Hot Springs weekly star. (Hot Springs, S.D.) 1892-1917, 1897-07-16

in his hand.
io on. child" he said, as Darby stop.
ped and moved round.
she turned and resumed hcr playiny.
only keeping it soft and sublucd. so ns
not to drown his voice.
Joan. my DEAR" he said, s'you rcmcr,.
her the new housckcrpcr is coming 10.
day."
Yes. l answered.: "thc woman you on
gagged in London"
oman. Shc thinks herself quite a
lady. he said. laughing. "She is n very
ulS''liied ana imposing parsonage indeed.
i'ut Thought L would remind you. fo,
you mus: sec her when she comes. sup
pose her rooms are ready"
oh. yes, answered: ~ saw about
them this morning. l am so sorry To lose.
MIS-. Blrkrt she was such n dear old
thing"
h'i' she is really too cl,l for 50 rcSpon-
sin.e pest, said Sir Ralph II thought
II IL nest 10 pension her off, poor old body.
You sr" my dear, YOU are So youmg and
| we are away so often. that ii is necessary
10 nave some one trustworthy and ca
| li"n.r To look after the place and the ser
wants"
| took Ncttic safe homc." he went on
presently. Poor little thing. wish she
were happier. She is such sweet. goo!
sirl. have always been fond of Nr,tic.
! used to think ut one time that she and
lorke would make IL match. He seemed
very fond of her"
"ics." said quietly
hy-'N"-by. | have had Il letter from
him at last he is tired of roviny-,c is
coming home"
"lione.'' cried sharply; do you mean
herc:"
liad the letter in my hands. was
i"nk:ns at the supe.scripiion. How we'll
il;'d Known that writing once. Iiow
nay heart used To beat at sight of ii. Even
now Il faint trcmnr shook mo as held ii.
This was the letter:
San Francisco, Dec ISL
My Dear FMclr-
II am sick of rowing. have been To
silver mines. and lead mines. and oil pits,
ana across deserts. and mountains. and
rivers. and seas. until am ycarning for Il
breath oil he oil pine woods. and a look IL:
he old house. I"u may cNpcc, mo hack
almost ON the neciS o! nay letter. Conlol-
m"n,s 10 my aunt; | trust she can give
me !; corner ut the Hall for Il little while.
iii can ook about and sec what had
best do. ! am afraid the Bar WAS ii fail
iirr couldn't stand the dryncss ans! the
doubtful honesty of legal complications.
Hiit suppose there are other things.
However. we will! ,alk ;ha, over when we
meet. Kind regards tn all.
'Your aifcc;ionate nephew.
"YORIlE."
lir has got over it," said To nv
self. lis folded the letter and replaced i,
in its envelope. "lir would not call r,r
aunt. or wish to come back here. il he
had NOT. oh. l am gi;,,l-l am very. very
glad"
\ weigh, seemed lifted off INV heart.
looked up iii Sir Ralph. cool ana. unem-
balrassed.
LOT course he mus; have hi. old room.''
| said. II had better give orders for it.
He may return III amy moment
''ilank You, dear Sir Ralph said
heartily. II ann glad yo; lnn't minll.
j was IL little afraid y"l might not like
ii. don't think Yori.c behaved very
politely that time We met him nj Saz-
burg-going off in that abrupt manner.
and throwing up his profession and start
ing of To America. He WAS always IL
strange hoy. do hope hc has quictcd
down Il little"
II have no doubt he has" said calmly.
CHAPTER Nv.
\ few moments later and the door
opened to admit this lady in reduced cir
cumstanccs.' as Sir Ralph had described
the new houSekccper. AS l looked up with
some curiosity. l saw Il dark face some
what rich in the colorng OF chcci, and
lip-a tall and very beautiful figure. and
surmountin:; the whole. !; head of snow
white hair. SO white and silky and beau
tiful WIS it. that the dainty lace cap
seemed almost an afiront To it's beauty,
and yet it seemed 10 me the face looked
too young for its framework. The fire
so darlSly glowing in the heavy -litldcd eyes
was altogether out of keeping with such
signs of age. \ strengthening woman:
but. after all. her looks didn't signify
much. and her manners We're irreproach-
able. tod her of her duties. and she
expressed herself quite satisfied with her
rooms and the arrangements.
II don't think ! shall like her." was my
reflection as ] sat gazing down on Il
blank sheet of paper-blank. save for the
Dearest Ncttic.' that / had scrawled in
my untidy handwriting ~ suppose she
is {; lady: she has the manners and ap-
pcarancc of enc. Eut she gives ME the
impression of something covcrt--undcr-
hand-watchiul. Her eyes look too young
for her face. and her voice seems forced
INTO those low. even tones.
Then dashed into my letter.
dearest Ncttic:
II have some news that will surprise
yon. Aorkc Fcrrcrs is coming here. Hc
may arrive OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
week. l cannot say decidedly when. Tell
me if You will come over and dine and
sleep here. the day after tomorrow.
Yours. JOAN"
sealed it mp and addressed it. iticn left
it on the table till the letters should be
collected for the post-bag. This done.
turned once more To my favorite chair by
the fire. The flames leaped mcrrily up;
the dark. glowing colors in and about the
room stood ont in rich relief.
iii all looks very comfortable" said
to myself. II wonder Darby has not
come. 1t must be nearly time for tea"
leaned forward towards the flowers
and smothcred II little yawn. just then
l heard the door behind me softly open.
..I 1851