The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1900-04-06
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A Romance..-By Hannah B. Mckenzie


know; but hope you will soon be all
right. My brother. who is doctor,
will soon be home, and I 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.
"You are among friends here, you
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 a deep, toneless voice.
He hesitated for a long time, then at
last added: "And God bless you for
for what you have done. You have been
kind. I 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 IF
many broad acres on the Scottish
mainland; but now 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 DR..
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.
''It is so oppressively hot that I feel
as if even tea drinking were an effort"
she said, smiling-and Lilith Stuart's
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 acquaintance denied that Lii
18th 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 ruddy, auburn hue
There were those who called Lilith
Stuart a 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, supplemented 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.
II think a thunderstorm is not far
off, and am glad; it will clear the
air." he said, in answer to Lilith's re.
marks.
go. hope not! hate thunderstorms
am so afraid" cried Lilith.
Even as she spoke there was vivid
flash, and in few moments the storm
broke in all its fury.