The pioneer press. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 1893-190?, 1903-12-24
CHAPTER xxv-continued.

But a wild, joyful cry from Baby
interrupted him.
ooh, papa, papa! It's papa. Gym
thia-quick, see! Coming up the ave.
nue. with Mr.. Cyril"
And with final, exultant cry, she
rushed across the room, flung the door
wide and darted through.
She reappeared In a moment, cling
fng to her father, q big. tall, kindly
featured man, fur-clad as a Russian.
He was an old friend Of my lady's.
Eustace Earle, and she rose to greet
him warmly, and introduced him to
others.
How do you think we have treated
your treasure during the few months
which she has been in our possession '
she inquired lightly.
"Magnifcently!" he answered,
warmly. looking lovingly down on the
bright, mignonne face upturned to his.
But" with a Sudden change of tone,
"let me tell you how sincere and heart
felt is my grief f6f your irreparable
loss. knew him so we'll. loved him
so well. that, believe me, my words
are those Of no conventional condo
ience."
II am sure OF t." she answered sim
ply; but the white heat of intense pain
Quiyered over her fine old face.
Just then Cyril Darlington came
into the room, and conversation be-
came general.
In little while Miss Earle and her
father went away together; and he be-
gan distributing from the pockets of
his great coat which he still wore the
commissions with which he had been
burdened in London.
Miss Atherton." he said, suddenly
coming up to the quiet figure by the
fire. small. square package in his
hand. let mckinley let me play at
being Santa Clause for once"
And he laid that which he held in
her lap.
7 He went out into the hall a moment,
and came back with large, square
cardboard box He went straight up
TO where Cynthia sat, grave and dark
proved.
4 Miss Lennox," he said, In quite a
low vuice--a very humble voice, too
''you would give me no order to exc
cute In London; and | thought, at this
gracious season, you would be gener-
Gus enough TO accept-these."
He had torn off the cover while he
was speaking, and now drew from
their receptacle and laid on her lap,
q great cluster OF roses--roses such
as the dollhouse of Blackcastle had
never produced at this time of the year
huge. crimson, fragrant.
"Oh, how beautiful" she said, invol-
unfairly, and laid one sparkling hand
involuntarily on their green stalks.
A quick fash of pleasure lit his eyes.
She was passionately fond of flow-
ers, and these were in some way like
herr-to him they had been suggestive
Of her--intense, delicate, tropical.
hued.
Her long, mellow eyes were quite
moist when she looked UP at him.
Thank you'll" she said, simply.
But he felt superbly repaid.
.'What have you there, Miss Ather-
tom" my lady questioned.
The girl held up by way OF reply
little volume with covers of ivory, all
lettered In azure mad gold.
How good you were," she whis-
pered gratefully, as Cyril passed her.
''to think OF me-"
"Ah. Tennysoni" said my lady. ex-
aiming II with q smile OF pleased sur
prise. shy fayorite."
She opened 1t at a certain page, and
holding It SO. passed it back to the girl.
Il want you to read that for me.
wait: 1t IS too dark. Cyril. ring for
lights"
In @ few moments the curtains were
drawn, the ire coaxed to ruddier
radiance, the whole vast room softly
brilliant.
They all drew their chairs little
nearer to iisten--ail except Cynthia
Lennox She sat quite still, touching
now and then. with elm, caressing fin
gers, the rich. yelvety petals of the
glowing flowers in her lap.
Miss Atherton began to read the
poem indicated. Her sweet, slightly
piaintiye young voice endued with its
tender pathos that most exquisite and
pathetic fragment of the laureate's;
but It quivered little as, she read the
third verse:
~And az she stately ships 20 on
no their haven under the hill:,
But oh. for the touch of a vanished hand,
And the sound OF a voice that Is still!"
Ny lady dropped her face In her
hands with sharp sob.
sRrealS break break
At the foot OF thy crags. oh, sea!
Eut the tender grace OK q day that u
WIN never come back to me-"
Tho book fell UNDECIDED on the fioor.
With the last word the girl had brok-
en- down completely. as she had done
last night In my lady's room. She
burst into passion Of tears-low. an
guished. tempestuous.
They crowded around her In q mo-
xnent In quick dismay, hut she sprang
- her feet and waved them back.
moi she raid. In . rapid. hoarsa