The Red Cloud chief., 1898-03-25

AID was reading IL aloud to Barbara.
"OlI, 1t Is from Russia. Fancy Miss
Brand being in Russia, Barbara, and
she says:
My Very Dear Little Dorothy So
you arc married! | can hardly be-
lieve 1t indeed, since having your let
ter this morning | have been saying
To myself over and over again. "DorO-
thy STROBE Is married little Dorothy
has got married" and still | do not IN
the least realize it. so you are very
happy. OF course, and you are going to
have n baby-that is almost an "of
course also. And your husband has
got IA GOOD appointment In India which
ne does not dare refuse. That looks
Ike Observation-Disclosures and kisses, my
dear little cousin. However, not that
money makes any real difference to
ones happiness. and 80 long as You
love him and lie loves you. nothing else
matters, money least uf all. But why.
my dear. have you waited so long be-
fore you told me of your new ties? |
Rave wondered so often where YOU
were and what had become Of you, and
about -four months ago | wrote to the
old house and had your letters return
cd by . horrid young man. David
stevenson. whom | diSlikCd always be-
yond measure. lie informed me that
YOU had left Immediately after dear
auntie's death. and that he did not
know your present address. ! felt u
little anxious about you. but eminent
ly relieved to find that you were evil
IDENTIFY not going to marry that de-
testablc young man. who is. | have no
doubt, all that Is good and estimablc
and aillucnt. but whom, as | said, |
have never liked.
well. my dear child. you must let
me be sodmOthcr to the baby when IT
IN that | may spend as much
money over its corals and bells as
should have done over Il wedding-gift
to you. AS for coming 10 you-my
darling child. of course ] shall come
straight back. and help Barbara 20
make up to you for the temporary loss
OF your spouse. | gather from your
letter that he Is all that is good and
kind and brave. TO say nothing OF be-
ing handsome and loving and true
you lucky little girl!
Expect me when o see me-,
dear. which will be as soon as | can
possibly get myself to London. II |
were on the other side OF the frontier
I could pretty nearly fix both day and
time. As IL Is. | can only say that |
will lose no time in being with you,
ard ! will stick to you till | see you
safe on board the p. and o. steamer
My love to Barbarl-how she and
will yarn together over the old place
and the old days!-and much love to
you. dear little
Prom your always aifcctionatc
"'ESTHER.'"
This letter in itself vas enough 20
put Dorothy into the widest and gay
cs. Of spirits, and Barbara was almost
as mu,h delighted; for, truth to tell,
the old servant had looked forward
with no little dismay to the prospect
of supporting her loved young mistress
through her hour Of loneliness and
trial, and Wa therefore greatly re-
licvcd to find that the responsibilities
OF the situation would fall upon the
strong and capable shoulders of Miss
Esther Brand instead of lying upon hey
own weaker ones.
at is so good and sweet and dear Of
Esther Dorothy repeated. over and
over again. Just like her to throw
everything else aside on the chance
Of being able to do n good turn tc
some one in need. Now | don't fee,
half so nervous as | did"
Nor l." echoed Barbara, speaking
out of her very heart; then she added
with n significant smile. Miss Esther
never could abide David Stevenson
neither could l."
Dorothy could not help laughing
"Ah. think you were a. just n iittl,
hard on David. | didn't want to b'
Mrs. David, 1t Is true. But apart from
that. | don't see that there was SO much
amiss with him."
CTo be continued.)