Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1896-02-18

LIST, said Lord Nalincourt when he had
put away breakfast that would have
disg,aced plowboy. ''and il your cous-
in Kilmurray isn't already booked per-
haps he'll come toa And Jane, " be
added, smiling, lido you think ten days
or SO Of the country would kill herf''
He is sure to have made his plans,
dad, said Lesley, her little face white
as privet. flowers above her pink cotton
gown, land I do think it would kill
Aunt Jare-honestly."
what sort of chap is he-head a
bit turned?" inquired her father as he
Lit a cigar, looking the squire all over
in his comfortable coat and knickerbock-
ers of tweed.
"He is too great q man to put any
side on" flashed ont Lesley, adding
quickly: dad, We really ought to take
some paper in besides Bells Life. II
would have saved me from some rather
considerable blunders when went ur
to town."
well. you are not goipg again, said
her father coptentcdly, "and I'd rather
give You Smollett's and Fielding's books
to read than one daily paper. And now,
my dear, I'm just going down to the
Home farm for few hours" He rather
tripped over the words, making for the
door as he spoke, and Lesley knew as
well as if he had announced the fact ON
blackboard that he was getting out of
the way to leave clear field for Bob.
lie turned to wave her farewell, but
she laughed and shook her head at his
deliberately UNCONSCIOUS glance, then
danced up to him, and seizing the lapeb
of his coat said: lyon thought to pun
ish me, dad, by sending me to town.
didn't yea dad? Well -f-I''- She
drew dee2 breath ana enjoyed it.
That s right" he said heartily, not
knowing that he had sent her to the
glory, the anguish, the awakening from
long slumber that love brings to wom-
an child. Il felt pretty bad about it,
lassic, l can tell you, and don't believe
had enc real nights rest while you
were away-woke up at all hours-for
couldn't bear to think that had dis
credited you. but pom my word, lassie.
you know, you cut me to the quick
about Bob. The others had themselves
to blame, but newell, well'- And
he kissed her fondly and bolted.
Lesley stc3I ~motionless for some
time, then walked up to a full length
picture Of her mother that hung above
the fireplace. Long and intently she
studied it, seeing many things that with
this new light in her mind she had
never seen before and trying to realize
how, with all her waywardness and
charm and esprit, her lovely mother had
been cons,nt to give up that world in
which she shone SO brilliantly to marry
and settle down happily with a-Bob-
in the heart of the country. And she
had died at 80, not of the country, as
Jane Appuldurcombe suggested, but Of
fever contracted in visiting sick child
Of the village where she was adored
And was it not beautiful, self suf-
ficiIs life, after all, this peaceful coun-
try ono where rich and poor knew ono
another well, where conduct was every
thing ard fashion less than nothing,
where health came first and in its nat
ural train love, and wealth last of all,
since, without health to enjoy love and
love to enjoy wealth, is not all vanity?
Cecilia had made her bed, lain down
on it and been happy. Was it the last
and best gift Of the gods that she died
young and passionately regretted, in.
stead Of living to weep for those others
who at every step fell ont of the march.
ing ranks till at last she could weep nc
more, only long for the time when she
would have to find, not leave, all that
she bad loved best on earth?
Questioning those happy eyes, Lesley
asked if there had ever been Ronny in
Cecilia's life. And the blue eyes, sc
like Lesley's own. gave back the answer
that if there had been he had been ef
fectually smudged out by the person.
atty Of q Bob, for Lord Malincourt's
name, too, was Robert.
"You can't help me, mother" said
Lesley desola:ely as she turned away.
and indeed 10 one can help us in oul
struggles with fate or ourselves. Fol
the most part we must climb unaided
cut of every pit into which we have
blindly fallen, and the CLEAN of angels
wings, shifting the walls Of our prison
house and stopping to rs in succor. il
so rare as to merit the designation Of 9
miracle itself.
FRO EE CONTINUED