The pioneer press. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 1893-190?, 1900-03-29

the window; ] am so lrlShIeneu
horribly frightened! What II 1t "ers
to strike us? How awful to die 81
suddenly ;.
There is no danger, Miss Stuart
said Magnus soothingly'
He yielded to her pressure on MS
arm. and allowed himself to be drawn
from the window towards the coucn
on which Lilith had been sitting
Lilith still chung to his arm.
"Oh. know YOU are good and brave
and you think me a coward! Weii'
dare say>I 2Ai-weak and eowardiy aho
womanish. wish / were brave.
wish you could teach me to be brave
as you arer'
There was a momentary lull in the
storm, and Liliths words, spoken III
that low, subtle-sweet voice OF hers'
were distinctly audible to Magnus. HIS
! pulse thrilled. his heart throbbed. Lii
this face was close to his shoulder
so close that, by putting out his hand,
he could have drawn her within MS
arm; he could almost feel her breath
upon his cheek.
1t was temptation. Lilith strangely
appealed to the sensuous part In Mag
nus nature for every human being
has twoEyd nature, one part spirit
ual, the other sensuous and material;
but whether Magnus would have yield
| ed to it or not was never known, for
at that moment the door opened gently
and another girl came in.
Magnus rose to his feet, a slight hush
on his face. 1t was impossible to say
whether the newcomer noticed 1t or
not. She extended her hand calmly.
Lady Westray is able to see you
now, DR.. Halcrow," she said.
Magnus knew Elspeth Troll well.
They had played together as children,
| and Elspeth was not far from his owl
age, which was twenty-six. She had
been the only child of the Manse at
| Finstray in those days. Now both par
ents were dead, and for five years Els
peth had been part companion, part
secretary to Lady Westray. Now that
| Lady Westray was no longer lady OF
| the manor but that lady's chaperon-
for the widow of the late Sir James
had been left poor-Elspeth occupied
somewhat anomalous position.
She was tall, slender girl, with a
grave, thoughtful face, whose only
beauty lay in the eyes-dark brown,
soft and earnest. They looked at Mag
pft xx,;th u,hn
meaning he could not fathom, but
which made him vaguely uneasy.
He rose to follow her from the room.
AS he did so there was a startling glare
of light, and overhead rafting peal,
which seemed to shake the whole
house. Lilith uttered cry and chung
| to Magnus.
"Oh, don't go! don't leave me alone,
Lady Westray can wait; there is no
hurry"
Lady Westray is nervous about the
thunderstorm, Miss Stuart" said Els
peth, in her quiet tones, which might
| have almost seemed emotionless If il
were not for a certain fash in her
brown eyes, which Magnus caught as
she raised them for one moment, and
then let them fall again. THAT is why
she wishes to see DR.. Halcrow at
once"
But you are keeping her company
Lilith cried. Then she raised her i'm
ploring eyes to Magnus' face. What
man could resist that look?
Miss Troll will stay with you, Miss
Stuart. There is nothing to be afraid
off, said Magnus, gently loosening her
hold. "You know my first duty is tc
my patient"
DUTY? All, what an unpleasant
word that isr' said Lilith. But have
no right to detain you; only you will
come back before you leave the cas-,
tle?"
81 shall come back" Magnus replied
gravely. Then he left the room.
But he had barely escaped from Lady
Westray, who was nervous, selfis.
| hypochondriac, for whom no one hac
| any affection save Elspeth Troll, wher
the messenger arrived from Abbot
Head, covered with perspiration anc
| pale with fright
Magnus was met on his way to Lii
this sitting-room by a footman with
| the message.
Its matter Of life and death, sir
the young man babe me tell YOU" sale
| the pompous functionary.
| Tell him to return to Abbot's Hea5
at once, and I shall overtake him,
said DR.. Magnus. He snatched a mo
ment to say farewell to Lilith, whc
was still sitting in corner Of her room
hiding her eyes from every fash o
lightning; while Elspeth Troll bent he
dark eyes over heavy seam. Fol
| Elspeth, as Magnus knew well, wa!
never idle, but employed all the time
she could spare from Lady Westray ir