The pioneer press. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 1893-190?, 1903-11-12
CHAPTER xl.
Stark, Staring Madi"

and locked through It. An advertise
ment caught her eye. A lady wanted
q governess capable of teaching her
children French and Italian
She set out to walk to the number
mentioned. She asked her way fire.
quently; she lost it sometimes. II
was almost noon when she arrived at
the house.
A notwithstanding mansion OF
piliared and porticoed stone.
She lifted the polished. brazen
knocker and raped
A powdered footman admitted her.
but 1t was some time before the lady
OF the house appeared. She came
leisurely down stairs at length-a
thin, angular, cold-faced woman.
She looked at Laurie from head TO
foot. Nothing escaped her piercing
glance-the worn, dark clothes, tho
beautiful, sensitive face, the general
air Of delicate and most exquisite re-
fnement
You desire position as gov
erness. she said. "Your references"
The girl started. Her references
Her head dropped
II have monet"
''You have nonel' 'shrilly. "Then
your presumption in applying is pos
tive impertinence. Got"
''Oh, madam, pray you. let me tell
you why. am fully competent for
the dutnes you require. Let me ex-
plain. You are woman-you will
understand" piteously.
James. the doort"
Zone, two. and still through the
streets of London the girl wandered
on and on In aimless fashion. Once
she found herself in a familiar neigh
borhood. II was near Lincoln's Inn.
You'd she again endeavor to see
Lawyer Bowers--esain attempt, by
cool. rational argument to convince
him of her identity? A holder woman
might have ventured; but she was lit
tie more than a child as yet--a child
whose young life had passed, shell
tered and sacred. in the sanctuary OF
home
81 dare not--I dare not! He says
Laurie Isisle is deadl Perhaps she is!
oh, my head, How il throbs and
burns and achesl Oh, Give, Give!
she whom you knew and loved is dead
dead beyond all hope of resurrec-
toni"
The snow had begun to fall softly.
softly, like a shower of rose leaves
- l.o a nj
slowly westward.
Hank! What was that? Singing.
She was passing a church, and they
were singing within. II was Cath
Ollie church, and being November they
were holding services. as Is their Gus
tom In that month. for the souls of
their dead.
She went In and sat down. The
place was in darkness. save for the
lights on the altar. From the dusky
gallery above the music wailed-a
wild. despairing dirge. She sat down
on a bench In dim corner.
How long she sat there, with clasp
ed hands and throbbing brain. and
burning. sightless eyes, she could
never have told. Here, for however
brief a space, there was rest and Sc
clusion and security. Her whole life
passed in review before her--all its
simple joys md sweet remembrances.
Her fathers tender care and adora-
ton. her lovers
Alb, she could not think OF himl
She dare not--she dare not! He was
the man she had sworn to hate; he
was her fathers deadliest enemy; he
was all that was cowardly, and vile,
and base, and--she loved him!
How long ago was 1t since he had
bent his dark head and whispered,
Laurie. laurie. Laurie, I love you'll
love you!"-how long? August, Sep
TENDER, October, November Four
months! Oh. no--four years. Such
misery could not be compassed In SO
short timo. and yet again Aye, it
was only four months! And in that
space ali gone-aIl lost! Home, name,
+ father. Ioyer--all lost.-ali lostl
@Cllve. Give. CIive!"
A great choking sob burst from her
Iips-a sob that shook her slender
frame from head to feet But further
un In the church the deyotees were
responding to the litanies, and In the
4 murrnur OF their voices that chord OF
pain was drowned. She tad not tast-
ed food since the day before. Her
head was aching like thing OF fire.
Hark! She put up her hand as
b though listening What was that air
they were playing? What was that
familiar, hall-jubiiant music? Over
the low. reverent voice OF the priest.
\ over the drone OF prayerful voices,
over the mournful chanting of the
choir. she heard or seemed to hear,
clear, triumphant, resonant, the sound
& OF FIFE and drum, the braying martial
music OF ''The Girl Left Behind Me-"
she covered her face with her burn
ing hands. Now fierce fever. born
M exhaustion and lack OF food, was
sthrolbing through all her veins. All,
was there in wide London tonight a
.reature more destitute. more lonely,
more deadly heartsick. than the girl
Give Darlington bad left behind
Min?
ES apeoaier eeternem dona lis Dom
-. L.