The pioneer press. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 1893-190?, 1903-12-10
CHAPTER XXI.
"His Name is cuthbert eracken.'


Several of the guests spent the after
noon in packing their trunks. "
Blackcastle would no longer be the
jolly place 1t had been with the shad-
ow. of death brooding over it. 1t would
not be pleasant to remain here longer.
And It would not be proper to fntrude
here longer, after the sad bereave-
ment which had afflicted their hostess.
So, with many voluable and affec-
Tomato adieux to Cynthia, and many
consolatory and sympathetic messages
for Lady Darlington, they departed for
other country houses where gaiety
would not be interrupted by illtimed
deaths-Sir Jasper and Lady Jetland,
Miss Cassard, the Hon. Mr.. Sedley,
and in the wake of Vera. constant as
the tail to the comet, Freddie Lynn.
In the pretty blue-and-silver cham.
Der above Laurie lay, conscious and
thinking, or, striving to think.
From early morning she had lain SO,
feigning sleep, but in reality putting
together, bit by bit, with painful DELHI
Grafton and uncertainty. all that she
could remember or understand about
her whereabouts, and the accident
which had brought her there.
The yellow daylight was fading be-
hind the distant poplars before she
fully understood and realized all.
She was at Blackcastle, and they
knew her not. To them she was dead!
Well, she would reveal her identity;
she would say to them:
81 am the girl Give Darlington
loved-I am Laurie Lisle. Aye, more.
I am the daughter of a galley slave,
made such by the master Of Blackcas-
tle-by his treachery and his guilt,
and his irreparable infamy!"
oh, no, no, no! She must not say
that. They would turn her out. and
where could she go?
Merciful heaven-wheref
The remembrance OF the days when
she had stood alone in London, all the
terror, all the misery. all the despair
OF that most wretched time, reverted
to her mind.
All, no; ali, no! She was a coward.
perhaps, but she dare not--she dare
not risk that again! Not just yet; lat
er, when she was stronger, she would
speak, but not yet.
And so Cynthia Lennox found her
when she came softly In with the
creeping dusk.
"How Is your patient, nurse?
Better, think, miss"
"You have not allowed her to ex-
cite herself?"
"She has been a-talkin' to herself,
low-like, off and on"
She bent over the little, snowy bed.
and started to find pair Of eyes fixed
full on her face-glorious blue eyes,
that glittered feverishly.
How pitifully small and childish and
helpless she looked.
The thought struck Cynthia with the
odd sense of pain. Then she did some
thing very strange for naughty Miss
Lennox to do. She ieant, suddenly,
and kissed the pure forehead OF the
girl before her.
"You are better?" she asked gently.
yes" meekly. II am better.
will soon"-with faint energy. and
enunciating with difficulty - go
away"
Indeed, you will do no such thing"
In kindly decision. "You must not
dream of such thing. You must only
lie quiet and still. and get strong as
fast as you can. Would 1t tire you too
much to tell me your Manner
Her name! oh, not yet-not yet!
An. her mothers would be hers for
awhile-her mother's!
"Margaret--Atherton!"
"There-don't try to speak any
more, dear. Drink this and so to
Sleep"
The night passed, the day passed;
and many days and nights went by be-
fore Laurie Lisle discarded bed and
lounge and crept down into the great
drawing room of Blackcastle. q wan.
white little wrath. frail and lovely as .
snowdrop IN the springtims.
And Of those days and nights gone
BIZ who shall speak-of the desclste.