Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1903-11-19

setting of onyx. Her soft, clinging
dress revealed every curve OF the ex-
quisite figure. The long. heavy mass
es OF waving heir were wet and pow
dered with snow. The lovely young
face cleaned against its dusky back
ground, m~arble-white and marble
cold.
watt" some on said. Here is
Lady Darlington
She came gliding down the hall like
a tall. dark ghost.
what is 1t, Cynthia?" she cried.
What has happened? Who is she?"
Miss Lennox did not answer She
was ON her knees beside the couch,
forcing some brandy between the
| girls lips.
But a dozen eager voices broke out
In excited explanation.
I'VE don't know. We were crossing
the road to the lake, and we found
her ~half-buried In the Poor lit
| tie thing. Such a child To be left so
destitute as she was apparently Is
she not beautiful, Lady Carrington?"
My lady came nearer and stood be-
side the lounge, looking down on the
motionless figure.
Aye. an exquisite face, truly! The
! small, delicate features were abso-
luteIy perfect; the long, curling lashes
and dark, fine brows were black as
night; the short, proud lips were
fanltlessly chiseled.
She stood several minutes looking
at her in absolute silence.
And thus they met-these two Won
en- whom Give Darlington loved
these two women who loved Lin!
Here is the dcctori"
He came busting up the hall, pre-
ceded by a servant--a little, short.
stout, rubicund man.
He bowed ~deferentially to my lady,
approached the patient, felt her pulse.
and shook his head with an air OF
alert professional gravity.
"A serious ~case-veryi A delicate
constitution, exposure combined. make
it quite serious. You understand!
She may be conscious toward mor
ing. IL not, the exhaustion and ex-
posure from which she Is suffering
must climax In brain fever. She must
be Immediately removed to her room
-"
Papa! papai"
The broken cry walled through the
room. They staggered back, trem-
bling and half afraid.
The girl on the lounge had started
to a sitting posture and was looking
wildly around. Once again had the
fever fend clutched her in his burr
ing grasp.
"Oh, | am going TO you'll am going
to you! You will be glad to have me,
dear! A few steps more-Hark!
What is that they are playing? Re
QUEEN aeternam'-rest eternal Oh.
not here!" with q sudden sharp, aw-
full cry, which thrilled her listeners
through and through. mot here-not
here!"
And once again she fell back, white
and unconscious.
They carried her up the grand stair
way with strong arms and gentle, and
into a dainty, luxurious room oE the
floor above.
Such a cosy nest, all azure and sill.
yer!
The night wore on. Dinner was
over. The numerous clocks through
out Blackcastle had changed the hours
In erratic clock fashion.
Eight. nine. ten, eleven! Eievenl
Brass. and silver. and iron jingied and
chimed-eleven!
"Eleven!" cried Baby Earle. rudely
Earring the social chord Of genial con-
~versation. ITO bed-to bed! And to-
morrow well have our sleighing party
and our skating match. Well, what
do Q bet won't pass you by q
quarter Of a miller"
"A box of glovesr"
"Done?"
And SO they trooped off to bed, and
silence fell over Blackcastle.
But though there was silence there
was w~akefulness, and with wakeful.
ness comes thought. and with thought
-ah. so often. h~eartache!
In the room above, where the sick
girl lay. the minutes licked by In
mellow morotony. And what a pretty
room II was! There we're soft, light
carpets. all sprayed with forget-me-
note under foot. The shining folds
CT curtains OF blue silk draped the long
windows. Mirrors, reaching from floor
TO ceiling. pancled the painted walls.
Here and there were scattered deep,
snowy rugs CT sheepskin.
Even the little white bed was a
miracle OF taste and beauty. with It's
bars OF polished silver. It's pillows OF
fine linen and embroidery, It's canopy
and curtains Of silk and costly
lace.
Above the hearth, composed Of
quaint bright Winton. tiles, n clear
fire burned and cracked ~bravely.
and from their pedestals. cleaning fig.
ures OF marble lifted aloft globes OF
rosy light.