The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1901-12-20

. inst steward, = l.@. 81 S u.
''lso" was the grave adm4ssiea. NJ
Il not Just. It II that which sr;eves
me. He has abused my trust. Ishan
never believe In him again"
Then let me take his place, chs
cried eagerly. II do not mean In tho
mere keeping Of accounts You viii.
always want some one for that-nor
even In the looking after little details;
but lot me be your head steward. Lord
Caraven, and the welfare Of your tsn-i
ants and dependents, the wsll-being Of
your estate. the care Of your property,
shall be my one interest in life. Twill
be content to work early and late, 20
live without pleasure. II you will only
grant my prayer"
"But you are a lady, Hildred. How
could you find time FOR it,"
In her eagerness she forget her re-
serve-she laid her head upon his arm,
and looked into his face.
II am not a fine lady; am q law
yer's daughter. It may even be, that I
inherit my fathers liking for business.
shall find time. believe me, IL you
will give your consent"
'What would you do, Hi'dred, sup
posing gave my CONSENT" he ked.
"say rather what would not do. I
would reform all abuses. would make
Raven smere model estate-peop1e
should Point to it. as Pa tern. I
would make your labcrers msn; they
are now only soulless drudges. would
pull down those wretched cottages
where squalor and disease run riot.
and build in their places houses sd b
as even the poor could love. would
educate the children. What a qnes-
ton it is you ask me! What would I
not do?"
The earl rose rom his chair; he bent
his head with chivalrous grace before
her.
"My wife," he said, you shame MT"
f"No," she cried. "you must not say
That to me-"
II repeat it-ycu shame me-" he
went on. eyes. I give my consent
my free, full. hearty consent. You Will
make better mistress of Ravensmere
than do a master. You shall be the
queen regnant; will be your prime
minister. Irlace and leave all author
ity in your hands, and prom SO you
NEST faithfully that I will never inter-
fere; you shall Pull down and build up,
you shall do just as you will, I will
never interfere
She was so overjoyed with his prom
Uses, with the change in hts manner,
with the earnestness of his face, that
she forget all about her restraint and
Indifference. and she kissed the Rand
that held her own. She saw her hus-
bands face flush crimson. and she
drew back suddenly.
II beg your pardon" she said. ''I
am very sorry. did not think Of
what I was doing. l was SO over
joyed."
He took no notice of the involuntary
caress, nor Of the apology, though both
had struck him.
II am glad that you are pleased, Hill
dred," he said. en- placing my inter-
ests in your hands feel that have
Gone today the wissst action Of my lie.
Tomorrow we will send for B!antyre,
and you shall confront him.
She left him then, pleased, happy.
confused. with an overwhelm 'ng senss
Ct the responsibilit. es she had assumed
and with something. she could hardly
tell what. stirring in her heart. while
Lord Caraven looked in Management at
the hand she had kissed. He wondered
II he should ever understand her: AVID
he began dfmly to Perceive that In tn,
money lenders daughter he had ronnd
a noble. htgh-so"led. glorious woman.
Then he smiled to himself, thinking
that in these rtran~e days It was i'm
possible to understand anything. and
that 1T was within the hou-ds Of oos-
sihilit~ that Hi'dred inherited her faith
er's telents for business.
"And an e~ccl'e~t thing It viii be
for me-" he eai1. "if she has,
Ito be Continued.)