Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1896-01-23


The girl followed him into the tiny
sitting room, which her presence seemed
to light up like a sunbeam. She was
very timid and shy with him, and her
voice trembled as she tried to appear
at ease.
Did you have a comfortable journey
here?" demanded Ruthven.
Eyes, thank you, Mr.. Ruthven- 1t was
rather warm in the train, but we kept
the windows open"
"And you like coming-to-to Lon
don?''
Eyes, thank you
you must try and look on THIS as
your home now, you know.
Yes, thank you
They had positively got no more out
than this when Garrett hustled into the
room.
"Well, Miss Margaret, hadn't you bet
ter come upstairs and take OF your
things? I'm sure you're tired.
The girl turned and prepared obedi-
emily to follow her. Ruthven called the
housekeeper back.
What room did you intend Miss
O'Reilly to take her meals in, Garrett?'
why, didn't you tell me with your
the back dining room?"
But that will be very dull for her,
won't it?''
That's your lookout. I should say
1t would be-
1.-The rooms are SO small and close
with the folding doors shut. 1t seems
a pity to divide them
What do you propose, then, Mr..
James?"
well, don't you think she could dine
with me and Mr.. Hamilton"
That's as you like. sir. She's fit to
do it, in my opinion
''Oh, of course, only I thought it
might be AWKWARD But, after all,
she's sort of adopted daughter of
mine, isn't she. Garrett?"
Just so, Mr.. James, and I say the
parior is the fittest place for her."
Let it be so then until-until she
leaves us again. And her bed room,
Garrett, is it nice?"
Its as good as 1 can make it, sir;
but I can't say it's over and above
much
81 must see it altered tomorrow. Go
to the child now, and make her COM
Portable; and-and-I don't think I
shall go out to the club this evening,
Garrett. Its Miss O'Reilly's first day
at home, and l should like to make her
welcome; so get us a nice little dinner
here; will you, please?"
Q Very good, SIR replied Garrett,
chuckling in her sleeve as she hurried
upstairs after her charge.
She found Margaret in her own bed
room, gazing fixedly at the four-poster.
This is not your room, Miss Mar
garrett" she said; you are to sleep in
the next. It's rather small, but you
won't mind that, I'm sure
But the girl had not moved from her
position.
# remember it all now" she said
presently, as she turned to the old wo-
man and pointed to the bed. How
you bathed me in warm water, and
put on me one of your own night
!. gowns, and placed me in that bed; and
/ counldn't believe it at first. 1t was all
so wonderful and strange. Oh, how
good you have been to me. How
good he has been, How good every
body has been, What was what had
done that he should have picked me
up and made what am? Oh! how good
he is. how very, very good.'
And Margaret, with the full tide of
recollection flowing in upon her, flung
herself on her knees by the bedside,
and burst into flood of tears.
Mrs. Garrett waso scarcely less
shocked at the occasion of the act than
at the act herself. She thought the girl
had forgotten all about those early
days.
What are you talking of, Miss Mar
garet? You must never allude to those
times, my dear. You must forget them
altogether.
ST will never forget them again, Mrs.
Garrett. will remember them all my
life. have been an ungrateful girl
to forget them so long"
Come, come. Mr.. James will not be
pleased to hear you speak like this.
He has just told me you are his adopted
daughter, and to be treated as such.
So, take on your hat and smooth your
hair, and go down and talk to him in
tia parlor. whilst I get dinner ready
Fer you both.