The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1908-04-17
CHRONOLOGICAL C1@C1@U@2@O@Ol
CHAPTER VI.
A Troubled Spirit.

yet she tried every means that live
iy sympathy could suggest to allay
Mary Ststerson's extraordinary agita-
tion. 1t was some time. however. be-
fore the hard. painful, choking sobs
ceased, and Mary was able to speak.
You must forget what | have said
Christabef. but I'm SO unhappy and
miserable that hardly know what
am saying" she at length gasped out
in a voice that was harsh with pain
full emotion.
Il don't wonder at it when your
father is so ill.," returned Christabel:
you can't help being completely up
set"
Still Christabel could not but feel
surprised at the wild words Mary had
altered when she had broken down so
Suddenly. She thought it conceivable
that Mary. knowing that Sir Johns
condition was hopeless might come
to the conclusion that it would be far
better for himself if the end came
speedily. Yet that was rather a curl
OTIS thing for the mans own daughter
TO say. especially to one who was
practically total stranger to her.
And why should she say that she
wished she was dead. too? Was it
that her nerves had gone completely
wrong? That was possible enough
indeed. it could be the only explana-
too. The strain had been too great
Christabel looked at her intently. and
seeing that she was suffering cruelty
she ceased to ask herself questions,
and only longed to comfort and sus
tain that troubled spirit
II am very much attached to my
father" said Mary. seemingly supply
ing an answer to the questionings that
had passed through Christabel's mind.
He has been always very good to me.
| loved and admired him. Christabel
observed that Mary now used the past
tense and was speaking of her father
as it he were already dead. Il love
him still" she went on in trembling
tones. He was so strong and master
ful-quite different from me! And to
see him now. Poor father. | was-I
a,n very fond of him, Christabel, and
you must not mind what said just
nov. am not we'll; my heart is
weak, and the accident to him was
such a shock. 1t was dreadful beyond
al! words. had been out paying
some calls, and not knowing what had
happened came home-to hear of it.
] thought should die of grief when
Knew there was no prospect of his re-
coyery; it was awful"
8! think can understand something
OF what you must have felt and must
feel said Christabel in gentle
voice. taking Marys hands in hers
and strokilIg them soothingly.
DO youo No. you can't under
staud: you could not put Yourself in
Ill: place: no one could do that, said
Mary. in accents OF despair. perhaps
ycu think that time will assuase my
grief, that because | am a rich woman
shall be happy again. but money can
not give me happiness. | see my life
before me lonely and terrible; I ain
afraid of it-afraid of what it may
bring"
He: voice dropped pathetically:
she appeared to be on the verge of
fainting, as she looked past Christa-
he'll with eyes that seemed to see
something far away. and that We're
actually full Of fear Of what they saw,
II cannot bear it, she cried, wildly.
1.-THE burden of it is too much for
ne"
DO try to calm yourself. Mary
urged Christabel, 'or you will certain
~ make yourself very ILL.,"
y wish We're dead cried Mary.
passionately NO. don't mean that,
CEristabe!,' she said. almost in the
same breath. Il don't mean it. but
am not myself to.night-not myself"
and her sobs broke out afresh.
After time Christabel persuaded
her to get into bed. apd sat by her
side until she had fallen asleep after
first receiving a promise that the
nurse would come to see her in the
morning
As Christabel in her own room re.
viewed her Impressions of sc Hans
Square she had the uncomfortable
feeling that she had come into, a very
strange household. For two of it's
members she felt sincerely sorry: for
the other two she had nothing but de-
testation-she thought them detesta-
bic people. as they were, as the purely
selfish always are.
There was Sir John, dying by
inches, obessed by the frightful night
mare in which he killed his partner
aud stole his secret-the secret, it
might be gathered from what Maxwell
had said, which had made him enor-
mously wealthy. How strange was
that fixed idea of his, the idea which
kept ON repeating itself!
There was Lady Sisterson. whom
Christabel characterized as ''horrid
woman" Ia woman who had not hest
tated to warn her against her 5wn
son Maxwell, though probably with a
view to being merely nasty to her; a
horrible woman. who seemed to care
- y 4