Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1900-04-05

AbtD J0H Stt W tut BpIHtft hDu sac
proceeded to finish her break fast
with q schoolgirls marvellous CO.
lerity. Rboda watched her with
disappearing eyes.
4 hope Jon will soon have leisure
for acquiring respectable table man.
ners.' she said, tartly. AT least
be more careful when You lunch
with papa.
Sibyl opened her lips for hasty
retort, then thought better 81 it.
Her quick ear had caught thrill
Of wounded pride in Rhoda's speech.
why don't you come, too, she
said impulsiyelY- We then
sudden thought checked the rest OF
the sentence.
No, thank you Rhoda said,
loftily. 4 have too mach TO DO.
Rboda sat quietly until the clos
ing hall door assured her that her
sister was gone. No one remem.
bers--no one cares, she thought.
miserablg. j don't even believe
they miss mamma as do. And
though 10 her heart che knew Der
bitter thoughts to be unjust. the
morbid mood held her in it's grasp
and she cried bitterly. A spirit OF
restless energy took possession Of
her and the day waa devoted to the
accomplishment Of distastcful and
trying duties that had been hithcr-
to postponed. Lunch vas hastily
disposed Of, though Nora, the cook
had provided Rhoda's favofito cal.
ad.
'Shure, it's worrnkin' too hard
ye are, Miss Rboda, she said, peer
iug into the dining room, "a Rhoda
pushed back her chair, impatiently.
An it's not mora'n would coutint
a bird that yez to be ea.in'.
II is all | need, the girl said,
shortly, still hugging her martyr
mood, aud Norah retired With
disappointed face her little At.
tempt Of celebration unnoticed aud
unapprcoiated
Bat when dusk fell Rhoda was
thoroughly weary Pushing open
the door Of her mothers room, she
CROSSED 10 the bow window and,
dropping Imply upon cushion,
pilowed her head on the sill. The
fair dag, which had been foil 81
darkness to her. bad clipped away.
leaving tho vest glimmer with
pureet, palest green, porteut Of
frost Gradually the tender aBso-
Citations ot the place brought heal
ing to her sofe spirit, aud as tears
wei her eyes, Rhoda's mood chang
ed. Dear mother, she whispered,
as II she felt The loving spirit near,
Il feel so miserable, but give me
time
A sweet stiffness had fallen over
the suburban town, broken only by
the occasional rattle Of a passing
wagon, or the distant whistle Of the
trains plying between the city and
its offspring. Rhoda listened
dreamily for the approaching foot
steps that would give warning OF
the return Of her father and sister.
Sitting up. she raised the window
a crack that che might not be caught
unawares. Il was 80 cross this
morning that | must make their
homecoming cherry she whisper
ed peniteutly.
Just then came the sound Of run
ming feet aud the clamor OF boyish
voices. Something in their tone OF
excited horror brought Rhoda to
her feet. Throwing the window
wide open she leaned out into the
crisp air, but could get no cline as to
the cause Of the hubbub. A door
in the opposite house opened and
man ran down the steps.
'HelloP be called in peratiyely,
after the passing rabble, What's
up?'
THE 3. 10 out has gone through
che bridge at the Hopedale cross
ing, came the impatient answer.
Anybody killed 2
Don't know yet; just going
down I and the dusky figure wait
ed for no further interrogation.
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