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

| own room. IueTe Sne Iouuu my lad
still standing In the center of the door
just as she had left her. And the bril-
liant gaslight fell upon her thin, sharp
drawn old face, and showed 1t corpse
like in its pallor, rigid and frozen in 1T:
terrified dismay.
She held out her hands as the cir
approached her, with a helpless, pitt
| full gesture, painfully foreign to the
proud lady of Blackcastle. She die
not sob or cry out, but when she spoke
it was in queer, hard, heart-broker
| voice.
"Oh, Cynthia! my boy, my boy!"
Come" she answered, and led heI
| gently away
| To the dulled brain slowly struggling
to consciousness in the room beyond
| those desolate words penetrated.
Where was she? What had happen.
ed? What did 1t all mean?
All, yes! she embered-remem.
bered. She had heard voices talking
talking Of Clive--and she had lain
ard 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 had crept--oh, 50 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
lily in a snowdrift.
The night ebbed on. A soft, pink
light reigned in the pretty, azure room.
The fire On the bright hearth frolicked
and whispered. And whenever the
clock on the mantel called the hours,
1t laughed out in silver waltz.
Without, the wind died down in low
snarling; the rain grew lighter, and
finally ceased altogether; 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 sauntered
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 it's 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 the radi-
ant, sparkling, bright-lipped girl 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 smile went.
round at sound of flying foot on the
stairs and the ring of a fresh, round
voice:
Gin body meet a body
Comm thro' the rye,
Gin a body kiss body,
Need body cry?
Xix a lassie haze her laddie,
Name they say haze l."
"And II they do. I tell you what,
It's a COMPOUNDED lie!"
chimed in Will Warren, as ne clattered
down the hall.
The door was flung wider; they
came into the breakfast room; and
Baby grew as red as bramble-rose
before the glances OF merrily- knocking
eyes. the pitiless smiling OF quizzical
lips. the final hearty chorus Of ire
pressible laughter.
Don't. pleased" Will pleaded, with
boyish brevity; and sat down, half
abashed. half-dehant. wholly confused.
II 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 to
hear" she said simply. that which l
am obliged to tell you. A sorrow.
very great, sorrow, has fallen upon
Lady Carrirgton--a dark and heavy
shadow upon Blackcastle! Only last
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 ran
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 to
mourning for the dead. She affirms
that when there Is grief in the heart,
the method Of life or attire matters
little. So she begs me to say TO you