The pioneer press. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 1893-190?, 1900-03-22
CHAPTER III.

1t was day of excessive he2t. NO
bird chirped, no leaf stirred. All ma
ture seemed exhausted, or preparing
for some terrific outburst.
THE storm is coming; | can see 1t,
Day said to herself. Il hope he will
reach Crag Castle before it bursts. Why
does he go so often? Is it to see Lady
Westray, as he says, or to see Lilith
Stuart?"
Some disagreeable thought swept
across the untroubled calm OF Days,
brow, like the dark clouds on the Sum-
mer sky without. She pressed her
hand over it, as If to clear away some
unpleasant thought, and murmured:
Am unjust, l wonder? Unjust and
uncharitable? Dear daddy used to say
it was the way of youth to judge hasti-
ly and uncharitably; yet can't help it
Il can't, l can't! I don't trust her.
and can't compel myself to like her.
Sometimes l feel as if-as if she were
wicked-really wicked, like those wo-
men one reads about-wily Vivien, the
lovely, baleful star" or Cleopatra,
who won mems souls and then ruined
them.
How unkind, how bitter I am" she
cried, beating her little hands togeth-
er the next moment. II must do as
dear daddy used to say We ought to do
when the devil enters into us-drlve
him out by doing something for God
or for our neighbors. I'll go and see
poor Old Low. / promised to bring
him little treat Of my own baking"
For Day Halcrow was her brothers
right hand in everything, and there
was no poor or aged or dying person
among his patients whom she did not
visit and bring comfort to, either phys
ical or mental.
She ran lightly downstairs, packed
her little treat-a small cake and one
or two other dainties-in basket, and,
putting on a sailor hat in the hall, pre-
pared to go out. Bell, the old servant
who had been with her mother, heard
her, however, and ran to the door.
"Ye'll not be going out just now,
Miss Day? The storm is coming up
fast"
II don't think it will overtake me-
I'm only going as far as old Lows; so
don't you be anxious, you foolish
Bell" said the girl. where's Ola!
Ola! Ola! are you coming, old boy?"
A great tawny collie as large as a
st. Bernard came numbering into the
hall from the kitchen regions at her
call, and thrust his cold nose into her
hand.
Come on, then, old boy, and take
good care Of your missis." cried Day
gaily. Goodbye, Bell. I'll be back
in half an hour"
A long straight road led down from
Abbot's Head to the small hamlet Of
Finstray, where Days pensioner lived
The village was by the sea, most Of
the houses being built in hollow be-
tween the road and the shore. The
road ran on past the lonely lakes Of
Harris and Stennis, and the standing
stones to the important little town Of
Kirkwall.
The air was still as death and as hot
as an oven. The silence and oppres-
sion were appalling, and even Day. wno
was brave little soul IL there ever
was one, felt awed by it.
"Magnus must be near Crag Castle
now, so he Is all right" she thought
Her anxieties were always for her be-
loved brother, not for herself. Old
Low was both lame and deaf, and a
conversation with him was trying. He
sat outside his door on a bench, smek-
ing . pipe, his only solace; but he
smiled, laid 1t down, and put a trenb-
ling old hand to his hat as Day ap-
preached.
Day presented her little gifts and sat
chatting with the old man for a little.
Suddenly she was startled by a vivid
flash OF lightning, and the next instant
a loud roar Of thunder burst over
head
ut be a goin' to storm, miss, and
no mistake" said the old man. "Yu'd
better come indoors till it be past"
mo; l think l shall run home be-
fore II comes on very badly" said
Day. Goodbye, Mr.. Low. l shall
come again in day or two"
Goodbye, miss, and God bless WI
for the comfortable words we've a
spoken to me this an many times"
SAID the old man, holding her own lit.
tie roseleaf OF a hand in his own work
roughened, aged one. "The Lord be