The pioneer press. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 1893-190?, 1903-12-10

liant gaslight fell upon her thin, sharp
drawn old face, and showed 1t corpse
Ike in its pallor, rigid and frozen in Its
terrified dismay.
She held out her hands az the girl
approached her. with helpless. pitt
rul gesture, painfully foreign to the
proud lady of Blackcastle. She did
not sob or cry out, but when she spoke
il was in a queer, hard, heart-broken
voice.
"Oh. Cynthia! my boy, my boy!"
Come" she answered, and led her
gently away.
To the dulled brain slowly struggling
to consciousness in the room beyond,
those desclate words penetrated.
Where was she? What had happen
ed? What did it all mean?
All, yes! she OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
bered. She had heard voices talking
talking of Clive-and she had lain
and listened! And the strange words
had blended with the stranger fanta.
sizes in her mind-the fantasies evoked
by fever! And at last they said-what
was that they had said?-that she
she, Laurie Isle, was dead!
How could that be when she could
hear them say so? And she had risen
end bad crept-oh, so slowly!--across
the floor; and then they said that Give
that Give Oh, yes, yes, yes; she
remembered! And agitated by the
effort Of memory, she once more shiv.
cred back among her pillows, white as
a lily in a snOwdrift
The night ebbed on. A soft, pink
light .reiSned in the pretty, azure room.
The fire On the bright hearth frolicked
| and whispered. And whenever the
clock on the mantel called the hours,
it LAUGHED out in a silver waltz.
without, the wind died down In low
snarling; the rain grew lighter, and
finally ceased altogether; a faint gray
ness came into the air.
And so the day broke over Black
castle. And when the first pale streaks
Of light stole between the silken cur.
tains, the CLEANS of returning reason
crept through the darkened easement
of a soul
She was beginning to think Six
seven-eight-nine And the house
was astir. The breakfast bell rang.
and one by one the guests saunteTed
down to the cosy morning room, whose
CHEEKY atmosphere babe defiance to
the dreary day without.
They were almost all assembled,
when the door opened to admit Miss
ennox She wore the same tight
fitting black dress she had worn the
previous night, but now there was no
speck OF color, no single jewel about
her to relieve its sombreness. Her
beautiful, naughty face was resolutely
composed.
They looked up as she entered and
greeted her with welcoming volley
Of words. But Cyril Darlington start.
ed as he saw her. Was that tbs radi-
ant, sparkling, bright-lipped gl;l he
had talked with few hours before
that quiet. colorless. weary woman?
"Why, Miss Lennox!" some one
called out, you are ill?"
"Oh, mol" she said, and shook her
head. 81 am not Ill; but-hear that
child!"
They all knew how completely the
little madcap without had crept into
Cynthia's heart So a smile went
round at sound OF flying foot on the
stairs and the ring of fresh, round
voice:
Gin body meet a body
Comm thro the rye.
Gin body kiss a body,
Need body cry?
Tx lassie haze her laddie,
Name they say haze L."
"And II they do, tell you what,
It's a COMPOUNDED lie!"
chimed in Will Warren. as ne clatterei
| down the hall
The door was flung wider; they
came into the breakfast room; and
Baby grew as red as a brambe-rose
before the glances OF merrilymocking
eyes. the pitiless smiling of quizzical
lips, the final hearty chorus OF IRE
pressible laughter.
Don't please!" VIII pleaded, with
boyish brevity; and sat down, half
abashed half.deflant. wholly confused
1t was not till breakfast was over
and they were about to separate that
Miss Lennox said what she had come
down to say.
Il know you will all be sorry &c
hear" she said simply, that which
am Obliged to tell you, A sorrow. a
very great sorrow, has fallen upon
Lady Carrington--a dark and heavy
shadow upon Blaekcas;le! Only las
night did we receive tidings OF the
death Of her son. Sir Give Darlington
who persisted on board the ship Dol
phin."
A murmur of startled dismay rar
round the room. Those present looked
at each other with blank. Mortified
) faces.
But" she went on. in her calm
. firm voice, Lady Darlington holds
rather peculiar views in regard Il
, mourning for the dead She affirm
that when there Is grief in the heart
the method OF life or attire matter
little So she begs me to say to yol
, that those OF you who can End II II
{ your hearts to stay will honor her am
J honor Blackcastle."