Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1900-10-11

|
to the table, and pouring out tea in
the energetic manner that seemed
habitual to her. you will hardly
know her again, or, indeed, the place.
My brother made so many improve
ments."
1T did not want improving" ex-
claimed Molly, shortly. What was
good enough for my mother was GER
tainly good enough for Mr.. Barlowe."
Madame Dubois shrugged her shout
ders. Though an Englishwoman she
had many French gestures and ex-
pressions, and her black eyes swept
over Colonel LEstrange's young
daughter with lightning glance.
You are impulsive, sweet child"
she said, shortly. But you will soon
grow to like the changes, and be very
happy with me and your sister"
MY half-sister." corrected Molly,
quietly Whom l was never allowed
to love as child, of whom | know
nothing. How did she bear her faith
er's dreadful death?"
Madame Dubois dropped the sugar
tongs with loud clatter, and sudden
ly her face changed to an ashen hue.
her whole demeanor altered.
How has she heard it?" she NUT
tered between her teeth Then, turn
ing fiercely to Mollie, Never mention
anything belonging to it If you do not
wish to drive me crazy! Is it not al
ways before me day and night, day
| and night?" And she sank back in
her chair, as if unable to sit up, while
her eyes swept round the room in a
strange, covering manner.
Astonished at the effect of her words
Molly sat blankly regarding her. Had
she spoken in sorrow her tender heart
would have melted toward her at once,
even though she was Leonard Bar
loves sister, but there was only an
odd, frightened passion in her voice
and bearing, and something in her
hard face repulsed and kept Mollie
silent, while, before she could think
of anything suitable to say, madame
had recovered herself and had sug-
gested that she take off her outdoor
garments.
Like girl in dream she followed
the tall, strong figure through hall
and passages that were the same, yet
different, and finally to a room that
she did not recognize at all, where a
housemaid was unstrapping her
| trunks. And this was her homecom-
ing, this was the way she returned
| to her mothers house-a stranger
among strangers, where everything
was altered, where not even a servant
who knew her remained Diminishing
the maid, she threw herself down by
the bed, dark forebodings and dread
weighing down her usually bright ma
ture, and a dreary longing for the
mother with whom every spot in Chal-
font had been associated tearing at
| her heart-strings.
Poor little schoolgirl! She fought
down the choking feeling in her
| throat with mingled pride and resolu-
ton. Colonel L'Estrange's daughter
must not give way before strangers.
But oh. it was hateful to think that
she was in the charge of this Madame
| Dubois Then she began to reflect
| that she must make the best of 1t, and
| certainly tears would not help her, so
she buried her head In the white quilt
| and prayed for strength to forgive
her enemies and think no evil.
What are You doing?" demanded
an imperious voice suddenly.
| cfa hat ha
sprang up. and, turning round, beheld
! a little girl, dressed in the latest Par
| isian fashion for children, standing
| regarding her with curious eyes. She
was not pretty, for her small, sharp
| featured face was thin and witch-like,
her expression old and cunning; but
Mollie noticed with relief that she
bore little resemblance to Mr.. Bar
lowe, and masses of fiaxen curls, so
fair as to be almost white, softened
the little face.
For a minute the sisters regarded
each other gravely. Mollie's beautiful
pink and white face had flushed
brightly, her sweet gray eyes were
fixed wistfully on the child, but the
latter was quite composed; her thin
lips were pressed together as she cool
ly surveyed her half-sster from her
sunny brown head to her dainty foot.
"Well, Kate, do you remember me?"
asked Mollie, gently.
Hardly. What were you doing?"
81 was saying my prayers. Don't
you say yours?"
NO" returned Kate, loftily. II am
free thinker, like my Cousin Henry"
"oh!" calculated Mollie. astounded.
II don't think, Kate, you knocked be-
fore you came in"
"Of course not" was the calm reply.
This house and everything here is
mine"
Truly this was a promising begin
ming. The child evidently had been
taught to believe herself a person OF
great Importance, and during the half
hour she spent with Mollie she con-
descendingly repeated both her aunt's
and the servants injudicious fiattery,
and unconsciously revealed much of
the inner life of the house-revela-
tions by no means attractiye-and
Mollie would have ruthlessly put the
young lady out of her room by the
shoulders had she not exercised great
self-command. Yet IL was very dis
heartening. Who had she in the world
to love but Kate. And she erayed love
as a flower needs the sun. 1t would
have made things no better could she
have heard Mrs. Anstruther's COM