Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1900-10-18
CHAPTER III.-(Continued.,

"He is considered very handsome, 4"
Joyce called mischievously after Reg
gie's retreating figure; but whether
he heard her was doubtful, and her
own frank, plain face looked very
grave, as she picked up her woods
Madame is a clever woman" she ar
gued to herself. Henri is under her
thumb-that is, he always seems to
be afraid of her; and Mollie is mex
perienced and impetuous. 1t is little
more than a fortnight since she re-
turned. Can Reggie mind already
Reggie, who does not care for girls?"
But personal experience, in connec-
ton with the naval lieutenant to
whom she was engaged, called loudly
that fortnight might make or mar a
life, and she could not disguise from
herself that Reggie had shown more
interest in beautiful Mollie L'Estrange
than he had ever exhibited for any
woman-save his mother and herself
before.
A fresh, matter-of-fact girl, of three
And-twenty, Joyce, though fond of
Mollie, was inclined to look upon her
as child, and did not give her credit
for half the sense and observation she
possessed.
For Mollie had learned a great deal
In that past Fortnight, though Reg
gle had not always been her teacher.
She knew that the good country people
round, who had been her parents
friends, while wishful to be pleasant
to herself, looked askance at Madame
Dubois, whose great object in life was
to get into the charmed circle of their
acquaintance. With this end she
would drag the reluctant girl to any
social gathering where she might meet
them, and endeavor to force herself
upon them until poor Mollie was bit
terly ashamed of her; while her
smothered exultation when Mrs. An
struther did violence to her feelings
by stiff call showed Mollie more than
words would have done how the resi-
dents of Chalfont House were regard
ed in Reverton.
Kate was great trial to her sister;
she was delicate, nervous and excit-
able to a degree; and, as her aunt
never checked her, she was almost UNI
bearable. All Mollie's efforts at friend
ship she regarded with suspicion, as
made to the heiress of Chalfont, and
she flew into rage If her sister tried
TO reason with her, or attempted to
take the part of the unfortunate daily
governess who for a couple of hours
each morning endeavored to teach
her. Mollie was very forbearing with
her, trying never to forget that she
was the baby whom she had seen in
her mothers arms. But she was firm
also, declining to be driven about, or
stand any rudeness; and Kate, finding
her tempers disregarded, her imperi-
GUS airs laughed at, began to treat her
sister with sullen respect.
Mollie was thinking of Kate after
Reggie had left her at the gate, and
she walked briskly up the graveled
path, swinging her empty basket. She
had promised some flowers for the
also for wreaths for her parents
graves. Should she take them boldly
from Chalfont and incur her sisters
wrath, or should she order them else
where? 1t seemed shame that her
mothers wreath should not be from
the place she loved SO well; and yet
she could not bear that anything for
her should be wrangled over.
There used to be a great clump of
narcissi growing almost wild in a
shady corner beside some laurels at
the far side of the house. If Mr.. Bar
loves vandal hand had spared them,
she might surely have some from
there; and, intent on finding out, she
never paused until she suddenly found
herself nearly opposite the window of
that fatal study where her stepfather
had met his death by an unknown
hand nearly twelve months previously
Since her return she had carefully
avoided this spot; it had a nameless
terror, yet fascination for her. Mrs
Barlowe's name was rarely mentioned
In the house; no servant would go past
the study door alone after dark. 1t
was not only madame's hard and mean
rule that caused rarely week to pass
without some Of them leaving-they
frightened each other; tales of things
seen and heard were rife among them,
and it must be owned that Mollie was
not proof against the general whisper
Ing, the unspoken fear, that seemed to
hang over the place, especially after
dark.
She was half inclined to turn back
now, even though the sun was shining
and whole colony of rocks cawing
noisily in the tall trees further on.
Round this very path the assassin must
have stolen that bitter March night
after he had done the deed, leaving the
window wide open; and -. Why.
the window was open now! Voices
fell upon her ears. No one ever en-
tered that room but Madame Dubois,
though 1t was unlocked. Who could it
We?
Taking an impetuous step forward,
her eyes fell on madame herself, stand
Ing erect with one hand on the table, |
her face haggard and white, her thin
lips drawn away from her strong white
teeth, her dark eyes cleaning under
their heavy brows with strange wild |
CLEAN; while her voice, harsh and high, |
came clearly towards Mollie.
Are there no other apartments in |
fhe house but that you must come here
-here-here?" she screamed. why do |
You torture me like this? Have I not
enough to bear for your. All, me! How
many mothers would have done as
much?"