The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1902-05-16
CHAPTER /.


1Rshlonahle London squares: an upper
eoom. furnished something between e
study ana q boudoir; small fire
SarninG In the grate-for. in spite OF
ehD April sunshine. the wind was in
the east-and for sole occupant a
Soung girl, whose age was 10, though
che looked little older, perhaps be-
cause she had cried till her eyes were
hot aud swollen. and her cheeks had
1ost their delicate coloring-a girl who
VAS the daughter Of one of the richest
0omnoners in England. and who yet
vas as unhappy as the poorest waif
h London's streets.
8eryl Lndon had no mother. She
could Just recall frail, delicate wo-
0xn. who loved her very much, but
whs seemed too sad and sorrowful to
chow her affection. She had been a
tiny child when that mother was
taken away. and yet she had been
quite conscious that, save for leaving
her, the tired woman was glad to go.
Her mothers love had been taken
from Beryl full early, and no other
had replaced 1t.
Mr.. Lindon placed his daughter in
q private family at the seaside until
she was 10 years old, when she was
sent to . boarding school in Brussels.
Once year he had called at the
school, and had a brief, formal inter-
view with his daughter in the prin-
efpSis own sanctum; and II months
ago he had removed Beryl from the
,saekect establishment, and brought her
to his stately home in Chichester
square.
For one year they had lived to-
~sether. father and child, yet strangers
in heart and feeling; they drew no
nearer to each other. Beryl knew
,rfectiy that to the handsome, well
preserved man Of the world. still I'M
der 60. she was only an encumbrance.
He took no trouble to conceal the
ekcA. and his friends took little notice
q the shy, Notwithstanding girl
tAeJ thought such contrast to her
fascinating father. She was not
out" It pleased Mr.. Linden to re-
gard her as too young for society, so
che had no chance of meeting people
more congenial to her than her
s3athsr's circle. She was terribly
aansly, desperately unhappy; but yet.
afesr reading the letter which had
come from Mr.. Linden that morning,
Tt seemed to the girl she had never
Hbefors known what trouble meant,
'and TINT n only things could be once
who're as they were yesterday she
would be content.
Her breakfast had gone away I'M
touched-all her meals were served
e,st2ars In her fathers absence from
Anme-aud she Sat over the fire, with
4 look Of such pain on her face as
was terrible to see in a girl of Is.
Suddenly the door opened. and the
'housekeeper entered without the cere-
xaoas oc knocking, unless, indeed, her
knock had not penetrated to Eeryl's
dazed, stunned brain.
Mzs. Markham was kind, motherly
woman. not a lady by birth, but we'll
educated, and with more refinement
Ut feeling than many of her superiors
:Sha had been in Eustace Lindon's en-
-pioy ever since he took the house in
E!chester square 10 years before
X came to speak to you, Miss
Bery1." she said gently. 81 had
strange news from Mr.. Linden this
morning. and when Nancy came down
and told me you'd not touched your
breakfast, I thought perhaps he'd
written to you. too"
yes, MIS- Markham. l can't quite
take It In, it seems too terrible"
The househeeper sat down opposite
Bery'- She was quite as indignant as
tho girl could be.
You see. Miss Beryl your papa's
not N old man-47, believe-and it's
natural be should tire of lonely life.
Perhaps his new wife will make things
1Eeasanter for you. You've had but
dull time OF it since you left school,"
shouldn't mind his marrying"
said Beryi frankly-"in fact, l think
q should be glad; but that he should
choose that woman, should put her in
my mothers place-it is terrible!'
Mrs. Markham looked bewildered.
Z DO you mean that the lady is any
enc We know, Miss Beryl? Mr.. Lin
don never mentioned her name to ME.
de only said the wedding would be
at once, and he hoped to bring his
wife home on May L."
HE is going to marry Miss Maun-
'dezs." said Beryl. almost apatheti-
<arly.
The housekeeper started.
When Beryl Lindon first left school
q very showy-1ooking woman was en-
gagged as her maid-companion. Miss
Aannders was supposed to walk with
FBeryl, look after her wardrobe, and
make herself generally useful From
tho irst day of their meeting Beryl
took antipathy to the woman. She
fSeEt that Miss Maunders was unwor-
thy her trust and confidence, that she
had none of the qualifications she pro-
'Eessed; and the girl yearned to escape
from the companionship she hated
A. last, only three months ago, things
come TO crisis, Miss Maunders, whom
tina household suspected OF a liking
eor aumulants, went into q more vic.
asnt rsge than usual, and actually for.
rot herself SO far as to strike hel
u. u -