Mower County transcript., 1906-06-20
CHAPTER XIV.
"A FINE HEROINE TOO.

Friday morning.
Miss Annesley possessed more than
the ordinary amount of force and pow
er of will. Though the knowledge of it
was not patent to her, she was phil
osopher. She always submitted grace
fully to the inevitable. She was re-
ligious, too, feeling assured that God
would provide. She did not go about
the house, moaning and weeping; she
Simply studied all sides Of the calam-
ity, and looked around to see what
could be saved. There were moments
when she was even cheerful. There
were no new lines in her face; her
eyes were bright and eager. All per-
sons of genuine talent look the world
confidently in the face; they know ex-
actly what they can accomplish. As
Karlof had advised her, she did not
trouble herself about the future. Her
violin would support her and her faith
er, perhaps in comfortable circum-
stances. The knowledge Of this gave
her silent happiness, that kind which
tiful calm.
At this moment she stood on the We
randa, her hand shading her eyes. She
was studying the sky. The afternoon
would be clear; the last ride should be
a memorable one. The last ride! Tears
blurred her eyes and there was a
smoth ering sensation in her throat.
The last ride! After to-day Jane
would have new, strange mistress.
II only she might 60 to this possible
mistress and tell her how much she
loved the animal, to obtain from her
the promise that she would be kind
to it always. How mysteriously the
human heart spreads it's tendrils
around the object of it's love! What
Is there in the loving of dog or
horse that, losing one or the other,
an emptiness is created? Perhaps it
Is because the heart goes out wholly
without distrust to the faithful, to the
undeceiving, to the dumb but loving
beast, which, for all it's strength, is so
helpless.
She dropped her hand and spoke to
James, who was waiting near by for
her orders.
James, you will have Pierre fill
saddle-hamper; two plates, two knives
and forks, and so forth. We shall ride
in the north country this afternoon.
1t Will be your last ride. Tomorrow
the horses will be Sold" How brayely
she said it!
eyes, Miss Annesley." Whom
were they going to meet in the north
country? AT what hour shall I bring
the horses around?"
AT three"
She entered the house and directed
her steps to the study. She found her
father arranging the mornings mail.
She drew up a chair beside him, and
ran through her own ]etteEe An in
vitation to lunch with Mrs. Sceretary-
of-State: she tossed it into the waste
basket. 4 dinner-dance at the Country
Club, bail at the Brazilian legation.
tea at the German embassy, box
party at some coming play, an in
formal dinner at the executive man.
sion; one by one they huttered into
the basket. A bill for winter furs, a |
bill from the dressmaker, one from the
milliner, one from the glover, and one
from the florist; these she laid aside.
reckoning their sum-total, and frown-
ing. How could she have been 50 ex-
travagant? She chanced to look at her
father. He was staring, rather stupid
ly at a slip of paper which he held in |
his trembling fingers.
*'What is it?'' she asked, vaguely
troubled.
II do not understand" he said,' ex-
tending the paper for her inspection.
Neither did she at first.
:Karloff has not done this" went on
her father, "for it. shows that he has
had IT DISCOUNTED At the bank. It is !.