The Chanute times. [volume] (Chanute, Kan.) 1897-1913, 1900-12-07

and Mollie would have been happy in
deed, but for her anxiety about her lit
tie half-sister.
Poor child! She had been failing all
winter, though Mollie could not see
1t, and as the spring advanced she grew
weaker and weaker, though she suf-
fered no pain. They were all very
good to her, these kind people, bearing
with the fractions irritability that she
could not control. Reggie came home
as often as he could and taught Mol
lie to ride; while all Reverton called,
anxious to show that they were glad
to be friends with Colonel L'Estrange's
daughter. But the little girl was never
neglected or forgotten. Many an hour
would good-natured Reggie carry her
aboutin the old garden and amuse her,
and she was very fond of the tall,
handsome young fellow, watching him
with preternaturally large eyes; but
there was no one like Mollie toward
the end, her first love and her last,
her very own Mollie!"
SIS she not beautiful, Joyce?" she
said one day, as she watched them set
off for ride, and they turned to nod
cheerfully as the tiny. thin hand was
waved from the window. Reggie
loves her very much, but not 80 much
as l do. No one in this world can
tell what Mollie has been to me-"
And Joyce, softly stroking the tiaxen
curls of the owner of Chalfont, thought
of that scene in the garden the preced-
ing spring, when the over-dressed lit
tie heiress, sitting in the swing, had
spoken SO differently. Truly Mollie
had worked wonders!
Everything 1 have is yours, Mollie,"
the child said with passionate devotion,
one cold, spring afternoon, as the girl
sat rocking her gently to and fro be-
fore the fire. my heart, my life, ev-
erything; but who would have Chal-
font If I died?"
Il should, my Kittie."
'"Oh, then that Is all right" And
Kate nestled closer into her arms with
smile of utter contentment. eve are
very happy now, Mollie, are we not?
Will you sing mothers lullaby again?"
Mrs. Anstruther's face was looking
very grave as she watched the child;
but with the courage that always came
to Mollie in her need, she began softly
to sing the old nursery tune they both
loved. Once Kate stirred and gave a
little sigh; but Mollie went on, though
to ears that heard not, for with that
sigh the little girl had fallen into that
sleep that knows no waking, and gone
home to the Heavenly Father whom
Mollie had taught her to love.
you must not grieve too much, Mol
lie darling" Reggie said later, when
she had cut off a long, fair curl, and
they had carried the child away and
laid her by her mothers side in the
church yard. Had she lived there are
many things that she must have known
as she grew older, which would have
hurt her. She is spared much suffer-
ing"
And Mollie, remembering her dar-
lings quick, sensitive spirit, knew it
was true. She was very happy as time
passed; it was impossible not to be
happy with Reggie, and though the
trials of life came to both as the years
rolled on, nothing ever came between
those two. There are no lives without
trouble; but theirs they bore together,
and tried to bear well, and they
passed, leaving them better and
stronger.
But even when children of her own
lay in her arms, there was always a
very tender spot in Mollie's heart for
the child who was gone. And as one
spring followed another, and snow
drops, primroses and daffodils came in
their season, the sharp, anxious lit
tie face would rise before her. But it
was never the face of my half-sister,
Kate" Leonard Barlowes daughter,
the heiress of Chalfont She had gone
long ago; it was the wistful one of
the little sister who slept the last long
sleep by her mothers side, who had
given her the whole beautiful love Of
her child's heart.
The End.