The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1897-09-24
"Certainly."

"Certainly.'
Barber was the second and homo,;or
maid. A homely-lookinc person nf tira
and thirty, who lighted the candles and md
arranged the furniture-sometimes even
onuescenoed SO far as to use duster-
IL Laoy Lashmar's private apartments.
narber was summoned and came.
sleepy, but smiling, to receive her ladv-
ships orders.
Il believe his lordship wishes YOU to
take care Of child, Barber" said Lady
l'ashmar. you will have to put it in
your own bed for tonight, l suppose.
after you have given it hot bath. You
liau oetter cut its hair, too, as close as
you possibly can"
The shawl fell off as Lashmar handed
the child to Barber. The little white
nghtgown and little bare feet were spot-
lcssly clean.
IL was in vain that the great Lady Pit
lands daughter protested against her
stepsons folly in adopting a pauper's
6rat and limited that the cloven foot Of
Socialism showed itself in the act. 1t was
IN vain that she shuddered at the deg
radiation of those ancestral halls. Lash
mar Nas rock. He was one of those
quiet, undemonstrative young men, who
make up their minds slowly and who can
never be argued or cajoled into the re-
llnquishment of a settled purpose.
Ihe intruder did not take kindly to her
new life. Again and again, with piteous
tears and childish, unreasoning iteration,
she entreated to be taken to her father.
Where is daddy? Take me to my dad
dy" that was the burden of her cries.
And Lashmar, albeit philosophical and
strong-lninded in most things. could not
find it in his heart to tell this orphan
child the hard and bitter truth. He
could not bring himself to crush her with
the word never Childhood so soon
learns the meaning of that fatal word.
So with weak tenderness he took the
little girl upon his lap and drew her to
his breast and told her that she should
see her father again some day.
Tell me your name, little one?" he
asked.
"Stella."
Stella! That is very pretty name"
ut means STAR said the child.
"Daddy told me.''
"Wil you be my star? Will you live
with me in this house, and play in those
gardens out there, and go in my boat on
the rivcr?"'
NO" said the little one firmly. after
she had contemplated that delicious pic
turc for some moments. II don't want
to live with you. 1 want to live with my
daddy"
And then with divinity of patience,
with that exquisite gentleness which is
Il peculiar attribute of those who love lit
tie children, Lashmar explained how the
journey on which daddy had gone must
needs last for a long time, how summer
and winter must pass before he could
come back or Stella go to him, but how
they should meet in the days to come
"And YOU will leave off crying, and be
very good, for my sake, won't YOU
Stela?" pleaded Lashmar. "Fathers are
unhappy when they hear that their chill
good, and you will try to love me, won't
you. Stella, for daddy's sake?"
The child made a supreme effort over
dried her tears, and trotted by Lashmar's
side to the gardens, and across the dewy
park to the river. He took her in his
boat, and rowed about with her for half
an hour or so, and took her back to the
Will Il ldllL UlOOHl Ill QGT S1llOW
cheeks, and fine appetite for breakfast
as Barber informed him afterwards.
The inquest upon Jonathan Boldwood
was he'll! next day and Lord Lashmar was
present. No one came forward out of
past life to tell what the man
had been, or to testify to any interest in
him. When the coroner asked what had
been done with the child, Lord Lashmar
stepped forward and said that he had
adopted her, and would hold himself re-
sponsible for her future welfare.
He attended the funeral in person two
days afterwards, by no means an agree
able duty, since all the rabble of Brumm
turned out to do honor to their favorite
agitator. But Lashmar told himself the
lay would come when Stella would cues
ton him about her fathers burial, would
ask to be taken to her fathers grave;
and he wanted to be able to tell her that
lie had stood beside that grave while the
Gods of earth were cast upon the coffin,
while the words of promise and of hope
were spoken.