Blackfoot news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1891-1902, 1901-07-17

tapping her feet restlessly on the floor,
her dark-blue eyes flashing and spar
king as again and again she read over
a closely written letter spread out
upon her lap.
Good news-the best of all news
had come that day to the old rome OF
the Templetons. The long. weary
years of grinding poverty were at an
end, More, the utter ruin that threat
ened Temple-Dene was averted once
and for ALL Little wonder, then, tat
Lady James eyes danced. and her
mouth twitehed with unaceustomed
smiles.
Il must tell somebody" she went
-on agitatedly And she stretched out
her hand to the bell handle.
Send Miss Leila to me, Somers,"
she looked round TO say to the footman
who answered the summons.
While Lady Jane waited slightly
anxious pucker came into her brow.
There's bound to be shadow behind
each human joy. however bright, and
it would be difficult task for her to
whom she had summoned.
1t was cherries, cold December
day-the first of the month. From the
distant belt OF the Temple-Dene woods
a faint mist was rising.
Could the blue skies and the warm
sun ever have laughed down on
world so dun and sodden? Would
they ever again break through the
gray pail of sadness?
A slim figure of girl, with hurt,
bewildered eyes and dropping mouth
was moving listlessly along the corri-
dor in obedience to the footman's
message, and in Leila Desmond's eyes
the gray day seemed to fit in with
her own "sorrow-shot' heart. She
almost hoped 1t would be always like
this now-dull and dun, lifeless and
| loyeless.
You sent for me, aunty?"
She parted the heavy, faded blue
plush portiere between the south and
the east drawing rooms. and looked
straight at Lady Jane.
"Oh. Leila, yesl" Her ladyship
started and she spoke neryously.
Quick! How slowly you move, childi
| Come and sit here by me-" She patted
the blue-satin couch on which she
sank.
Everything about and around the
| mistress of Temple Dene was blue
pale biue-for Lady Jane had been a
, blonde beauty Of the fairest order in
her palmy youth.
Time had faded the hangings and
! satin coverings, the frilled cushions
and the hue Of her own once rich
/ robe, for Lady Jane Templeton was
4 miserably poor woman. Evil days
had come upon her and her belongings,
but they had not quenched the proud
woman's spirit as they had that OF
| her husband. Francis Templeton, the
/ dreary, broken man, who sat all his
days in the library, victim to a form
of melancholy.
The masterful spirit OF the woman
had never rested, seeking a way out of
the dark cloud that shrouded Temple
Dene. All her hopes of deliyerance
from sheer ruin were placed in Ger
| Wis, the heir and only child she and
Francis Templeton ever had.
By day and night she had spent her
energies in rousing Gervis to the res
cue of his family.
So the words that had trembled on
the lips Of Gervis Templeton day after
day were unspoken after all. From
boyhood his heart had been filled with
one image-that of the girl. Leila Des-
mond, his mothers eldest niece. They
were orphans-Leila and Sybil--
daughters of Lady James passIonateiy
loved younger brother. When he died
y his sister gathered the desolate chill
dren, motherless as well as fatherless,
into her home, bringing them up and
educating them.
But the instant the mother recog-
nized that the girl, Leila, had grown to
be the one woman in the world for her
son the springs Of love for her broth
er's orphan froze up. She almost hated
Leila, even after she had gained her
point and separated the two lovers
But 1t was Lady James hour Of tri-
umph, and she could today at least
AFFORD to be gracious.
Come, my dear Leila" she repeat.
ed, Il have news-great news-from
my boy"
A shock Of fear ran through the
girl, who had crept slowly up to the
faded blue couch.
Lady Jane, busily engaged adjusting
her eye glasses and spreading out the
foreign letter on her lap, did not OBJ
serve blanching cheeks and trembling
lip.
Il have heard from Gervis. A won
derful thing has happened, Leila. Yot
will be astonished. My boy is engaged
He has met sweet girl in San Fran
cisco--a great heiress; and-and--
well, suppose they are actually mar
ried, for the wedding was fixed fol
the last day in November. This II
the first Of the month, SO, II all Is well
they are married. Can you believe II
Leila? And. child, Temple-Dene ii
saved Her money will redeem tht
dear old home. Oh. how good Cox
Isl"