The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1898-10-21
CHAPTER XIV.

LlOu OIl neE iona, lmpeluOuS, WuyWdTu
love-''nothing but death--1 believe it,
Millie!"
CHAPTER XIV.
81 must not be too late, he said to him
self, as he fastened his steps down the
winding descent of the road at the farther
side of Tregarthen Head-'I wish l could
have gone to deliver Mildred's message
yesterday evenfng-Im must not be too late
now.'
He %quickened his steps again-the Coast
guard station On the rising cliff beyond
was very near now-he would not lose a
minute more than he could help.
Heaven bless Mildred! What q kind
generous nature she has!" he went on
thinking, pleasantly. What a brave,
true, h~igh-spirited, beautiful wife she will
be in the years to come-a proud, noble
minded. generous, loving mother, whom
her children will naturally turn to in rev.
erence and admiration! How kindly she
spoke of poor little Winnie Caerlyon! She
will be q real friend to her, I am sure,
quick-tempcred and naughty as she is--as
naughty as my old grandfather, Proud
Tredennick,' us people used to call him.
She Is warm-hearted md true to the core
somewhat similar in character, yet full of
dissimilarity, to my poor little Winnie
herself"
1t had a pleasant sound, the last phrase,
to Stephen Tredennick's ear, and he re-
peated 1T again ere he angrily Illuminated
on another topic.
How dare they gossip about her! How
dare they couple my name with hers
poor innocent child Because / ventured
to bestow on her a few friendly words and
a friendly gift! If ! heard them, they
should stow their words faster down their
throats than they could utter them!" he
said, wrathfully. "And Aunt Vivian is
most blamable of all! She gave the gossip.
ing rumors stability by her unkindly treat
ment. AS If the child had done any wrong
thought any wrong! All Rre unjust, un
kind, t%yrannical towards her--my pooi
little Winnie"
He had almost reached the Coastguard
station now, and his feelings had quite
reached an altitude of indignation and
chiyalric resolve which would have dis
mayed Madam Vivian's very soul within
her, as the result of her W injudicious.
xess, could she but have known IT; but
|. happily for her peace Of mtnd-she knew
nothing further thar the fact that her
much-indulged, imperious niece had made
the abrupt and capricious request that she
might be allowed to invite Miss C~aerlyon
to spend the evening at Roseworthy, to
which request Madam, in much surprise,
and notwithstanding g~raciousness, gave
her assent.
Outside the whitewashed porch Captain
Tredennick paused for q moment, In the
hope that the busy little housekeeber her
self might dart out on an errand, and save
him from abruptly confronting the high
tempered step-mother.
.'She is cutting the Observation-Disclosures for
the children's supper with her big apron
and her big knife, | dare say" he NUT
tered, laughing; cor miL.ting the baby
that she regrets is 80 quiet"
He listened to the voices that he could
family hear through the closed doors and
windows-listened for that clear gentle
one lie remembered SO well; but it was not
to be heard.
81 wish Mildr-a Ind ON with me- he
said. uneasily; "stiildred could go in and
bring Winnie back with her better than I
CAM
He listened again, uneasily and long
ingly, before he Knocked. and paused even
when he was told to enter, listening in
vain.
FLOW do you do, Miss Caerlyont" he
said, entering through the narrow passage
to the meagre-furnished, tidy little sitting
room, with u most fictitious assumption Of
easy cheerfulness. 81 am the bearer of
note from my cousin, Mildred T%redennick,
to your daughter, Miss Cacrlyc1. Is she
at homer"
Good evening, Cappun Tredennick,'
Mrs. Caerlyon said, rising hastily, but
confronting him with hostile stiffness and
straightness, keeping the stocking she was
darning pulled over her left hand, and the
worsted needle in her right. "Do ye want
to see Winifred?" she demanded.
Yes, If you please" he answered. try
ing to smile conciliatingly, and finding
the effort to be a total failure in front Of
Mrs. Caerlyon's petrifying stare. Madam
Vivian and my cousin Mildred want her
to spend the evening with us, and i an
deputed to bring her back with me. II
you will be kind enough to tell her and al
low herto come,n he concluded, sharply,
Mrs. Caerlyon's cold stare aud gloomy
face irritating him beyond measure ii the
anticipation Of acurt refusal.
While he spoke, lie glanced about anx.
iously for a sign Of the little shabby black
straw hat, the thin gray plaid shawl, OF
haply that fatal sealskin jacket. Anxious.
~ he longed for the sound of the light
football, the soft patient voice, More anx.
iously than he could have believed posi-
ble-Rith q strange keen longing-he
looked for the pale little face, the dark sad
gray eyes, and the crowning tresses Of
s;lken brown hair. He had sven begun te
think how he would tease her for not hav.
ing kept her promise, and would claim
the keepsake he had requested during
that cold walk In the wild March morn
Ing on their way from Roseworthy-if she
would come with him-if she would but
comet
You can't:see her" Mrs. Caerlyon said,
shortly-.she's not here
Not here!' repeated Stephen Treden-
nick, feeling as If a cold wave OF disap-
pointment had chilled him to the heart.
no. returned Mrs. Caerlyon, with I