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

reeds round its banks, with willow trees
whose branches dipped in the clear
stream; in the summer pretty pleasure
boats skinned the water. Both sisters
could row, and enjoyed during the warm
summer days the cool shade under the
trees that shadowed the water. 1t had
strange name, this broad, clear, deep
pool-it was called 'Iadydeep Pool" Why
it had that name no one seemed to know.
Ladydeep Pool during the winter was one
hard. beautiful piece of thick, white ice;
bright, shining, hard as asphalt, it was
beautiful to look on.
One morning, it was nearly the end of
January then-Sir 4eofric went over to
Branksome Park earlier than usual. Lady
Pitcairn was tired; had not come down
to breakfast Sir Peter, after partaking
| amply of every recherche dish on the ta-
bic, had retired to his study, ostensiblt to
read the papers, in reality to sleep; Anice
and Lady Hilda were busy over some
point lace-Cecile had laughingly declined
to join them.
ut will be quite useless for me even to
pretend to work." she said; "Sir Leofric
will soon be here; he does not like me to
work while he is talking to me-"
Sir Leofric came soon afterward. Lady
Hilda saw how Anice trembled while the
lovers greeted each other; she was saying
over and over again to herself, the words
that to her had become formula:
eff she We're lying dead he would be
free"
II have ridden over earlier than usual,
and more quickly" said Sir Leofric; II
have to go to London tonight"
''To London" repeated Cecile; "why :?
for what?"
"On business, my darling; the deeds are
drawn out, and the solicitors are wanting
to see me; all kinds of settlements and
business for my sweet Cecile."
The fair young face flushed slightly as
Cecile hid it on her lovers breast.
"That is the last of the business, sweet
Cecile," he said. "When the deeds are
signed every preparation for our mar
riage is complete
"How long shall you stay away?" ask
ed the girl, clinging to her lover; she
hardly knew why.
Il shall return tomorrow evening"" he
said. II could not stay away longer if l
tried; forty-eight hours without seeing
you would be uncomfortable. Cecile come
with me to Sir Peters study; l want to
see him.
They went away together; and it was
some time before Sir Loefric returned ;
then he was alone; he had left Cecile with
her father.
"Anice,' he said, 81 leave my darling in
your care. l shall be here again to-
morrow evening. You will be very kind
to her, Anice. Take her out; do not let
her stop indoors" he continued, as they
walked away together to the door. "Oh,
Anice, there is one thing l must not for
get; if you go to Ladydeep Pool to skate,
pray remember that the part we call
Pretty Bay is not safe; the ice is thin
there and cracking; one of the keepers
met me this morning and told me. You
will warn Cecile?"
"Yes, l will warn her" was the quiet
reply; 81 will tell her that she must not
so near Pretty Bay"
He touched her hand in farewell. and
the next minute he was gone. Lady Hilda
had heard every word.
1t seemed to Anice Pitcairn all that day
and night, that wherever she looked she
saw written in letters of fire:
'If she lay under the ice dead, he would
be free to marry YOU
Mocklng faces hoated before her, and
each mouth opened with those words;
mocking voices sounded in her ears; when.
tired and exhausted, she lay down to sleep,
the faces came nearer to her and laughed
in fiendsh glee. 1t was so cold, so silent
under the ce and never once did the beau
tiful, miserable girl rise and fling herself
on her knees, praying heaven to help her,
and drive all the black temptations away
Never once, but when the morning sun
shone in her room, she rose with fell in
tent, fell purpose in her heart that was to
be accomplished before that same sun set.