The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1898-07-16
CHAPTER xLII.
~pARnELL's Will.

- 80 .a.a.-.L
Two years passed away, and Sir Ware St.
Lawrencc's circumstances were rapidly i'm
proving; his letters were constant and cheer
ful-he spoke always of the time when he
should come home and claim Pauline for his
wife. She only sighed rs she read the hope
full words, for she had resolved that duty
should be her watchword while Lady Darrell
liyed-even should that frail, feeble life last
for fifty years, she would never leave her.
There came to her chill doubts and fears,
dim vague forebodings that she should never
sec Vane again-that their last parting was
forever; not that she doubted him, but that
it seemed hopeless to think he would wait
until her hair was gray, and the light Of her
youth had left her.
Never mind-she had done her duty; she
had sinned, but she had made the noblest
atoneiment possible for her sin.
Two years had passed, and the summer
was drawing to a close. To those III oloved
and tended her it seemed that Lady Darrell's
life was closing with it. Even Lady Hamp-
ton had ceased to speak hopefully, and Oar
rell Court was gloomy with tho shadow of
the angel of death.
There came an evening when Garth was
very lovely-when the gold OF the setting
sun, the breath of the western wind, the
fragrance of the flowers, the ripple Of the
fountains, the song of the birds, were all
beautiful beyond words to tell; and Lady
Darrell, who had lain watching the smiling
summer heavens, said:
II should like once more to see the sun
set, Pauline. should like to sit at the win
dow, and watch the moon rise"
so you shall" responded Pauline. You
are a fairy queen. You have but to wish,
and the wish is granted"
Lady Darrell smiled-no one ever made
her smile except Pauline; but the fultill,ncnt
OF the wish was not so easy after all. Lady
Hampt0n's fOiebodings were realized. Lady
Darrell might have recovered from her long,
serious illness but that lacr mothers com
plant, the deadly inheritance of consulnp-
ton, had seized upon her, and was gradually
destroying her.
1t was no easy matter now to dress the
wasted figure: but Pauline seemed to have
the strength, the energy of twenty nurses.
She was always willing, always cheerful, al
ways ready; night and day seemed alike to
her; she would look at her hands, and say:
oh! Elinor, wish I could give you one
half my strength-one-half my life!'
do you? Pauline, if you could give me
half your life, would you do SOP
a WtAillSls So Alu uOW SDelkltn 10
you,' she would answer.
They dressed the poor lady, whose delicate
beauty had faded like some snmme flower.
She sat at the window in a soft nest of cush-
ions which Pauline had prepared for her,
her wasted hands folded, her worn face
frightened with the summer sunshine. She
was very silent and thoughtful for some
time, and then Pauline, fearing that she was
dull, knclt in the fashion that was usual to
her at Lady DarreiI's feet, and held the
wasted hands in hers.
What are you thinking about, Elinor??"
Pauline asked. Something as bright as the
sunshine"
Lady Darrell smiled.
y was inst fancying to myself that every
blossom OF that white magnolia seemed like
a finger beckoning me away she said; s'and
l was thinking also how full of mistakes life
is. and how plainly they can be seen when
we come to die"
Pauline kissed the thin fingers. Lady Oar
rell went OH.
Il can see my w great mistake, Pauline.
I should not have married Sir Oswald. l
had no love for him-not the least in the
world; l married him only for position and
fortune. lshould have taken your warning,
and not have como between your uncle and
you. His resentment would have died away,
for / am quite sure that in his heart he loved
you; he would have forgiven you, and /
should have had a happier, longer life. Tina!
was my mistakenly one great mistake. An
other was that | had a certain kind Of doubt
about poor Aubrey. 1 cannot explain it; but
/ know that doubted him even when |
loved him, and should have waited some
time before placing the whole happiness Of
ny life in his hands. Yet it seems hard to
pay for those mistakes with my life, does it
potp'