The pioneer press. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 1893-190?, 1900-03-29
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che Dap Star Of TIE
0rknep's.
A Romance...By Hannah B. Mckenzie.



/ before-were wide open, and staring at
her with strange fixity.
| For a moment a vague, powerless
superstitious fear rushed over Days
| soul, seeming to clutch her heart in
| an icy grasp. The face was still so
| like that of dead man, and the eyes
| seemed to have no sight in them.
Then she summoned her brave, wo-
| manly spirit to her aid, and, putting
| out her hand, gently placed 1t on his.
Don't speak" she said, very softly.
| And Day Halcrow's voice was one of
| the sweetest in the world when mod
ulated by pity and sympathy. you
had nasty fall from your bicycle, you
know; but hope you will soon be all
right My brother, who is doctor,
will soon be home, and | am sure he
will be able to cure YOU.
Those dark, brooding eyes still gaz-
ed at her, never once removing their
glance from her face. The gaze fright
ened Day, but she made another brave
effort.
know; so you don't need to be anxious
or disturbed about anything. We shall
take care of you until you are quite
better"
Thank you," said the stranger at
last speaking in deep, toneless voice,
He hesitated for long time, then at
last added: And God bless you for
for what you have done. You have been
kind. / cannot thank you now-the
words will not come; but, If God
spares me, presently"
Then he lapsed into silence again;
and, as his eyes closed, Day stole softly
from the room to summon Bell
Meantime Magnus Halcrow was at
Crag Castle.
The Westrays of Crag Castle had
been lords Of the soil for generations
past, and were also proprietors of
many broad acres on the Scottish
mainland; but now a time had come
when the heritage of many brave and
daring men had fallen into the hands
of girl, and Lilith Stuart queened il
at Crag Castle.
1t was the Dowager Lady Wastray-
a distant relative of Miss Stuart's, who
also acted as her chaperon-whom DIR.
Magnus Halcrow had come to visit pro-
fessionally; but his patient was not
yet able to see him, and he was now
seated in Miss Stuart's dainty boudoir,
drinking cup of afternoon tea, poured
out by her own slim, white hands.
1T is so oppressively hot that / feel
as il even tea drinking were an effort"
she said, smiling Lilith Stuart's
smile was wonderful one-as she
handed him his cup.
What was the secret of Lilith
Stuart's strange power over him? None
could say-or, rather, every one as
signed it to a different cause. Her
female acquaintances denied that Lii
it'll was beautiful-and certainly her
features were not perfect; yet there
was strange, subtle fascination, far
greater than that of beauty, in the
half-closed, slumbrous, blue-back eyes,
usually so modestly yelled by their
long dark lashes, but sometimes flash
ing look of bewildering, maddening
brightness upon those who had been
patiently waiting for it; in the droop
Of the soft, red mouth, whose whole
expression was so oddly changed when
she smiled, above all, in the smile it
self.
The face was fair and somewhat
pale; the hair OF a ruddy, auburn hue.
There were those who called Lilith
Stuart modern Cleopatra, and those
who gave her even more unpleasant
| names; but as those were mostly dis
carded lovers, their opinions were not
to be trusted.
And Magnus Halcrow, that great,
noble, simple-minded son of the Vik-
ings of old, had also fallen prey to
Lilith's strange fascination. He him
self knew it, and chafed at the knowl
edge; for he was proud and independ-
ent, and could never stoop to sue for
that which was so far above him.
81 think a thunderstorm is not far
off, and am glad; it will clear the
air" he said, in answer to Lilith's r.
marks
20, hope not! hate thunderstorms;
l am so afraidv' cried Lilith.
Even as she spoke there Tle vivid
fash, and in few moments he storm
broke in all its fury.
CHAPTER w.
Lilith's face turned pale. and her lips
quivered as II in abject terror. Fear
is not an ennobling expression on the