Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1901-10-10

unromantic Lefty! feel, MOI anxiety
about her. What can have happened
between Austin and Clarice? Did he
! see her? I must go there and find out
from. Susan as much as she knows. 1t
is too late to-day, but early tomorrow
will go. It will perhaps heM me to
the best course to pursue"
In order to have g better opportunity
Of observing Shirley, Mrs. Martin In
vited him iodine with the family that
evening: and. much as he would have
preferred to be alone, he felt con-
strained to accept the invitation.
After her exceptional. indeed, extra
ordinary. kindness, toward him, 1t
would have been the most churlish in
gratitude to refuse. He even eNerted
himself to be entertaining to his host
ess and her two pretty daughters: and
Mrs. Martin felt obliged to admit to
herself that Bertha or any other young
girl might easily lose her heart to such
a man.
Besides being in appearance and man.
ner calculated to fill the very ideal of a
girls fancy, he was both interesting and
bright; his voice was deep and musical;
his manner toward women had the gen.
tie Difference which seemed to imply
that the particular wcman to whom he
spoke was the only one in the world, so
far as he was concerned; and added to
all. he had the interesting pallor of ILL
ness, and the Girl whom he now adj
dressed and on whom his gaze dwell
most frequently had devoted herself to
the care of him during that illness.
Mrs. Martin caught hersalf wishing
that she had such a son. and when she
was alone with Bertha that night. sfa
kissed the girl in a manner that seemed
like congratulation to Bertha.
The young man is charming, dear,"
she said. You are quite right about
that; and, whatever the state of his
heart may be, it does not prevent him
from admiring you"
Bertha blushed like a rose and fling
ing her arms about her mother, Rugged
her in a genuine schoolgirl embrace.
For the moment, Mrs. Martin hoped
that Austin might never again see
Clarice. AS for the rest Of the family,
they We're all delighted with Shirley.
The boys treated him like an elder
brother; Robert Grayson thought him
the most genuine and intellectual
young man he had ever met, and Lefty,
who had long ago guessed her sisters
secret, whispered that she could fall in,
love with Mr.. Austin herself, If her
heart had not been otherwise disposed
of.
Bertha went to bed a happy girl, and
dreamed all night of Shirley.
Early on the following day Mrs. Mar
tin went to call on Clarice. The door
was opened by Susan, instead of the
special servant who generally attended
on it, and there seemed an air of sup
pressed excitement in the house, al
though everything was very quiet, and
all the inmates appeared to be attend
ing to their business with close atten-
ton.
HAS, anything happened?'' Mrs. Mar
tin asked, giving her card, with it's half
INCH. mourning border, to Susan. II
would like to see Mrs. Grayson, if pos
sible."
(Which / suppose you can, ma'am;
an, anyhow, I'll go an ask, to be sure"
returned the girl, With a mysterious
toss of the head. 81 suppose she'll be
let to see you, ma'am, though it's
mighty queer doings altogether that's
goin' on here, late an early, now"
She preceded Mrs. Martin to the re-
ception room for callers, and was about
to turn away, when that lady detained
her.
II am in no hurry, Susan. Tell me
what you mean.'
Susan briefly related how Mr.. Now
bray had taken letter from her, and
the subsequent scene when she had
brought uI Mr.. Austin's card.
can I must say, ma'am, it went to
my heart to give such message to the
young gentleman, though some do say
as twas him that killed Mr.. Grayson,
begin pardon, ma'am, for naming 1t.
But, anyway, the missus don't think so,
or don't care. 'TWasnt her message.
though I as bid to say so, but thai
overbearin' father o. hers, that's just
the master of every one here. An as to
the letter, I'm sure twas your hand
writin', ma'am; an whatever he did
with it, Mrs. Grayson never saw the in
side of it, or, if she did, her papa saw it
first, I'll go bail for that, ma'am."
mo matter, Susan" Mrs. Martin an
swered, with strange throb at her
heart; she could scarcely tell whether
she felt pelased or disappointed that
her letter to Clarice had miscarried.
IT can write to Mrs. Grayson again, If
necessary, and I'll give the letter to you
to place in her own hands. You know
Mr.. Austin was formerly the sweet
heart Of Mrs. Grayson; but, as she loses
everything under my brothers will if
she marries again, Of course Mr.. Now
bray has his own object in keeping
them apart
ITO be sure, ma'am; we can all see
through that plain enough. But the
surprisin' part of the business to me is
how the missus couldn't get message
to the young gentleman by her waitin'
maid. Nam 'selle Leonce, for she did
seem devoted to her. But there-that's
the most queer of all!
about an hour or so after I'd sent
Mr.. Austin away yesterday, we were all
startled by the violent ringing of Mrs.
Grayson's bell. Now, twas the bust
ness of the French maid to answer that
bell, of course. So, after we'd all given
a start an looked up at the bell, we
went on talkin' an eatin' our lunch, as
we all happened to be dom at that time.'
about a minute passed, when cling
a-clang went the bell ag'in, ringin' like
mad, an no sign Of anyone answerin' it.
We all looked at each other, an start