The Red Cloud chief., 1898-08-19

'NNo ~ ~ W 'iNNhs 10 II w Y lstihs
Westray, as he says. or to see l.ilith
STUART"
Some disagreeable thought swept
across the u%ntroubled calm of Days
brow. like the dark clouds on the Sum
mer sky without. She pressed her
hand over 1t, as ii to clear away some
unpleasant thought. and murmured:
Am | unjust, | wonder? Unjust and
uncharitable? Dear daddy used to say
it was the way of youth to judge hasti-
ly and uncharitably: yet | cant help 1t
i cant, | can't. | don't trust her.
and cant compel myself to like her.
Sometimes | feel as if-as II she were
wicked-really wicked, like those wo-
men n reads about-wily Nivicn, the
lovely. baleful star" or Cleopatra,
who won mems souls and then ruined
them.
How unkind, how bitter I am" she
cried, beating her little hands togeth-
er the q moment. Il 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 n%eighbors. I'll go and see
poor old Low. | promised to bring
him a little treat OF my " baking"
For Day Halcrow was her brothers
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
ical o mental.
She ran lightly downstairs, packed
her little treat-a small cake and one
or two other dainties-in a 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.
Yell not be going out just now.
Miss Day? The storm is coming up
fast"
IL don't think IL will overtake me.
I'm only going as far as old Lows; so
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 a
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 our missis." cried Day
gaily. Goodbye, 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 Stennis. and the standing
stones to the important little town of
Kirkwall.
The air was still as death and as hot
as an oven. The silence and Oppres-
sion were appalling. and ever Day, VINO
was a brave little soul IL there ever
was one, felt awcd by it.
"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 a
conversation with him was trying. He
sat outside his door on a bench, smok-
ing q pipe, his only %solace; but he
smiled, laid 1t down, and put a tremb-
ling old hand to his hat as Day ap-
preached.
Day presented her little gifts and sat
chatting with the old man for a little.
Suddenly she was startled by a vivid
fash OF lightning, and the next instant
a loud roar of thunder burst over
head.
at be a goin' to storm, miss, and
no mistake" said the old man. "Yu'd
better come indoors till 1t be past"
NO: l think | shall run home be-
fore 1t comes on very badly" said
Day. Goodbye, Mr.. Low. | shall
come again in a day or two"
Goodbye, miss, and God bless yu
for the comfortable words we've a
spoken to me this an many times"
said the old 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
BIC Wcht, INC otoi" hAoNcu LuoTc puiCh-
ly still.
Flash succeeded fash with startling
rapidly; 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
convulslon: and every moment the sky
grew blacker. A dreadful oppression
filled the air. which was almost suffo-
catingly hot. AS Day hurried on, half
running. she felt her throat dry and
parched, and the perspiration 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 a moment
her heart bounded. for she thought il
was Magnus. Bicycles were not so
Common In that far Orcadian land.
The next moment she knew It was i'm