The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1897-07-30

consent. Mother and sister hesitated
aiike before telling Anice.
, Mother said Cecile to Lady Pitcairn.
should be the happiest girl in the
word If 1 could feel sure that Anice
"o4lu @ De pleased over my marriage
why should she not be pleased?"
asked Lady Pitcairn, her heart heavy
WIN the knowledge of why.
lou tell her, mamma; she will take it
Detter from you than from me'
Lady Pitcairn shrank from it. 1t is
no easy task to tell an angry, unloved
woman that the man she loves wants to
marry some one else. Lady Pitcairn's
kindly face grew pale, her lips trembled,
her voice seemed to have lost it's usual
cheerful ring. Suddenly she bethought
herself that the best thing would be to
ask Lady Hilda to accompany her;
Knowing her daughters pride, she felt
sure that nothing could or would make
her control all emotion so much as the
presence of a witness. She sent for Lady
Hllda to her dressing room, en- some pre-
text and kept here there; then she rang
for her daughter and Ance came into the
room with look of unusual wonder on
her face.
Il have some pleasant news" she be-
gan. 1T is more than that-it is impor-
tant. Sir Leofric has asked Sir Peters
consent; he wants to marry Cecile'
There We're few minutes of dead 81
lence; neither of them dared to look at
her; that silence was more eloquent than
any words-A painful silence-they could
hear the ticking of the ormolu clock, the
singing of the birds; but no sound came
from those white locked lips. Lady Pit
cairn affected to be quite engrossed in
her work, but went on talking; it was
only by u certain hesitation pin her voice
that Lady Hilda knew how agitated she
was.
Then she stopped abruptly; for the ter
rible silence frightened her. For the first
time since she had begun to speak she
turned round and looked at her daugh-
ter's face. That look frightened her The
beautiful proud face had not grown
white; no white could have been so awful
as the changing tints, the terrible livid
hue, the deadly pain the torture that We're
shown there. If Il sharp slender dagger
had been plunged into the girls heart it
would not have transiXed her with sharp
er pain.
"AIy dear Anice. you do not answer
mel" said Lady Pitcairn.
1t was no human woe that looked out of
those dark eyes; it was no human woe
that trembled in the low voice as she an
swered:
DO l understand you, mamma? Has
Sir Leofric asked Cecle to be his wife,"
she said, slowly.
'Yes, and we are all very much pleased
about it; you will be the same, 1 am
sure. Anice."
Does he say that he loves Cecile, NAM
map she continued, incredulously, cloves
her?'
'Certainly, or why should he ask her to
be his wife? Assuredly he loves her, re-
piled Lady Pitcairn.
And they are to be married-married,
and live near u.s." she continued.
Yes, am sure you will agree with me.
Anice, that it will be very pleasant to
have Cecile so near us"
The pride of Anice saved her in that
moment. If Lady Hilda had not been
present bitter words would have fallen
from The trembling lips. The presence of
Il stranger kept them from so falling.
sit will be very pleasant" she said.
turning away.
To Lady Hilda the pain was like re-
newal of her own. 1t seemed to her that
she could well understand this passion of
love and jealousy; she who had been DESC
late all her life, and who lived.