The San Francisco call., 1904-12-11

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Suzette Bligh was reading a story
aloud in the schoolroom when Harriet
marched in. She held the letter in her
hand. The children could make. and
had leisure to make, no conjecture how
the catastrophe had come about, but IN
a flash all the little girls knew that 1t
was upon them. The letter and their
mothers face told them. They sat
looking at her with terrified eyes.
so you don't want to stay here?'
she said sneeringly. You want to go
to your dearest papa? And you dare
TO write that Who wrote 1t? Was it
you, Lucy?"
IL didn't write it, mamma dear, "
siad Lucy.
Suzette rose in distress.
Dear Lady Harriet" she began.
Hold your tongue. So you wrote it.
Sophy? Yes. 1 see now it's your writ
ing. oh, but you were all in it, 1 sup
pose? So you love your papa
Garrett had stolen to within two or
three yards Of the door now, and 1t
stood half open. She could hear all and
see something of what happened
so you love your papa?"
Sophy had most courage. Desperate
courage came to her now.
Yes, we do"
And YOU want TO 60 to him?"
Yes. mamma"
And you don't love me? You don't
want to stay with me?"
Sophy glanced for q moment at her
sisters.
"Papa's SO kind to u.s." she said.
And I'm not kind?" asked Harriet
with sneering laugh. When you're
older, nv dears, you'll thank me for
having been kind-really kind. It's
really kind to teach you to play these
tricks-these mean disgraceful little
tricks"
All the children rose slowly and
shrank back They tried to get be-
hind Suzette Bligh. Harriet laughed
again when she saw the maneuver.
You needn't stay, Suzette," she said.
Il know how to manage my own chill
dren."
Suzette was verv white. and was
trembling all over; it seemed as IL her
legs would hardly support her.
What are you going to do?"
It's no business OF yours. They
know very well. Leave me alone with
them"
1t was a terrible moment for tirnid
SuZette. But love of the children had
laid hold Of her heart and gave her
strength.
Il can't go. Lady Harriet" she said
in a low voice. Il can't leave you alone
with them-not now"
ANOA nOA CllCO IlGICSiJ.
"You're-you're not calm now. You're
not fit"
You'd stand between me and my
own chiIdren?"
Dear Lady Harriet, IL can't go
away now" For she remembered so
Vividly all that the children's reminis-
cences, their mods and .nudges, had
limited to her; she realized all the
things which they had not told her;
and she would not leave them now.
Her resistance set the crown to Har-
riet Courtland's rage. After an in
stant's pause she gave half articulate
cry OF anger and rushed forwards .Su-
zette tried to gather the children be-
hind her and to thrust the angry wo-
Inan away. But Harriet caught Sophy
by the arm and lifted her nidway in
the air. Garrett came right up to the
door and peeped through.
80 you love papa and not me?"
Sophy turned her pale, terrified little
face up to her mothers. The worst
had happened and the truth came out
mo. we've hate you. You're cruel
TO US; we hate you and we love papa !
Harriets grip frightened on the child's
arms-Sophy's very audAeity kept her
still for a moment. But at the next
she lifted her higher in the air. Suzette
sprang forward with a cry, and Gar
rett dashed into the room, shrieking,
Don't don't, my LADY,"
They were too late. The child was
flung violently down; her head struck
the iron fender: she rolled over and
lay quite still. bleeding from the fore
head. Suzette and Garrett caught Har-
riet Courtland by the arms. A low
frightened weeping came from the
other two little girls.
Harriet stood for a moment in the
grasp Of the two women who sought
to restrain her and would have thrown
themselves upon her had she tried to
move. But restraint was no more nee
essary. Sophy had ransomed her sis
ters, and lay SO quiet, bleeding from
the head In a loud voice Harriet
Courtland cried, Have I killed her?
Oh, my God" and herself broke into a
tempest of hystericaI sobbing She fell
back into CARROTS arms, shuddering,
weeping, now utterly collapsed.
Suzette went and knelt by Sophy.
mo, she's not dead but it's no fault
of yours" she said
Harriet wrenched free from Garrett
and flung herself on. her knees by the
table, stretching her arms across il
and beating her forehead on the wood.
The two children looked at her, Won
derfng and appalled,.