The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1908-07-02

look and movement. Nothing escaped
her notice. Esther felt that her moth
er's eyes were upon her, and was
strictly on her guard.
They had never discussed the mat
ter in any way, but she guessed ac-
~curately enough what was in her
mothers mind. She wished some
times she could as clearly read Mr..
Grayton's thoughts. She had little, IL
any. OF her mothers pride. Mere ped
igree was nothing in comparison with
moral worth. A man was to be meas
ured by the name his ancestors bore,
and with this simple bit of philosophy
dominating her mind she never con-
cerned herself in the smallest degree
about Mr.. Grayton's family. That she
admired the man she admitted with
but slight reserve. Nearly everybody
admired him. He had all the quail
ties that won mems respect. He was
not a great preacher, not eloquent in
any rhetorical sense, not highly edu-
Gated; but he was genuine. manly,
and sincere.
For some reason she was always a
little shy in his presence, and her shy
mes tended to eserve. To-day, with
her mothers eyes upon her. she was
more than usually reticent, and
scarcely met his eyes once.
Clement did most of the talking.
The events OF the day had interested
him to the point of excitement. He
felt that life would be worth living
IL all the days would unfold to him
some plan OF service.
you will be glad to hear" he said,
passing or a cup of tea to his mother,
that the missing boat has turned up
safe and sound"
"Oh, | am SO glad" Esther said,
eagerly.
"They lost their bearings pretty
completely in the fog. and drifted out
to sea. This morning they were al
most out of sight OF land. However,
this afternoon news arrived that they
had landed at Tffey Cove"
what a terrible time they must
have had" Mrs. Mawgan remarked,
quietly.
'They we're all pretty well famish-
ed and nearly frozen; but it is a re-
lief to know they are alive. There are
only eight now unaccounted for
three passengers and five of the
crew."
81 fear these will have to be given
up as lost" Grayton observed; pos
sibly to-morrow's tide will settle the
matter"
"Are all of the poor people doing
well?' Mrs. Mawgan questioned.
Nearly all. Several of them are
leaving tonight in company with their
friends. How is your patient getting
on?i
very well, | believe. Esther sees
much more of her than | do. | am no
good at nursing. | have neither the
strength nor the ability"
Grayton turned and looked at Es'
Their inquiringly.
"Oh, yes, | think she is doing as
well as can be expected" Esther an.
swered. "Of course she is terribly
bruised and shaken, and it will be a
day or two before she gets out of bed,
but nothing serious is to be appre'
hended.'
Il am glad. Your brother tells me
you are very much interested in her.
II am, rather. You will be when
you see her. She is quite out of the
common, | can assure you"
Have you discovered her friends
YETI"
"She never mentions them"
Strange, isn't it,"
at is. rather. The truth Is, I an
getting quite curious"
81 don't think she is exactly a lady,
Mrs. Mawgan interposed.
"She may not conform to the con
ventional pattern in all respects
Esther replied, with spirit. but I am
| sure"
Don't be sure Of anything, Esther
her mother snapped. "You cannot
possibly know. and you must be aware
that all the evidence points to what
I say"
Mother has her own Standards
Esther said, quietly 80 we had bet
ter not discuss the matter" and with
an appealing glance at the curate she
rang for more hot wafer.
Meanwhile Marion West was lyins
quite still. listening In dreamy fashion
ito the low hum of voices in the room
below her.
She had scarcely moved for the
day, and she had rarely been more
than half awake. The pain was grad
ually leaving her. but she had never
felt so overwhelmingly tired before IN
her life. She was too utterly weary
to think.
Outside the wind was soughinl
| softly In the trees: that and the
voices below were the only sounds
that broke the stiffness. In q vague
way she began to wonder what was
to become of her. This. alas! was not
her journeys end. She wished It had
been.
She thought Of the previous evening
and The awful moments that followed
the striking Of the vessel. She ought
to feel grateful, she supposed, that
her life had been saved. but she was
not at all sure she did. Life for rs
own sake: life without home q,
friends or kindred: life in a strange