Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1900-10-11
MY HALF SISTER
CHAPTER II.-(Continued.)

hcSiIoinSIgs SuppOSe LHey tHOuSul
1t wise not to inform you. AS for
how your stepfather died they can
only conjecture, nor can any motive
be given for the crime. He was found
by the servants in the morning when
they went to open the study, and was
lying on the floor near the window
which was wide open. You know how
bitterly cold it was last Easter? Well.
1t had been showing hard all night,
and 1t had drifted in and was lying
thtckly on his shoulders. Had any
trace of his assailant been possible on
the hard ground the snow had covered
II, and this showed that the deed must
have been done early in the night be-
fore 1t began. There were no signs of
any struggle, nor was anything taken:
and they fancy he must have been
asleep in his chair, for death was
caused by two terrific blows on the
back OF the head. Now, MoIlie, /
have told you all, and you must not
let this depress you, or l shall feel
more than ever to blame. Joyce will
be delighted to have your companion
ship, and the White House is not so
very far off, you know"
With great effort Mollie shook off
the vague feeling of coming evil that
had fallen upon her, and she looked up
at her friend with an attempt at a
smile.
Mrs. Anstruther's face was rapidly
getting familiar to her again; her
voice seemed pleasant echo from the
past. Even the little way she had of
shaking her head to emphasize her
words was the same as of yore.
She and Mrs. LEstrange had been
left widows about the same time; but
while one had made the rash marriage
that had ruined her life, the other
had devoted herself to her two child
rem and their interests.
Mollie had seen little of them since
she had been at school, for when she
was at home for the holidays, they had
been away; Rrt she had happy recol-
lections of a white-frocked little girl
who was Joyce, and a tall boy who
used to send them flying to and fro
IN swing under some great trees.
Thank you very much" she said,
Strengthening herself and sitting up.
1T is nice to think that | shall have
kind friends near me. lit feels
rather lonely coming home like this,
you see. And though / hated-that is,
disliked Mr.. Barlowe, still, it is ter
rible thing to have happened, and
there is my half-sister Kate"
Yes, yes, of course. Well, MolIie,
your mother and / were true friends.
though Mr.. Barlowe prevented us see
ing too much of each other in later
years. Come to me whenever you like.
my child"
"oh, will" responded Mollie more
cheerfully. Tell me, Mrs. Anstruther.
shall like Madame Dubois: do YOU
know herr"
Mrs. Anstruther moved uneasily,
and drew out her watch.
I'VE shall be at Reverton in a few
minutes now" she exclaimed almost
in tone of relief. "Of course not
having been friendly with Mr. Bar
lowe, do not know his sister well;
but we are on speaking terms, and
Henri Dubois comes over to play ten
mis- with my young people when he is
at home. Now, here we are, and don't
forget that you are to come to us
whenever you like"
With the uncomfortable impression
that Mrs Anstruther was trying to
make the best of things, Mollie thank
ed her, and the next moment the train
stopped at the dear old country sta
ton she remembered so well, and she
was in Reverton once more!
There was only one person on the
platform-a tall and remarkably
handsome woman, with a dark, al
most masculine face, and piercing
black eyes under heavy brows, and
these same eyes fell upon the uncon-
scious Mollie as the train slowly Gid
ed into the station. and took in every
detail of the sweet little face with a
strange, quick intentness. She was
most elegantly attired in half
mourning, that showed off her SPLEEN
didly powerful figure to the greatest
advantage; and as Mollie sprang out
and looked round she came up quickly
with a smile on her wide, thin-lipped
mouth.
Miss L'Estrange, think" she said,
in a loud, deep voice. 81 am your
aunt, Madame Dubois, and / have been
greatly looking forward to your ar
rival. All, Mrs. Anstruther, how are
your"
Her aunt Leonard Barlowe's sister
her aunt! Mollie's brain reeled at the
notion, while her hand was shaken
with a firm, nervous grip that almost
made her scream out with pain.
Then she was conscious that Mrs.
Anstruther had kissed her kindly at
parting while responding very distant
ly to Madame Dubois greeting, and
then they were bowling through Rev
erton in high mail phaeton behind
pair of fine horses, which madame
drove with consummate skill.
In spite of her desire to look out for
old landmarks, the girl was furtively
studying the hard face by her side as
they dashed along. Instinctively she
distrusted 1t, somehow, though II
would have been difficult to have put
her thoughts into words; and her feel
ings were of the gloomiest as thu
chimneys of Chalfont came in sight.
It was large, ugly, red-brick house
standing in well-kept grounds, ant
looked vary much as she had remem
bered 1t all her life; but she could no
repress a shudder as she thought o
what had happened there, and in i'm
agination saw her stepfather's tai