Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1908-06-18
And Eliza stole on ttptos Is tAe

And Eliza stole on tfptoe 10 xAe
door, peeped out on the landing, came
back and closed the door softly, then
store up again to the bedside.
AS | was a-sayin'," she continued,
between me and the bedpost and you,
believe the curate's fair
"Oh, please" Marion interrupted
you should not attempt to tell me
any of the family secrets. am only
a stranger, you know"
confused. Believe me, num-" she
protested, II wouldn't tell secret for
the world. Besides, curate with
only 60 pounds a year don't stand no
chance at ALL And with this deliver.
ance she hustled out Of the room.
Marion began to take stock Of her
surroundings. The bed in which she
lay was an ancient rour-poster, with
idamask curtains looped up at each
corner The wardrobe was squarely
built and devoid Of all ornament. The
rest of the furniture conformed to
type. She could not see the carpet
and beyond the foot of the bed was
tract Of country which her eyes could
not explore.
\ To her it seemed handsome, even
magnificent, room, and awoke mem
iories OF years ago, when she and her
father lived in comfort in big cities.
Contrasted with the rough, log
house they occupied in Odero it was
a regal apartment, almost worthy of
royalty itself.
Esther came back again after
awhile, bringing dainty breakfast Of
tea and toast and a boiled egg. Mari
on made an effort to sit up, but quick
ly lay down again with a hardly-sup
pressed groan.
"Ah, don't try to move again. Esth-
er said, sympathetically. You must
nicely, | assure you"
Il don't know why it should hurt me
so to move" Marion faltered, keeping
back the tears with difficulty.
Il know. You are terribly bruised.
and your left arm is badly lacerated
But the doctor feels sure that no
bones are broken"
Has a doctor seen me?"
why, of course. Don't you remem.
Der him?"
Marion shook her head, and dis
tant look came into her eyes
He was here almost before we got
you safely tucked into bed. He'll be
round again this morning"
II am sorry to give you so much
trouble" Marion said, with trimming
eyes, and then she made an attempt
to eat someo of the buttered toast
Over the breakfast table the only
subject of conversation was the wreck
and the stranger upstairs Clement
was curiously interested but tried
his best to hide the fact He had vow
ed never to be interested In a woman
again, barring, Of course, his mother
and sister. He had learned his lesson
and was not likely to forget it. The
man who allowed himself to be caught
second time. he declared, was fool
and deserved no sympathy. He had
enlarged on this subject more than
once before his mother and sister.
They knew Of his experience, and had
come to regard him as confirmed
bachelor, If not confirmed woman
hater.
He had acted on sudden impulse
the previous evening. Marion's pluck
and generosity had impressed him.
She was no whimpering and hysterica
female. She had a steady nerve and
faced the situation bravelv and reso-
lutely. She was content to see all the
others cared for before she received
attention 1t was possible room might
have been found for her in the village.
Perhaps, all things considered, he had
acted on too hasty impulse.
He had thought good deal about
the matter during the night When
she was laid dripping and unconscious
before the dining room fire he had
been able to get a good look at her
face, and the face had haunted him
more or less during the night
ITO Be continued.)