The pioneer press. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 1893-190?, 1898-09-08

defiance, but Immediately obeyed. MISS
Hetherington took a chair close to the
fireplace, and sat in it. leaning heavily
| on her crutch.
Nae fool like an old fool!' she NUT
tered, looking at Mr.. Lorraine, but re-
ferr1ng to the refractory sexton. Be
tween the twa O We, you're spelling
Marjorie Amman altogether"
Il hope not" returned the minister
mildly, resuming his own scat. After
all, too. Solomon is quite right. John
ME and Marjorie are old friends
"All the parish kens that" said the
lady of the Castle. Come here, Mar
jorie, and dinna be feared-I'll no eat
you! Look me in the face! Are you
and Johnnie courting?"
Marjories face was scarlet, and she
trembled violently.
"Oh, Miss Hetheripgton." she cried,
what do you mean"
And she held out her hand to Mr.
Lorraine, as If beseeching him to take
her part.
Really, Miss Hetherington," he said,
Marjorie is child, and am sure such
nonsense as you speak of has never
entered her head"
Nonsense, is it?" retorted the lady,
with the same low, harsh laugh as be-
fore. "Weel, it's the nonsense to
which a folk come early or late, gentle
and simple, and trust me to ken bet
ter than either you or that idiot Solo
mon what young lasses are made O.
Do you think Marjorie Annans made
of stane or arm, and doesna ken fair
favored lad from rowan tree or a
milk coo?"
Il think she is too young for love-
making" returned the minister.
Then you think wrang; it's never
DER carly for lassie to begin. AS for
Johnnie, I'll no say but what he's
decent lad and a modest, and he has
talent as weel. the rogue, heaps O tai
ent, though he's only weavers SON
eh, Marjorie. has he no?"
And as she looked at Marjorie there
was no anger in her stern black eyes;
rather a sort Of grim-humored SYM
pathy. Seeing his foster-child's con-
fusion, Mr.. Lorraine attempted to give
the conversation another turn.
IF young Sutherland has developed
natural gifts he has you to thank for
the opportunity. We all know how kind
you have been to him"
Because / bought two o. his pic
lures she retorted, with her charac-
teristic and disagreeable laugh. II gave
fifty pound apiece for them, the more
fool l. One was a view O. the Castle
frae the south. wi a cuddie eating
thistles in the foreground cuddie as
big as hippopotamus: and the other
was Marjorie hersel.' wi her lap full
o wild flowers, sitting by the side o
Amman water, and about as like her.
by that token, as it was like Solomon
Mucklebackit."
I'VE always considered it an excel
lent likeness" said Mr.. Lorraine, good
humoredly.
so it was" cried Marjorie impul-
sively; everybody said So
And what everybody said must be
true?" demanded the lady, with a sneer.
'Weel, likeness or no likeness, the lad
has talent. as l said; and If he works
hard, maybe he'll be able some fine day
to paint picture. So much for John
ME Sutherland. Now we'll come to the
business which brought me doom. I
want Marjorie to come to me tomor-
row and spend the day"
The very proposal which Marjorie
dreaded. She opened her lips to give
trembling refusal. to frame some
awkward excuse, but before she could
say a word Miss Hetherington con-
tinued with decision:
I'll be expecting her early, say at
ten. She can walk the distance, unless
she's DER idle; in that case, I'll send
the carriage to fetch her"
Il am very sorry" stammered Mar
jorie, but Tomorrow"
She paused, and glanced in supplica-
ton at her foster-father.
The fact is" said Mr.. Lorraine, eve
had made other arrangements for to-
morrow. Some other day, maybe"
Miss Hetherington's eyes flashed, and
her crutch was sharply struck upon the
floor.
Tomorrow and no other day will
suit me. haze something to say to her
that will ma keep. Do you hear that,
Marjorie?"
Yes" answered Marjorie timidly;
but l have only just come home, and
l would rather"
Come or stay" she exclaimed.
please yourself, Marjorie Amman;
but if you stay at home the morn,