Gilpin observer., 1903-04-23

at all to the purpose. That is the
truth. Always have found 1t So"
Then Lysbet, having finished her
second locking up, entered the room.
She came in as one wearied and trou,
bled, and said with a sigh, as she un
tied her apron:
"Joris, the elders words have made
trouble in my heart. What did the
man mean?"
who can tell? What man says,
we know; but only God understands
what he means. But l will say this,
Lysbet, and it is what l mean: II
Semple has led my daughter into the
way of temptation, then, for all that
Is past and gone, we shall be un.
friends"
"Give yourself no kommer on that
matter, Joris. Hove not some of our
best maidens married into the Eng
1sh set? There Is no harm, l think.
in girl taking a few steps up when
she puts on the wedding ring"
Mean you that our little daughter
should marry. some English good-fo-.
nothing? Look, then, would rather
see her white and cold in the dead.
chamber. l will have no Englishman
among the Van Heemskirks. There,
let us sleep. Tonight l will speak nc
more"
But. madam could not sleep. She
was quite sensible that she had tacitly
encouraged Katherine's visits to Sem.
pie House, even after she understood
that Capt. Hyde and other fashion.
able and notable persons were fre.
quent visitors there Lysbet Van
Heemskirk saw no reason why her
younger children should not move
with the current, when it might set
them among the growing aristocracy
of the New World.
She tried to recall Katherines de-
meanorT and words during the pas.
day, and she could find no cause for
alarm in them. She could not remem-
ber anything at all which ought to
make her uneasy; and what Lysbet
did not see or hear, she could not
imagine.
Yet the past ten hours had really
been full of danger to the young girl.
Early in the afternoon, some hours
before Joanna was ready to go, Kath-
crime was dressed for her visit to
Semple House. 1t stood, like Van
Heemskirk's, at the head of a garden
sloping to the river; and there was a
good deal of pleasant rivalry about
these gardens. both proprietors hav-
ing impressed their own individuality
upon their pleasure grounds.
The space between the two houses
was an enciosed meadow; and this af-
ternoon, the grass being warm and
dry and full of wild flowers, Rather
inc followed the narrow footpath
through it, and entered the Semple
garden by the small side gate. Near
this gate was a stone dairy, sunk be-
low the level of the ground-a deli
ciously cool, clean spot even in the
hottest weather. Passing it, she saw
that the door was open, and Madam
Semple was busy among it's large,
shallow, pewter, cream-dishes. She
was beating some rich curd with eggs
and currants and spices; and Rather
inc, with a sympathetic smile, asked
delightedly:
"Cheesecakes, madam"
Just cheesecakes, dearie'
"Oh, l am glad! Let me fill some of
these pretty little patty-pans."
"I'll do naething O. the kind, Kath-
crime. You'd be spelling the bonnie
silk dress you hae put on. Go to the
house and sit wi Mistress Gordon.
She was asking for you no an hour
ago. And, Katherine, my bonnie las
sic. dinna gle thought to one word
that black-eyed nephew O. hers may
say to you. He's here the day and
game tomorrow, and the lasses that
heed him will get sair hearts to them
sefs."
The bright young face shadowed.
and a sudden fear came into Madam
Semples heart as she watched the
girl turn thoughtfully and slowly
away into the house.