Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1900-11-01
MY Half SISTER
ct>c:t BY ELTON HARRIS S>s>S
CHAPTER v.-(ContinuedD

'Oh, | know you think us the dirt
3eneath your feet!" he sneered. his
face livid. as he twirled his little
unwilling admiration. I'VE are moth
ing. no no: but it is those who win
laugh, oh, yes! l snap my fingers at
Reverton, for which we are. not good
enough; but they shall accept us,
though they did not my amiable uncle,
whom, | allow, you had no cause to
love-"
Il shall certainly let all Reverton
know If | am made unhappy here"
she answered. with a sudden flash of
comprehension, under which Henri
WINGED. For Mr. Barlowe. had lit
tie cause to like him: but he is dead.
he came to a terrible end! Have you
any chance of discovering who killed
him, or WHY"
So intent had they been in their
conversation that they had been oD-
iivious to the clang of the garden gate
and the sound of wheels. AS Mollie
turned quickly to see Madame Dubois
driving up, the horses lathered by
their reckless speed. but well in hand,
she did not notice that Henri's face
had gone sickly yellow, that the fin
gers holding a cigarette suddenly
crushed it as in vice. Madame looked
from Mollie's flushed face, to her sons
sullen, dark one, as she drew up, and
her lips frightened; but the girl en-
tered the house before her, and, once
out of sight. dashed to her own room.
What was she to do? she thought,
as with clenched hands she paced her
room. What could she do but keep her
eyes open, and bear it? She was sur
prised to find that she was neither
frightened nor dismayed; indeed, won
dering more what Reggie would think
IL he knew-Reggie, whose blue eyes
had given sudden flash as that MOL
lee" had caught his ear. Yet it was a
matter of relief when madame APP
peared as usual at dinner, even max
ing little show of affection for her,
though looking pale and distraught,
while Henri was effusively polite.
But nothing could prevent the even
ing being dreary and constrained, and
as early as she could, she babe mother
and son good night. At the far end of
the large square hall was the hand
some oak door of Mr.. Barlowe's study,
and she paused at the foot of the stairs
to regard 1t with telling akin to awe.
What scene had that closed door wit
messed IL months ago that very night?
What was the secret of Leonard Bar
loves tragic death? Well indeed it
was for Mollie that the future is hid
den from us: that she could not fore
see the manner in which the truth
would be revealed!
AS she went slowly up stairs the
drawing room door opened suddenly
and madame came out and walked
swiftly across to the closed door, her
usually stately step faltering and I'M
even. her face wild and haggard; but
ere she had gone many yards Henri
had slipped after her, caught her by
the arm, and pulled her roughly back
Let me go!" she cried excitedly.
Have you not tormented me enough?
you, for whom | have borne every
thing; you, whom l have shielded?"
There, don't make fuss and rouse
the place!" he said hoarsely. For
heavens sake come back and calm
yourself. What is the use of getting
in frenzy because an unfortunate
event has happened in the house. and
the servants say it is haunted? Come
back, / say!" And the drawing room
door closed again on their angry voices
without either having perceived Mol
lies presence on the stairs above.
She went on 10 her room down the
dimly-lighted corridors, for madame
was economical in lights in some in
stances. There was feeling of I'M
rest and mystery abroad in the house
tonight. more to be felt than described,
which unconsciously influenced her.
She wished she were not so young.
How long 1t seemed since she had left
her peaceful German life behind and
been plunged into sea of difficulties;
yet she would not have gone back
Unbidden rose the thought that there
was no Reggie in Hanover.
She took her Bible and read chap
ter, trying to fix her thoughts on the
Easter day that would soon dawn, the
n. \ ard h. III
warm old dressing gown in which she
was wrapped accentuated the bright
ness of her hair, and her lovely face
showed sweet and thoughtful in the
it was with a sigh that she put her
elbows on the toilet table and dropped
her white chin into them.
All the evening her thoughts had
been back with her mediterranean
bering her sorrows and sufferings-
and yet there kept running in her mind
also the words she had just read.
Love your enemies" All! how i'm
possible 1t seemed; to how many more
than poor little Mollie has 1t appeared
too hard a precept to follow! But
she struggled for it, asking help from
above to forgive Leonard Barlowe, and
endeavor to live in peace with her
relatives, returning good for evil.
A hasty rafting at the door handle,
Hates voice screaming, reused her,
and, running to open it, the child al
most fell against her, her thin little
face colorless, her tiny hands grasplng,
as II for dear life. at the folds of her
dressing gown.
"Let me stay with you, dear. dear
Mollie!" she sobbed and sighed. Il