The pioneer press. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 1893-190?, 1904-01-14
CHAPTER XVII.

This sweet wee wife o mine!"
sang Baby Earle, In her clear. high
voice. as, all unconscious of the scene
Just enacted Ia the library. she came
flying down the stairs like bright.
winged bird.
"The worlds wrack well share o 1t.
The wrastle and the care O. 1t.
WI her I'll blithely bear 1t.
And think my lot
Oh--h! You horrid boyi"
For hand had caught nuttering
fold of her dress, as she flashed
through the shadowy hall, and laugh
OF mischievous merriment was sound
ing in her ears.
'Tet 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 Earlier" 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
a chasm between us which cannot be
lightly bridged."
"Oh, hang it all. Baby, don't say
that!" imploringly protested Will. IT
rude to you--I rude to you!-when
you know Id do anything in the world
for you-'pon my honor. would. Make
mp and be friends-do! What are you
smiling aboutf Are you trying to for
give met"
Il am trying not to-"
"Ah, better still! Then your heart
says yes? Come, your Christmas trib-
ute to the mistletoei"
wait TIL you hear what my heart
says first" murmured Miss Earle, In
voice omirously meek and sweet
Bend your head till whisper"
"You ANGEL" he said. rapturously.
and bent his handsome. fair head TO
listen.
But a moment later there was a
sharp clap, cry, and VIII Warren
stood alone, with his ear tingling
sharply from Baby's brisk box, and a
mocking cry floating back to him up
the hall.
"That GIRL" he said. biankly. "Je-
rusalem!"
IL was queer pretense OF dinner
they went through In the great dining
room. Cynthia sat in her accustomed
place, calm and stately as usual, but
neither my lady, Miss Isle nor Cyril
Darlington appeared.
Mr.. Earle and his daughter were
dimiy conscious of the restraint which
brooded In the social atmosphere, but
both were ignorant of the cause.
The night dragged on and dragged
out--a dreary. uncomfortable, un-
rhristmas-like Christmas eve.
Without the snow had again re.
sumed its noiseless downpour. The
clocks throughout Blackcastle were
counting twelve when Cynthia Lennox
raped at my lady's door, and receiv-
Ing no reply. turned the handle and
walked in.
MY lady was lying In great chaii
By the fire. She had fallen into light
sleep, but something-that indefnabie
something which makes US conscious
though unconscious OF q human pres
ence--awoke her.
She sa. erect In her seat and looked
up at the girl before her.
"Ah. It is you. Cynthia! I am glad
you came In. ! wanted to speak with
YOU"
~weilY" she answered and sat down
YEARLY.
The intense strain Of the last few
weeks was telling on her, mentally and
physically, robust though she was.
IL want to ask you what YOU think
what you really think OF this-this
affair. DO you believe her statement!
Do you believe his2 I have been
thinking and thinking till l am hall
crazed. I have turned and twisted
each wretched story into every con
oe9vable shape. and tie result Ia that
i am more hopelessly bewildered than
ever. But said to myself, 'Cynthia
will discover the truth where ! fail!'
Is she Laurence Lisle, as she claims
or is she an imposter, as he asserts
Your brain is young and clear, dear
What does 1t sayf"
Che had spoken with voluble rapid.
Nv, and was now leaning forward In
\ her chair, anxious and eager.
n says" Miss Lennox answered,
siswly. "nothingl"
aNothingf"
4 cannot think at ALL" she cried,
v1eA sudden energy. 1.-THE faculty OF
shought seems to have deserted my
brafn tonight. Think, think, think!
That IL what I have been doing this
moath or moreover since the night
wo carried her In through the gates OF
Wackcastle: ever since that horrible
lfAgh first rang In my earsi Why do
ypa start! Tradition says that mani
I aenf laugh II an omen OF evil to the
kouDe OF Darlington. Such Il has
rnDyen. Evil has fallen upon it-evil
an95 bitter sorrowl Her illness and
ae1hgs dclirium; Gives death; the
I G1nGles here IN life. manners. all ola,
fs1nfiar thinss; the change In you;
- 70 climax It ell. this wretched
11DBs q tseisAt. with ~ painful 20
=