Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1900-11-15
CHAPTER YII-fcontinued.l


fer" Mollie said gently at length, "but
I must decline it. / am very sorry If
you feel hurt, but .when you leave here
I hope you will soon forget it."
What. you refuse!p he exclaimed in
credulously. you will not accept my
warning? You will be my enemy?"
Il hope not, surely. But If you are
my enemy / shall not be yours" she
answered steadily, backing away, yet
keeping an eye upon the glass doors.
For a moment the young man stood
gazing at her with more feeling in his
face than she could have believed pos
sible.
Mollie little knew how pretty she
looked, as she stood there in her white
gown, with the soft dark night as
background, and the lights from the
drawing room falling on her curly,
ruffied head, nor the simple dignity OF
the grey eyes that regarded him so
fearlessly. All at once his expression
changed, and grew black and fierce,
distorted with evil thought
80 you Decline" he Kissed in her
ear. you think you will marry that
long-legged, curly-headed soldier! But
disabuse your mind of that idea. You
will marry me, Henri Dubois. l swear
it! Whether you love me or not,
will be your husband. Oh, you will
soon be glad enough to escape from
madame ma mere, and you can do 1t
by me-only by me. All! how quiet
you are! Do you hear?"
"Yes. and so will every one else,"
Mollie replied, standing very erect, and
cycling with naughty disdain his ex-
cited face. 81 have listened to you
patiently, but l decline to be threat
ened or coerced. 1t may answer with
some people-it never did with LES
TRANCE. Let me pass"
For a moment Henri paused irreso
lutte, glazing at her; then he gave way
step, and she was through the draw
ing room and half way upstairs before
he could realize that he had been baf-
fed and refused by this girl of 10.
He had thought to reduce her to
submission, and at the first threat she,
usually so gentle, had turned upon him
fearlessly; and he, coward by ma
ture. failed to recognize, what his
mother dimly felt, that it was impos-
sible to cover a spirit that rose high
or whenever danger threatened.
As for Mollie, she was angry and
Indignant; yet, once in her room, she
could not help laughing.
$50 / am TO marry Henri, who will
devote his life to making me happy!"
she murmured, as she brushed her
hair. "It will not be money-making
profession for him. l have an idea
that once he had my wretched fortune
he would turn his devotion to his own
amusement"
But from that night the life at
Chalfont became almost unbearable.
Madame openly espoused her sons
cause. saying it was strange Mollie
could refuse one so handsome and de-
voted, for whom other girls were sigh
ing in vain. Slowly and steadily she
tried to force her into the hated en-
gagement, implying that it would be
a great relief to her mind to have her
married to so estimable young man,
the only one she could countenance
for her; and we'll Mollie knew what
this latter remark meant-neither Mr..
Anstruther nor any one else need ex-
pect her consent. AS for Henri, he
was worse than ever, following her
everywhere, sullen or sentimental by
&c
ever he had an opportunity; and the
only friend she had in the house was
her little half-sister. Kate.
For the strange child, ever since the
Easter eve when she had flown to
Mollie for protection, had attached her
self to her with quiet persistence that
was both amusing and touching. Every
night she found her rolled up in one
corner Of her bed asleep, or pretend
ing to be, and the fear Of losing this
privilege made her try to check this
irritability that was part OF her tenn
permanent, and be more amenable to
the sorely-tried governess.
This much Mollie exacted. though
she would never have had the heart
to enforce 1t, for the little ones nerves
were in terribly strained state, and
Mollie's room seemed her haven of
refuge. There she felt safe-there,
dark or light, nothing could touch
her; there she never had horrible
dreams. Bad things could not come
near Mollie, who was so sweet and
Day by day she followed her
about. at first with shy defiance, at
last with unconcealed affection and a
funny motherly solicitude, and ere the
roses began to bloom there was no
crime 80 great in her eyes as to hurt
Mollie.
What Is the matter?" asked Mollie
one morning, when she found her
prancing about the lawn in fury,
scolding like young virago the gar
dener, who was marking out a tennis
court
Misses says she won't have no court
here" said the man helplessly, touch
ing his cap, "and the gentleman or
dered me to mark one"
ut Is my lawn: l won't allow II!
He has no right to NEEDLE. and shall
tell Aunt Glare so:" she stormed.
"But would teach you to play"
Mollie said quietly.
twas no idle threat on Hates part,
she knew. Her fathers will strictly
eujoined that her wishes were to be In
dulged. and madame happened to be
in frightful temper that day.
Would you like it," demanded
Kate. stopping abruptly.
Il think 1t would be nice"
You can go on. john" she said I'M