Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1904-01-14
CHAPTER XVII.

"
She's bonnie wee thing,
This sweet wee wife o. mine!'"
sang Baby Earle, in her clear, higl
voice, as, all unconscious Of the scene
Just enacted in the library, she came
flying down the stairs like bright
winged bird.
'',Tbe worlds wrack Wen share O. 1t
The wraatle and tho care o. 1t,
WI her III; blit,hsly bear 1t.
And think my lot
Oh--h! You horrid boy!"
For hand had caught futterine
g fold Of her dress, as she flashed
through the shadowy hall. and laugh
of mischieyous merriment was sound.
!: ing in her ears.
Let me go!" she commanded, with
sudden frigidity. remembering their re-
cent quarrel.
Pay toll. Baby!"
And he pointed to where, above
them, cleaned the white berries Of the
mistletoe.
Mr.. Warren!" Indignantly.
Miss Earle?" interrogatiyely.
You forget we are enemies-implac-
able enemies! Your rudeness, and tho
shocking way In which you lost your
temper this evening have with a
burst OF oratorical eloQuence, Caused
chasm between us which cannot be
lightly bridgsd."
ooh, hang 1t all, Baby. don't say
t>otf ct
rude to youI rude to you!-when
you know I'D do anything in the world
for you-pon my honor, would Make
up and be friends-do! What are you
smiling about! Are you trying to for
give me?
Il am trying not to-"
All. better still! Then your heart
says yes? Come, your Christmas trib-
ute to the mfstletoe!"
Wait till you hear what my heart
says first" murmured Miss Earle, In q
voice omirously meek and sweet.
Bend your head till whisper
You angel" he said. rapturously,
and bent his handsome. fair head to
listen.
But q moment later there was a
sharp clap, cry, and Will Warren
stood alone, with his ear tingling
sharply from Baby's brisk box, and q
knocking cry floating back to him I'm
4 the hall.
That girl" he said. blankly. "Je-
rnsalem
II was a queer pretense Of dinner
they wont through In the great dining
room. Cynthia sat In her accustomed
\ place, calm and stately as usual, but
neither my lady. Miss IIsle nor Cyril
Darlington appeared.
Mr.. Earle and his daughter were
dimly conscious Of the restraint which
brooded In the social atmosphere, hut
both were ignorant Of the cause.
me night dragged on and dragged
Il Dlt--a dreary, uncomfortable. I'M
Christmas-like Christmas eve.
Without the snow had again re-.
sumed Its noiseless downpour. The
clocks throughout Blackcastle were
counting twelve when Cynthia Lennox
rapped at my lady's door, and receiv-
Ing no reply. turned the handle and
walked In.
NY lady was lying in a great chair
B BY the Are. She had fallen into 4 l,srbt
sleep. but something-tl,at ,n,,af;r ,a1blIs
something which makes i. cnn I, s ~,
B though unconscious OF human pres.
ence awoke her.
She sat erect IN her seat ARA ,oo,,aa
up ct the girl before her.
All, Ill IL you, cynthia, am clad
you ca1ne In. / wanted to sneak with
you.
Well 81 she answered ana rat down
4 YEARLY.
The Intense strain of the last Few
weeks was telling on her, mentally and
physically. robust though she vas.
q want to ask YOU what yo,, t,,inr--
what you really think 81 tbi i.
affair. Do YOU believe her statsm ant srlts )
Do Ynu iaye 3. "a & a -
sthinksng and thinlyinp M, 81 Il, g ,,a1s
/ craxed. have tnrned ana ~ ta,s ss,sai
each wretchad stnry i,,ta "a, svorr $50 49,,
ceiyabIe shane ma a IS Ia, : ra.,,,t t tsat
am more honeless,v haaIldara 4 i, ~, :