The pioneer press. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 1893-190?, 1903-12-17
CHAPTER XIII.

seat,
Heeds them not as she sits ant
Dreams.
The eve of Christmas eve! and II
was showing steadily and noiselessly
had been showing steadily from faI
into the previous night-a regular
cld-fashioned Christmas snowstorm
uense and determined and uncompro
mising--a storm which blotted out
every vestige of road and path and
hedgerow--which lowered hills and
whole fair, rolling landscape into a
dead-white level
It was the most severe winter
known in England for many years
The poor suffered intensely.
Up at the great mansion Of Black
castle there was little or no decora.
ton going on in honor OF the season.
which before had been always royal
iy welcomed with banners of holly and
flourish of mlstletoe.
To-day. VIII Warren had passed his
afternoon sulkily knocking around the
balls OF the billiard table, and wonder
ing why on earth a girl couldn't have
a little consideration even IL her
father was coming to see her.
And up stairs Baby Earle rushed
ecstatically from window to window,
and captured Cynthia to whisper a
few excited words in her ear when
ever she passed and laughed gleeful.
Iy to herself when quite alone.
And In the corridor without, slowly,
slowly up and down walked Laurie
Lisle--a small, slender fglre, clad in
a dark, flowing gown, with soft, black
rufIles at throat and wrists. Her
golden head was bent upon her breast,
her bright hair fell in a glittering
flood below her waist; her hands hung
loosely clasped before her.
She was thinking, as she had been
seriousness the previous evening, and
now she had decided.
Let Cuthbert Bracken come--let
him come and do his worst! She
would defy himi She would no long
er be child, but woman-a woman
who, secure In her own honor, would
not tremble and fly at the sound of
this mans step. at the ring of his
voice. I'm any case, she was sick of
this deception. She would reveal her
identity. After that
So absorbed was she I'm her
thoughts that she started when Gym.
thia's voice fell on her ear.
"Will you not go down and see
Lady Darlington? She is In the little
room at the foot of the stairs. She
IA coming In to dinner tonight, but
she is anxious to see you alone first.
Will you go?"
For one moment she hesitated. His
mother! Well, the meeting must
come sooner or later. why not now?
"Yes," she answered. Il will CO."
In point of fact, Lady Darlington
teryiew with the girl. She even
doubted the wisdom and propriety
Cynthia had shown In introducing this
utter stranger into their social and
exclusive circle.
9. But. Miss Lennox overruled ali OBJ
1ections in her imperative fashion.
"She is q lady, and she stands in
need of Kindness" she had insisted.
THAT Ia sufficient for us to know.
Lack OF courtesy was never a falling
of the Carringtons. And In this in
stance the very delicacy of hospital.
fly forbids us to penetrate, with the
weapon of vulgar intrusion, the re-
serve which our guest chooses to
maintain"
Just now my lady sat by the long
window which opened TO the veranda,
running along the western side Of the
house She was looking out at the
whirling snow with sad, weary eyes,
and God only knows what bitter
thoughts.
She ha6 changed awfully Of late:
she nad grown thin and haggard. and
her hair was almost white. She
reused herself and turned round as
the door opened and q figure came
Into the gathering dusk.
"Ah, Miss Atherton!" she exclaimed,
and held out her hand in her stately
way. IL am glad to see you. Cynthia
has spoken of you SO often. You are
quite recoverod?"
But at the very first word she spoke
one noticed how broken and sorrow
full were the tones that had been SO
nrm and proud.
For one moment the old jeweled
hand closed over the slim fingers.
Then the girl sank down on a low
fauteuil. her face turned to the dying
daylight.
"Yes. am better. I am almost
well; shall soon be strong enough to
60 away"
"Ah. no. indeed" she said. kindly
enough, for her great sorrow had soft
sned her strangely. You must not
be In such great haste to leave us,
though / fear Blackcastle has been
but gloomy abode OF late, especially
for young people. And you are very
young" she added-"Quite q child"
She bent forward and took the face
before her In both her hands. and
turned It 30 that the fading winter
nxht fell on It more clearly. She
q IL - a