Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1908-10-02
CHAPTER IL.

.- AllluTeu anu tSI ldthCt wan" ~ VA
remarkably weii-perhaps Il little too well
to please Mrs. Fausset, who had been
Jealous of the newcomer, and resentful
of her intrusion from the outset. Mil
dred did not show herself capricious in
her treatment of her playfellow. The
child had never had a young companion
before, and to her the advent OF Fay
meant the beginning of a brighter life.
John Fausset saw their affection and
was delighted. That loving union be-
tween the girl and the child seemed to
solve all difficulties. Fay was no longer
a stranger. She was a part Of the fam
lily. merged in the golden circle Of do
nestle sivvc. Mrs. Fausset looked ON
with jaundiced eye.
"Her attachment to Mildred has an
exaggerated air-as IL she wanted to
curry favor with us BY pretending to be
fond Of our child" said Mrs. Fausset to
her husband.
WHY should she curry favor? She IS
not here MS Il observation-disclosures she is
made to wear the look of one sometimes
more than I like. I have told you that
her future is provided for. and as for
pretending to be fond of Mildred, she is
the last girl to pretend affection. There
is a wild, undisciplined nature under
that s%elf-contained air you talk about
'aThcre is a very bad temper. If that
in what YOU mean. Bell has complained
ia me more than once on that subject
81 hope you rave not set Bell in au-
thority over her" exclaimed Mr.. Fans
set hastily.
"There must be some one to maintain
order when Miss Colville is away"
"1hat some one should be YOU or l.
not Bell"
"Beli is a conscientious person. and
she would make no improper use of au-
thority.''
"She is a very disagreeabls person.
That is all Izknow about her. retorteA
Mr.. Fausset as he left the room.
Bell was a power in the house. She
was that kind of old. servant who is as
bad as a mother-in-law. or even worse !;
for your mother-in-law is a lady by
breeding and education. and is in some
wise governed by reason. while your
trustworthy old servant is apt TO be a
creature OF impulse, Influenced only by
feeling. Bell was p woman of strong
feelings, devotedly attached to Mrs.
Fausset.
From the hour. of Fay's advent Bell
had set her face against her. In the.
first place, she had not been taken into
Mr.. and Mrs. Fausset's confidence about
the girl. She had not been consulted or
appealed to in n way, and in the sec
ond place, she had been told that her
bedroom would be wanted for the new
conner, and that she must henceforward
share a room with one Of the house
maids.
This life by the Thames was the near
est approach to absolute happiness which
Fay had ever known but for her there
was to be no such thing as unbroken
bliss. In the midst of the sultry Au-
gust weather Mildred fell iil-A mild at
tack of scarlet fever.
"How could she have caught the fe-
Mrs. E'ausset asked. and ten min
utes afterward she begged the doctor
not to mention Mildred's malady to any
her ~neighbors.
"We have such a host of engagements
and crowds of visitors coming from Lon
dom she said. people are so ridicu-
lousy nervous. OF course ] shall be
extremely careful"
The doctor gave elaborate instructions
about isolation. Such measures being
taken, Mrs. Fausset might receive all
fashionable London with safety.
Mild as the case might be, the patient
had to suffer thirst and headache, q dry
and swollen throat, and restless nights.
Her most eager desire was for Fay's COM
pany, and as it wa ascertained that
Fay had suffered from scarlet fever some
years before in a somewhat severe form,
it was considered she might safely assist
in the sick room.
She was there Utmost all day, and very
often in the night. She read - Mildred,
and sang to her, and played With her.
and iudulged every changing fancy and
caprice Of sickness. Her love was mex
AasssiiSia,- sHi~esas,Sah!e. forrrr n the
watch. II Mildred woke from . feverish
dream in the deep sf night, with a little
asitAted ssb Or cry, she found = figure