, "who makes 20
f | frocks:i
e Lesley ran over a short list that ma
g her amt open her eyes
IS "None of these people was in vog
d when Cecilia died. she remarke
: Pray, who has taken you in hand al
IS sent you to exactly the right new one
h And then your maid-she does yo
hair very cleverly, and. in q crush,
' ~ 81