La Junta tribune. (La Junta, Bent County, Colo.) 1881-1939, 1898-09-17
che Dap Star Of tbe
Orknep'S>
A Romancc.-.By Hannah B. Mckenzie.


does he go so often2 Is 1t to see Lady
westray. as he says, or TO see Lilith
Stuart?"
Some disagreeable thought swcp;
across the untroubled calm OF Days
brow. like the dark clouds on the Sum
rner sky without. She pressed her
hand over II, as IL to clear away some
unpleasant thought. and murmured:
Am unjust, wonder? Unjust and
1 uncharitabe? Dear daddy used to say
/ IT was the way OF youth to judge hastf-
I ly and uneharitabIy; yet can't help it
. Il can't. / can't I don't trust her.
! and can't compel myself 10 like her.
! Sometimes | feel as if-as II she were
/ wicked really wicked. like those wo-
] men one reads about-wily Vivien. the
I lovely. balefui star" or Cleopatra.
( who won mems souls and then ruined
] them.
How unkind, how bitter ann she
I cried. beating her little hands toge'h-
I er the next moment. II must do as
| dear daddy used to say we ought TO do
/ when the devil enters into us-driye
/ him out by doing something for God
! or for our neighbors. I'll go and see
Z Dbpf blb LAW - O'AAAS'' - t''-s
I him a little treat OF my own baking.
I For Day Halcrow Tas her brother's
right hand In everything. and there
WAS no poor or aged or dying person
/ among his patients whom she did not
/ visit and bring comfort to. either phys
I icai or mental
| She ran lightly downstairs. packed
I her little treat-a small cake and one
| or two other dainties-in basket. and,
| putting on a sailor hat in the hall, pre-
| pared to go out. Bell. the old servant
/ who had been with her mother, heard
her. however. and ran to the door.
YEN not be going out just now.
| Miss Day? The storm is coming up
fast"
Il don't think /, viii overtake me.
I'm only going as far as old Lows; 30
don't you be anxious. you foolish
Bell" said the girl. Where's Ola!
Ola. Ola, are you coming, old boy?"
A great tawny collie as large as
st. Bernard came numbering into the
hall from the kitchen regions at her
call, and thrust his cold nose into her
hand.
Come on. then, old boy, and take
good care OF your missis." cried Day
gaiiy. Good bye Bell. I'll be back
| in half an hour"
A long straight road led down from
/ Abbot's Head to the small hamlet of
| Finstray. where Days pensioner lived.
The village was by the sea. most OF
| the houses being built in a hollow be-
| tween the road and the shore. The
| road ran on past the lonely lakes Of
( Harris and Stennls. ana the standing
stones to the important little town Of
I Kirkwall.
The air was still as death and as hot
/ as an oven. The silence and oppres-
sion were appalling. and even Day, VINO
was brave little soul II there ever
was one. felt awed by Il.
"Magnus must be near Crag Castle
| now. so he is all right" she thought.
| Her anxieties were always for her be-
loved brother. not for herself. Old
Low was both lame and deaf. and
conversation with him was trying. He
sat outside his door on a bench. smok
ing a pipe, his only solace. but he
smiled. laid 1t down. and put n tremb-
ling old hand to his hat as Day ap-
/ preached.
Day presented her little gifts and sat
chatting with the old man for little.
Suddenly she WAS startled by vivid
fash of lightning. and the next instant
loud roar of thunder burst over
head.
"It be a soin' to storm. miss. aud
no mistake" said the old man. "Yu'd
better come indoors till It be past
No. think / shall run home be-
fore it comes on very badly" said
Day Goodbye Mr.. Low. l shall
come again in day or two"
Goodbye. miss, and God bless yn
for the comfortable words ye've =
spoken to me this an many times. +"
said the cid man. holding her own lit.
tie roseleaf of a hand in his own work
roughened. aged one. The Lord be
with yu for a sweet young lady
Day picked up her basket hurried up
to the main road, and was soon walk
ing swiftly homewards. But swiftly as
she went. the storm moved more quick
ly still.
Flash succeeded flash with startling
rapidity; the whole artillery of heav-
en- seemed rumbling across the skies.
The sea was no longer calm. but NOV
ed and swelled as II in some strange
convulsion: and avery moment the sky
grew blacker. A dreadful oppression
filled the air. which was almost suffo-
catipgly hot. As Day hurried on, half
running. she felt her throat dry and
parched. and the perspirasion stood in
beads on her face.
No human creature had passed her;
there were no houses between Finstray
and Abbot's Head. But suddenly. as
Day ran on, she heard the sound of a
bell ringing behind her. and. turning.
she saw a cyclist come flying along the
road at terrific speed. For moment
her heart bounded, for she thought it