The Dakota chief. (Gann Valley, Buffalo County, S.D.) 18??-1913, 1906-12-13

your
mo one can in this world" she gently
said. The last days here must come for
us all, and they are upon me. All, my
dear, If we, all of us, can but be prepared
for them. You see talk to you with the
familiarity of old days. she concluded. a
smile upon her wan face.
II hope you will never talk to me In
any other way" he said. with earnest inn
pulse. "Do you remember how you used
to lecture me, Henry, will not have
you do this'-'Henry, you must do the
other" Why. you know you were as good
to me as mother
II like to sit and think Of the days
gone by she said, .'and very often
think of you. When we old people are
no longer able to employ our time at use
full work, we find occupation in recalling
the past great pleasure lies in it,"
"You are not quite old, dear Mrs.
Dane.'
II am not quite fifty yet. my dear, but
I am old in one sense that | am close
upon the end of life Those who are so
may surely be called old. estimating age
you see, by the duration of their time
huu, no you kuOW, sue duucu, III
low, loving tones, that when we reach
this stage, we almost long for the final
change-for the better, brighter life
which is waiting for u.s."
'But you must have regrets" said
Lord Avon.
"True. All must have them in de-
gree. We cannot help regretting this
world, the only home we have known. 1t
has not been all sunshine; rather, per-
haps. one of storm; yet we know it's best
and its worst, and we are entering one
which we do not know, and so there must
always lie w. A.in us a half wish to stay
here longer. And then-and then"
Mrs. Danes voice sank to a whisper.
She paused
"And then?" he softly whispered.
"And then Gods loving presence re-
sumes its sway within us with all its re-
assuring comfort. and regrets are lost in
a glow of happiness. May it be with
you, my dear, when your own turn shall
come ~
Lord Avon swallowed down lump in
his throat. Mrs. Danes hand was still
in his; he pressed it gratefully and there
ensucd a silence.
1T must seem hard to you, though, to
leave your children here"
"Yes, especially Edith. have not
seen much of Charlotte since her mar
riage; she Is coming down now to stay
week or two. Edith is married also. l
feel anxious about Edith. l cannot help
fearing that she is not strong: that If
the battle of life should prove fierce, she
will not be able to breast it. She is ly-
ing down now. Their income is small,
and they have no residence. as We had"
Let me say word to you, dear Mrs.
Dane" he Interrupted; Il used to bring
my secrets to you in the days of yore.
Do you remember one In particular? A
boy got into the pond of Great Whitton.
and was nearly drowned. and / had the
credit of having pushed him in, and was
punished for 1t by Mr.. Dane"
Il remember it well. Henry," she said,
calling him unconsciously by the old fa-
miliar name. 1T was Jack Whitaker
Just so. Every one fell upon my de-
voted head. reproaching me with being a
wicked and cruel youngster, safe to come
to bad end. l took their abuse quietly.
and | took Mr.. Danes punishment
fearful task of Greek, which to me was
punishment in earnest and when the
thing was all over and done. whispered
the truth to you one day in your dress
ing room, as you were sewing up rent
which had torn in my jacket sleeve
that it was not who had thrown Whit
taker into the. pond. Did you believe
me?'
"Yes, my dear, did believe you to me
you were ever truthful. You would not
tell me who it was that threw him in,
though; recollect that
'I'll tell you now. 1t was Jack him
self. He had been at some mischief at
Mr.. Chester's; stealing the apricots. /
believe; and he was getting away when
he heard hue and cry behind him. In
his terror, for Whitaker was an arrant
coward, he dashed to the side of the
pond, meaning to hide himself among the
rushes; missing his footing, he dashed
right into it. was standing by and
saw the process. After all, the noise was
not in pursuit of him, but of bull which
had got loose from Farmer Ulthorn's
field"
"Why did you take the punishment?v
When he floundered out, like a drown.
ed rat, I k.lping him. he begged and
implored me not to say that he had Jump
ed in. I gave him nay word l would not.
That's how it was. Well, you believed
me then, dear Mrs. Dane. and know you
will believe me now. You have blamed
me in your heart for promising Great
whitton to Mr.. Baumgarten, and then
annulling it by bcstowng it elsewhere, but
1.-The fault did not lie with me-"
'No. With Lady Avon, perhaps"
mo. no, me- she wished Mr.. Baum
garten to have 1t. The whole affair was
the result of an unfortunate mistake. I
committed ii. but in unconscious error,
which and my mother alike regret
Suffer this explanation to rest quite be-
tween ourselves, please. ! should not