Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1901-09-12
III T@GdZ.~ WRITTEN, r., ),
ELIZABETH
Mapr&a@@> ' .,..

there's been no end of sewing an the
like to do. But the mistress of the
house is Mrs. Mowbray, tie new mis-
sus' mother, if may be allowed to
speak my mind"
ooh. indeed, Susan. is Mrs. Mowbray
staying here, then?" asked Mrs. Mar
tin. with feeling that this was almost
more than could be borne.
''To be sure, ma'am-she's here en-
tirely an altogether. an the father the
taken possession Of the place."
Mrs. Martin felt choking with rage,
but she managed to overcome it and
answer. carelessly:
cit won't be for long, Susan. think
I can change all that
And by this time she was at the door
that Mrs. Mowbray herself had risen
to receive her, and was condescending-
ly inviting her to sit down.
It is the small things in life that most
severely try female patience.
It required all Kate Martins mastery
of herself to reply civilly to Hetty
Mowbray: but she did it. The two la
dies bowed amiably and smilingly. and
err.
Mrs. Mowbray, indeed. not realizing
how bitterly the other woman felt to-
ward her, was polite and pleasant in
perfect good faith and, admiring Mrs.
Martin and her becoming mourning,
frankly told her so.
Mrs. Martin responded by compile
menting Clare's mother on her inn
proved appearance. and, indeed, the
poor, invalid scarcely looked like the
same woman.
Like u faded flower, whitening for
warmth and Showers. Mrs. Mowbray
had fairly bloome6 in the sunshine and
balmy breath of prosperity.
And in this frame OF mind the two
ladies continued to talk to each Other
until they We're summoned to the libra
ry, in which apartment the reading of
the will was to take place.
Each person named in the document
had been summoned by Lawyer Bald
win, and when Mrs. Mowbray and Kate
Martin entered, they found assembled
there DR.. Sprague, the testator's family
physician; Carl. the Swiss valet: Mar
tina Dodge, cook; William Forbes,
coachman; Mr.. Mowbray (who was
not named in the will. but was present
by courtesy. on account of his relation
ship to the lady Of the house,, and Rob-
ert Grayson. the latter pale and calm,
very sad-looking, and dressed simply in
complete suit of mourning.
The servants were standing respect
fully, in enc corner of the room. Now
bray was seated close by Robert Gray
son, with whom he had been trying to
hold some conversation, but, receiving
only monysyllabic answers, he had at
last given up the effort.
DR.. Sprague was sitting apart from
the others, looking straight into the
depths of his hat, which he was holding
gravely in front of him.
At the entrance of the two ladies, all
three gentlemen rose and saluted them.
Mowbray then began talking, in low
tone, to his wife. DR.. Sprague sat
down beside Mrs. Martin, occasionally
exchanging some commonplace remark,
and Robert resumed his seat and his
former preoccup:ed appearance.
Some few minutes passed very slow
ly, when the door again opened, and
Mr.. Baldwin entered, conducting the
widowed bride, who leaned heavily on
his arm.
She looked up and acknowledged the
presence of the others by a slight,
graceful inclination of the head, which
included, in it's general salutation ev-
cry one in the room.
Mr.. Baldwin then led her toward the
head of the apartm ent, and handed her
to large easy chair which he had
drawn toward the table, and when she
was seated he sat down himself at the
other side of the table, and began sort
ing the papers that were laid upon it.
Every eye was fixed, with varying
feelings on the part Of the beholder,
upon Clarice.
She looked more beautiful than ever.
Her face. though pale as a snowdrift,
showed no sickly pallor. If she looked
fragile, it was the fragility of an ex-
quisite flower, perfect. though delicate.
Her lovely mouth had the pink hue Of
health; her large eyes, though they
had wept floods of tears, were still lus-
trous as diamonds, and the dark circles
about them only added to their bril-
lance, and deepened the color of the
glossy lashes and brows.
The shining coil of hair was heaped
like mass of glistening gold about the
beautiful head, and the severe costume
Of dead-black showed to perfection ev-
cry line of the 1.-THE, slender figure.
There was but one pair of eyes of all
those bent upon her that bestowed re-
luctant admiration, and that admira-
ton was, perhaps. most nattering Of
all, since it came from the one woman
in the world who hated her, and who
would gladly have seen her stricken
dead. Il.
"How more than mortal beautiful
that girl ISL thought Kate Martin,
grinding her teeth with envy and jea!-
ousy, as her gaze was fixed on Clarice;
land that saint-like expression-artful
little hussy!-how it always takes. the
men! No wonder poor Philip lost his
head, as we'll as his big heart. after
they were once engaged! There's even
Robert, forgetful of his early love,
looks ready to drop at her feet! Oh, no
man could resist her beauty and that
angelic look! But I hold the power to
wiring your heart, fair lady, and to
make those fine eyes Of yours dull with
weeping: and I'll do it. too. That she
loved Shirley Austin there's no manner
of doubl. and she's the kind that loves
once and forever Why doesn't that