The pioneer press. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 1893-190?, 1903-11-26

H
Better II anything: but we can
perceive little change in her. She
raves necessarily"
"Yes; went down to the library for
book late last night" said Miss Dent,
in quick recollection, "and coming
back passed her room. could hear
her repeating distinctly one word-a
| name-Clive. BY the way, that is
your sons name, is it not, Lady Car.
rington?"
My lady's lips compressed them
selves into a pale, level line.
Good heavens!" she asked herself,
in fierce, inward questioning, when
will these people learn to keep their
clumsy fingers out of an open wound?"
With alert, womanly perception,
Cylthia saw how the utterance of that
one familiar word had dismayed her.
Eyes, that Is the name of Lady Car
ringtons son. We had been talking Of
him in her presence for some time-his
mother and land she fastened on his
name, which she kept repeating with
the foolish delirium of fever"
How shall we spend the morning"
questioned Vera, suppressing a yawn.
"Skate!" emphatically advised ener.
getic Miss Earle. Well have thaw
pretty soon, and that will prove the
end Of our fun till Christmas. Who'll
come? Vera, viii, Freddie"
What n madcap you are, Baby!" re-
monstrated Miss Cassard, with her ag-
GRO vet inuIv apnia hIa Sui1a
ooh, bother!" calculated that young
lady, with brief irreverence. Come
on, Freddie!"
But meek Mr.. Lynn had apparently
read disapproyal in Miss Cassard's last
remark. For he sat down beside her
and picked up a truant ball of blue
wool.
IL don't think will go! You are
not going, Miss Cassard? No. thank
you, Miss Earle" in painful and irreso-
lutte politeness, 81 don't think will
CO."
"Stay then!' with brusque and half
contemptUous impatience. Come,
Will! You never desert mel Play
mate OF my childhood" proclaimed
Miss Earle, in mock-heroic eloquence,
friend of my youth, companion of my
- Goodness gracious! here's the
MALL"
The fash OF a scarlet dress, a twin
kle of flying feet, glimps Of bobbing
curls, and exit Miss Earle.
What a child" Cynthia said, with
lenient laugh
In a moment she had reappeared,
with the leathern letter bag held Sc
curely in two slim, brown hands.
wait! let me open it! I'm postman
to-day! One for Cynthia, two for Miss
Dent, a paper for Sir Jasper. postal
for VIII, letter for Lady Darlington
and letter for me! That's ALL"
Then there was no sound for awhile
as they read their mail.
"Oh!"
They started at the sound Of the
short, explosive gasp. Baby had drop
ped her letter and was dancing round
the room in a very ecstasy.
"Oh, it's from papa---it's from papa!
and he's coming home-before Christ
mas! And I haven't seen him for
three years! Oh, Cynthia, think Of
| it,"
And she flung herself down beside
Miss Lennox, in a little, painting,
GREATNESS, scarlet heap.
"Oh, you blissful lunatic!" Cynthia
laughed, putting one slim, sparkling
hand on the girls dark head.
Cynthia" protested Miss Earle,
with Joyous and earnest impressive
ness, 81 feel as though l could hug the
whole world just now!"
| "a most charitable and laudable
frame Of mind" emphatically declared
young Warren. "Suppose-supose you
begin with me?"
Suppose don't?"
Miss Lennoxi" Freddie Lynn cried
out, In quick alarm. Took at Lady Car
! rington. She is ill--she is fainting!"
They clustered round her in a mo-
ment in startled terror. She was lean
| ing back in her chair, her face awfully
gray and rigid. One hand was pressed
convulsively about her heart: the
other, still clutching the letter she had
been reading, hung loosely at her side.
"No, mol am not I'LL" she said,
huskily, and, pushing away her chair,
rose with an effort. 'T-am Just a lit
/ tle-faint. viii so TO my room"
Cynthia put one arm around her and
together they passed into the hall and
up the stairs. Once in her own apart
ment, my lady pushed away the help
full hands with quiet decision.
THANK you, dear," she said. not un.
gently; 'but leave me now. am bet
ter alone"
| May | not know-oh, my mother
my more than mother--may not know
what troubles you?"
She was kneeling by the elder wom-
ans chair, her white, loose morning
dress flowing about her, her dark,
pleading face pleadingly uplifted.
There was a short. hesitant pause
Then my lady released the crumpled
paper between her fingers.
Read thati"
| Cynthia took II up and Strengthening
1t out glanced at the chlrography.
From Cyril Carringtoni she cried.
supposedly.
"Yes."
'My Dearest Aunt" she read. slow.