The Red Cloud chief., 1897-11-26

gone to his last account, Il deep and
sacred pity TOOK possession of his vic
tins heart.
sutherland saw the signs of change
with some anxiety. but had sufficient
wisdom to wait until time should COM
pletc it's work M efface the French
mans memory from Marjorie's mind.
When they met he spoke little to her
Of love, or Of the tender hope which
bound thom together; his talk was
rather Of the old childish days. when
they were all in all to one another:
OF old friends and old recollections.
such as sweeten life. He was very
gentle me respectful to her: only show
ing in his eyes the consistency of his
tender devotion, never harshly OK
pressing II In passionate words.
But If Sutherland was patient and
self-containod. IL vas far different with
the impulslvc lady of the Castle. No
sooner was she made aware of the true
state of affairs than she was anxious
that the marriage should take place
ut once.
I'm an old woman now. Marjorie"
she cried, and the days of my life are
numbered. Before 1 gang ava let me
see you a happy bride-let me he sure
you have a friend and protector while
I'm asleep among the mools."
She was sitting in her boudoir in
her great armchair, looking haggard
and old indeed. The fire In her black
eyes had faded away, giving place to a
dreamy and wistful pity; but now and
again. as on the present occasion, 1t
flashed up like the CLEAN upon the
blackening brand.
Marjorie, who was seated sewing by
her mothers side, sadly shook her
head.
II cannot think of IT yet" she re-
piled. II feel 1t would be sacrilege."
"Sacrilege. say YOU" returned Miss
Hetherington. "Thc sacrilege was wi
yon Frenchman. when he beguiled you
AVA, and poisoned your young life,
my BARN. You owed him no duty liv-
ing. and you owe him none dead. He
was an i'll thinner, and thank God he's
, in his gravel"
~ Wv ac' 'PNoh III VI MIN W
If he has sinned he has been punished
To desc young"
And Marjorie's gentle eyes filled Will
, tears.
> IF he wasna ripe, do you think IN
would be gathcred?" exclaimed Miss
Hetherington, with something of hei
old %fierceness OF manner. my certie
he was %ripe-and rotten: Lord forgiv,
me for miscalling the dead! But, Mar
jorie, my BARN, you're DER , tender.
hearted. Forget the past! Forget ev,
, erything but the happy future that lie!
Q before you! Think you're just a younl
, lass marrying for the first time, ant
marrying as good a lad as ever wor,
shoon north o. the Tweed"
a Marjorie rose from her seat, ant
4 walking to the window, looked dream
. lily down at the Castle garden, still
tangled as a maze and overgrown will
weeds. As she did so, she heard
| child's voice, calling In French:
g "Maman! Maman!"
: 1t was little Leon, playing In the OLE
y garden. attended by a Scottish servin,
= maui, II "a bNti tdh'n OH us hurst
He saw Marjorie looking down, an,
looking up with a face bright as sun
O shine, waved his hands TO her In de
/. light.
, How can | think as you say" sh
said, glancing round at her mother
v when l have my boy to remind m
8 that | am a widow? After all, he's m.
hnghnnH'G .hill--a uiff thnt ,~n1..
II amends for all my sorrow"
AS she spoke she kissed her han,
4 fondly TO the child, and looked down q
him through streaming tears of love.
"Weel, weel," said the old lady
r soothingly; In no saying but that It.
weel to forget and forgi'e. Only you
/, life must not be wasted, Marjorie!
;, must see you settled down before
v gang"
: "You will not leave me, dear moth
!, err" answered Marjorie, returning I
her side and bending over her. INC
=, no; you are well and strong"
What's that the aud sang says?
returned Miss Hetherington, smooth
ing the girls hair with her wrinkle
hand, as she repeated thoughtfully:
t, hear a voice you cannot hear,
T. That says / must not stay;
n see a hand you cannot see,
Is That beckons me away
% That's 1t Marjorie! I'm an old woma
now-old before my time. God ha
s been kind to me. far kinder than I dc
y serve; but the grass will soon be gree
!. on my grave in the %kirkyard. Let m
sleep in peace! Marry Johnnie Sutt
erland wi my blessing, and I shall Ike
you will never want q friend"
Such tender reasoning had It's weigh
with Marjorie, but 1t failed to conque