The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-06-26

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 Stephen had of course no hesita- ton as to receiving the lady. Even had there been any objection. the curiosity which she had in common with her kind would have swept difficulties aside. She gave orders that when Mrs. Stonehouse arrived with her daughter they were to be shown at once into the Mandarin drawing-room. That they would probably stay for lunch. She would see them alone.
 A little before 12 o'clock Mrs. Stone- house and Pearl arrived. and were shown into the room where Lady de Lannoy awaited them. She was sitting in the great bay-window. The high sun. streaming in from the side. shone on her beautiful hair. making 1t look like living gold. When the Americans came in they were for an instant en- tranced by her rich beauty. One glance at Mrs. Stonehouse's sweet sympathetic face was enough to establish her in Stephens good graces for ever. As for Pearl. she was like one who has un- expectedly seen fairy for goddess She had been keeping guardedly behiisd her mother, but on the instant she came out fearIessly into the open.
 stephen advanced quickly and shook hands with Mrs. Stonehouse. sayins heartily:
 T am so glad you have come. I am honored in being trusted"
 Thank you so much, Lady de Lan- noy. I felt that you would not mind especially when you know why we came. Indeed had no choice. Pearl insisted on 1t; and when Pearl is ur- gent we who love her have all to give way. This is Pearlr'
 Tn an instant stephen was on her knees by the beautiful child. The red rosebud of a mouth was raised to her kiss. and the little arms went lovingly round her neck and clung to her. As the mother looked on delighted she thought she had never seen more beautiful sight. The two faces so diff ferent. and yet with so much in com mon. The red hair and the flaxen. both tints of gold. The fine color of each heightened to a bright flush in their eagerness. stephen was so little used to children, and yet she loved them SO that all the womanhood in her, which is possible motherhood. went out in an instant to the lovely eager child. She felt the keenest of pleasure when the little thing, having rubbed her silk gloved palms over her face, and then holding her away so that she could see her many beauties. whispered in her ear:
 How pretty you arer'
 You darlingi" whispered Stephen in reply. we must love each other very much, you and |" She rose up, hold ing the child in her arms.
 When the two ladies had sat down Stephen stiII holding Pearl in her lap Mrs. Stonehouse said:
 q suppose you have wondered. Lady de Lannoy what has brought us here?
 Indeed was very much interested.
 "Then I had better tell you all from the beginning so that you may under stand" Forthwith she proceeded to give all the details of the meeting with Mir Robinson on the Scoriac. Of how Pearl took to him and insisted on mak- ing him her special friend; of the ter rible incident of her being swept over- board, and of the gallant rescue. She was very much moved as she spoke; all that fearful time. came back to her so vivfdly at times that she could hardly speak. Pearl listened too; all eager ness, but without fear. Stephen, too, was greatly moved and held Pearl close to her all the time, as though she was protecting her. When the mother spoke of her own feeling when she saw the brave man struggling up and down the giant waves, and now and again 
 sea, she put out one hand and held the mothers hand with a grasp which vibrated in sympathy whilst the great tears welled over in her eyes and ran down her cheeks. Pearl. watching her keenly, said nothing. but taking her tiny cambric handkerchief from her pocket silently wiped the tears away, and chung all the tighter. It was her turn to protect now!
 Pearls own time for tears came when her mother began to tell this new and sympathetic friend of how she be- came so much attached to her rescuer that when she knew he would not be coming to the West with them, but go- ing off to the widest region of the far North, that her health became impair ed; and that 1t was only when MT Robinson promised to come back to see her within three years that she was at all comforted. And how. ever since, she had held the man in her heart and thought of him every day and always: sleeping as well as waking. for he was now and again factor in her dreams!
 stephen was more than ever moved, for the child's constancy touched her as we'll as her grief. She strained tbe little thing in her strong young arms as though the fervency of her grasp would bring belief and comfort; as it A. 1HNA rFe