Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1898-04-07

broad, and as he crossed the room d
noticed that he was lame.
This deformity must have Deen
caused in early youth, for the Ioot
wearing a dubbed boot was small D
wasted, while the other limb was hne-
!, ly-proportioned.
His face was strangely pale, ana the
very sinister expression 1t wore was &c
/, centuated by a deep-seated, irredicaDle
scar which crossed the forehead. anu
grievously married the features or wnat
must have Once been q handsome race.
His head was massive, his eyes lurlu
with a fierce light, and his brows DARK
and overhanging. He approached the
table and seated himself next to Fan
!, sy.
We'll" he said, abruptly, after ne
had closely scrutinized her features,
$50 you are Fergus ThunderS ward.
You're pretty-you need not blush, no
good comes OF too much ~beauty-de-
| cidedly pretty, but wanting courage,
! common sense, and most other attrlp-
utes which go to make up the charac-
| ter Of a useful woman
Pansy shrugged her shoulders, d
| voUchsafed no reply.
The entrance of Fergus at this juno
ture was the signal for the commence
ment of the meal.
1t was the oldest rejection with
which Pansy had ever been regaled.
Four bowls of oat meal were set on the
table. and n huge pitcher of milk, Ibis,
together with the ruined walls or what
had once been a Gloucester cheese,
were the sole provisions for the even
ing meal.
"You don't seem to make much prog
ress with your porridge, Philippa," said
Salome, when, presently, Pansy gave
up the bulk of the oat meal in despair.
You will have to accustom yourself to
il, as we seldom provide anything
else"
Thank you: / have no doubt ! shall
get used to 1t by-and-by. l am not
very hungry" said the girl, covertly
watching her guardian, who devoured
his portion with avidity, and occasion
ally exchanged a remark, soto voce
with Mordant, between whom there
seemed to exist a good understanding.
Where is Elsiey" inquired the latter,
| with his accustomed ab%ruptness.
When | saw her last she was wan
| dering about the kitchen garden with
v Naih 5000
She can have her supper when she
| comes in; it don't matter"
but l say it does matter" said Nor
dant, angrily. 1T is not to our inter-
est to have that half-daft child left TO
herself so much. She will get talking,
you short-sighted creature, you"
Il fail to see to whom she can talk,
since we are a mile and a half from
any h%abitation," returned Salome, cast
ing a warning glance al her father.
Besides, what signifies her tongue?
There is nothing to talk about here
t,.at would interest anyone"
We'll. Mordant, let the child be-let
her be-" said Fergus, who transferred
the glance he had received from his
daughter to Mordant Cain, who, in
turn, looked at Pansy searchir ely.
Would you like TO go to your room,
Philippay' said Salome. IF so, light
n of those candles and follow me-"
They went away together, leaving
| the men talking oyer the dying embers.
1t was barely half-past nine, but Pansy
thought anything would be better than
remaining a moment longer than was
necessary In such uncongenial society.
She followed Salome up the broad,
Il lunuSOIiC Odh StdiICdSC, duu tuUuEul
| how different the stately old place
would have looked had it been well
kept and filled with ~light-hearted ten
ants.
She almost fancied she could hear
the ripple Of laughter and hum of
many blithe voices, but ii only resolved
itself into the soughing Of the March
wind, that walled round and ratified
the crazy easements; and yet-yet,
surely that vas q wild, unearthly
laugh she heard!
why are you pausingY" exclaimed
Salome, impatiently, peering into the
gloom for her companion. What is
it,"
II heard someone laughing L think
a strange sort of laugh, too. 1t sound
ed more like a shrek. There-there 1t
Is again."
She cLasped her hands round Sa.
lome's arm and looked into her face
with startled eyes. Salome was very
pale. or looked so by the candies sick
ly light. She frowned and shook of
the girls clinging hands, impatiently.
Nonsense! You are absurdly fanci-
full. You will hear many strange
noises in an cid house like this, where
every door creaks and the wind rattles
every easement. Heard a laugh, did
you? 1t would, indeed, be strange to
hear anyone laughing here, for we are
by no means q cheerfully-disposed fam
lily, as you will find when you know us
better. Here is your room,' she said,
hating at the end of a long passage,
and throwing open a door. 1T Is not q
fanciful bower. such as you have
doubtless been accustomed to, but no
good comes Of too much luxury. l will
leave you the light, but you must not
burn II long, as it will have to last you
u week."