The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1900-10-26
and 1 shall have everything done that

and shall have everything done that
I like"
Reggie took his hand off the ropes
with a muttered exclamation that
sounded not unlike little beast" and
asked Mollie to come down to look at
the tennis court. and as Henri seemed
determined to go also, Joyce disre-
garded her brothers appealing eye,
and watched them off, for she had no.
ticed the sudden flush on Mollie's face.
She knew how tenderly the girl re-
garded everything her mother had
done, and In some wrath determined
to have a word with the vain-glorious
owner of Chalfont, whom, indeed, she
would dearly have enjoyed shaking.
Kate was looking after the retreat
ing trio with rather a disconnected ex-
preston, for her sharp ears had caught
Reggie's remark. and she liked Reg
gle; her boasting had been principally
to impress him with her Importance.
Every one seems to like Mollie!"
she said GROSSLY. Il suppose it Ia be-
cause she is a L'Estrange; Jane and
Harriet say SO. Though l think it is
horribly mean Of the Reverton people
not to call on us, and make such a fuss
over her, for, as Jane often says, l am
the heiress n mistress of Chalfont,
and much richer than Mollie."
Il will tell you why every one likes
Mollie," replied Joyce, regarding the
stylishly arrayed little imp severely.
1T is not alone because she is very
pretty, but because she is always pleas
ant and sunny. Who ave- heard Mol
lie say biting and unkind things or
purpose to hurt people, or boasting
about her possessions?"
Il suppose you mean that l do" And
Kate sat still on the swing, and flung
her curls back with an angry gesture.
Yet Mollie has got some money, YOU
know, or Aunt Clare would not make
such a fuss of her. Harriet says that
she Is sure she means to marry her to
Henri; l heard her. But Jane says
that with my. persition 1 ought to
marry a title; and l intend to-"
And having delivered herself OF
these sentiments in her high childish
voice she pushed the swing off with
ont thin. Observation-Disclosures leg.
Who are Jane and Harriet?" asked
Joyce shortly.
my servants"
"Oh! And when you marry this
nobleman, suppose you have two dear
little girls. you will naturally leave
this property to the younger?"
Certainly not: that would not be
fair. ! should leave the most to the
elder. or divide It," Kate had begun
with lofty eloquence, then she caught
Joyce's eye, and. being a very quick
child. saw the pit into which she had
fallen. and stopped abruptly. you
think Moliie has not been properly
treated? The people in Reverton think
30. she ended, below her breath.
THAT has nothing to do with us.
Kate" Joyce said gravely. But If
you can see this, perhaps-though you
are SO young-you can also see how
we'll Mollie behaves. She does not
grudge you anything, though Chal-
font was her home before you were
born. She never says bitter things to
you, yet who has the most reason. /
wonder you don't love her!!"
Joyce never forgot the strange old
look on the little thin face. as the
child glanced at her after a dead pause.
There was something both sad and
weird about It.; she might have been q
hundred, with all the cares Of life on
her small shoulders, and looking at
her Joyce remembered with a wave Of
compassion that she was but 10. and
ii report said true, her life had never
been as other children's. She had been
a tool in her fathers hands from birth.
she was n in her aunt's now. Spoiled
from policy. neglected from want of
affection, left to the care OF ignorant
servants, who BATTERED her for their
v ends and filled her head with
nonsense, what chance had the m
fortunate little heiress had?
Come along she said, holding out
her hand to the silent child. II see
my mother reckoning TO us from the
drawing room window; let US run and;
call the others In for some tea.
CHAPTER v.
The White House was one OF the
most comfortable Of homes: no dis
sension was ever heard there. The
very servants. who had been IN Mrs.
Anstruther's service for years. seemed
to share the prevailing harmony Of
contentment. and took 1 pride In sery-
Ing the family faithfully.
And Moliie could not but notice the
differences AZ. after 4 somewhat quiet
walk home along the country road that
separated tho two houses by about a
mile. the Eatesiof Chalfont had changed
70 behind them. and . morose-looking
maid opened the hall door.
No household could have been happy
under Madame Dubois tyrannical rule.
TMollie had quite made up her mindsto
that; and also another point-nameIy:
That both mother and son were to BE