La Junta tribune., 1900-12-15
MY HALF SISTER
XIX BY ELTON HARRIS Xxx

iAAS7h AE-i htaA4s5N bNAF h'A iHih ltANA'
face colorIess. her tiny hands grasping.
as II for dear life. at the folds of her
dressing gown.
Let me stay with you. dear. dear
Mollie," she sobbed and sighed II
cannot-csnnot stop alone; should
dle,"
It was terrible TO see the nervous
excitement. the fear that shook the
child from head to foot. and as Mollic
caught her up she only remembered
that she was her mothers baby the
little sister she had tried TO love. Shut
ting the door she carried her TO the
window. pausIug to wrap a rug round
gown. just as she had jumped out of
bed. and shiyerIng violently.
Yes. yes. you shall stay with me-"
she said soothingly. in her round. soft
voice. But what is the matter!
Where are Jane and Harrlet7'
Jane has gone. she said she was
not going to stay in this house to-
night for anything we could offer her.
She just got the gardeners boy to take
her box after dark. and went don't
know what Aunt Glare will say. and
harriet will not sleep in my room
without her"
What they both slept there?"
Yes. because OF the strange noises
nud-and things. woke up and called
out, and when | got up and felt Har-
riet was not there, and her blankets
were gone. my heart seemed to stop
beatins-I could not breathe. All I
thought OF was you: l should be safe
II could get TO you. Something passed
me in the passage: felt IL brushing
against me. II was ghost. wasn't
it," And she covered down into Mol
lies Arms. n pitiable object indeed.
Kate was almost beside herself, and
IT was long ere Mollie could calm her
agitation. Inwardly the sisters heart
burned with wrath against the two
maids, who in their own ignorant fear
had left this highly-strung child alone
at such time, after the shock of the
preceding year. Seriously alarmed.
she rubbed the icy little hands and
feet. talking cheerfully the while. and
then rocked to and fro until the
breathing grew quieter. and the naxen
head lay still on her shoulder. while
she hummed the old lullaby which had
sounded in her own drowsy ears when
she was a little child.
Mother sang that" Kate said. sud
denly looking up with a faint smile.
When found was alone. said all
could remember OF my prayers-'Our
Father over and over again"
81 am glad of that" replied Mollie
simply. Il feared you did not. Kate"
Il am a FreethInker In the daytime;
but at night In the dark, when | am
frightened, always say all can
think Of" said the child. with quaint
knocked out of her for the moment
by terror.
She listened very quietly when Mol
lie tried to show her that this was
wrong. and then her thoughts went
back to the last Easter eve, and she
spoke OF her father
1T was very coid-oh. very" she
said refectlyely. He took me out in
the dogcart, and cried with the cold.
was going to die. you see. or | would
have tried not to-"
But you loved him. kate?"
Pretty WELL she responded truth
fully. for she had not words to ex-
press what she was sharp enough to
know-that her father had cared for
her for what she had represented to
him. When | went to the study to
say good night to him, he called out
he was busy. SO went away. Next
morning when l awoke the snow was
thick. and heard screams and shrieks.
SO I jumped out OF bed and ran TO the
top of the stairs and looked down.
and all the servants were there at
the study door. looking in and wiring
ing their hands, and crying. and Aunt
Clare, with her hair streaming about,
calling out that they must get doc
tor and send for Henri. went fur
ther down the stairs and asked what
was the matter. and they shrieked
more. and said: Take the child
away!' But / would not go until nurse
caiied me. and she told me my IA
ther was dead | asked what made
him die. and she said: Want of
breath And then heaps of people
came. and there was bequest."
Inquest" corrected Mollie. with
shiver. the little girls words bringing
the whole scene before her with start.
ling vividness: then. as she felt that
Kate was again shuddering in her
arms, she added: But we will not
think of It any more"
Il can't help it," she moaned.
trembling Something in black has
giided up and down the passage ever
since. That door is heard to open and
shut whe.. every one is in bed. All
the servants know this. and won't
stay. Ask them"