The Delta independent., 1898-07-08

whim- Az au events she coaid NOS
there. IN the oscx ioom' rear tne band
when u piayed wicked WALTZ munc On
sunday suRsesteo mrs nairy' wnh
smile Nathalie thanked her In hsr
heart Oh hearts ior asking no questions
and hSd told her no lies
For nearly . week now kae nsd neen
occupying tnis rear room looking ous
over tine unioSeiy landscape Oh oack
yafd, proken iehoe' oArteh P,air'e end
hospital srornda iet SO waksiui had
she become. 30 tronDieo nef sieep. tnss
she had almost instantly hoard the
Mhesian moutninss OF the hinpires
oouncer tnat iateiu' morning and' nur-
ryins ihso wrapper aho enPpess ana
almost any loose garments. haa nasten-
cd down TO stiii MS ciamor snd protecs
her protectos from tne Poss'o'I'ty os
scene.
When Maynard was orooght Deck 10
the post from MS room NJ Tee nctei,
MAJOR stanharo naa promptly piacea
the 'front.' room OF MS quarters as ms
disposal, a. being the one best suited to
an invalid, and had Hospitality bidden
the sister to occupy the one IN the rear.
She thanked her entertainers very prop
eriy, indeed very gratefully, and told
them then that Just as soon as Ronald
was well enough for her to leave him
she must hasten back to resume the caro-
OF her father. Ronald had now been well
enough for her to leave for several days.
but Miss MAYNARD had not begun to
pack her trunks. nor was there anything
IN Mrs stannard's manner, even after
the intimacy with Mrs. Turner began
TO glow at white neat, TO Indicate thas
she was wearying OF her guest Mrh
Turner. OF course. huttered in and out
as though comforting blessings ON the
rooftree 1t could never by any human
possibility occur to her that she would
be unweicome anywhere. ana II was she
who silenced the faint scrupIes which
Miss Maynard confessed to and bade her
rest assured that the Stannards were
only too glad to have her stay aud take
care OF Mr.. Maynard, as otherwise they
would have to do 1t themselves
1t was very late-nearly half Fast IL
when Miss Maynard took her seat bJ
Nathalie's bedside and began her survey
OF the dimly lighted room. a bureau
with mirror and toilet stand was against
the s'ail next the entrance door. A lit.
tie couch extended across tho north end
OF the room under some booksholves.
The dormer window, daintily draped.
was almost at the foot OF tho couch.
The washstand and . little mirror sfocd
near the foot OF the bed. NathAiie's
trunk. covered with Navajo blanket.
was against the wall beyond the wash
stand, and quite tall. wardrobelikc
arrangement for skirts ard gowns was
built against the partition between the
ffont and rear rooma
Everything looked din aud irdisfiucs
In the faint Light near tho bedsidc. and
before seating herself Miss Maynard had
moved the chair 70 that instead of fac-
ing the silent patient she bad the little
table between her and the bed. and
here. her hands crossed idly In her lap,
she eae some time. glancin8 abous tho
room. thinking over with huttering
heart her exciting ard trouElous litter.
view with Ronald. listening for any
sound from tho invalid to indicate that
her services were needed. thinking OF
tho strange array Of circumstances that
had brought her to the bedside OF this
dangerous girl. this unknown maiden
who had stolen her brothers heart ard
lured him from what the sister chose to
consider tho path Of love. honor and
duty and all the time vaguely wonder
ing whether It might not be rrovidential
If 1t might indeed not have been
planned that she should thus be thrown
into intimate relations with the invader
and destroyer Of all her most cherished
plans-if in truth it might not have
been one OF the mysterious dispensations
Of divine Providence that she should
now be here given full opportunity to
strike blow for right and justice. for
gentle GertYude natient and uncnru.