The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1908-07-10
CHAPTER vi. (continued.)

4 fear not" was the reply.
II wonder what that will mean to
me?" she questioned, as il speaking
to herself.
You have lost some %valuables?"
i don't mind the clothes or the
otis Of jewelry. But-but the silver
box was at the bottom of the trunk,
and that held all the papers,"
Valuable papers?"
of It. l suppose they would be valua-
Die. That question had scarcely oc-
CURED to me till now"
Wont you tell me all about it,"
Esther inquired, gently.
"Oh. I'll be glad to tell you if you
care to listen. But I'm so afraid Of
worrying people with my affairs"
1T will not worry me at all, and
n II we a help you In any way
that Is, Glenn or myself or mother
why. we shall be only too pleased to
do So"
you are very good, and I have put
you to such a lot of trouble already.
Oh, | am ashamed Of being such a
burden to people"
Please do not say that again. We
could not have done less than we have
done. If we were savages on a des-
ert island we should surely show pity
TO shipwrecked people,"
Marion did not speak again for sew.
oral minutes. Esther helped her
across to q small sitting room on the
other side of the landing-she was
not equal to descending the stairs as
net.
The freight played on the chintz
covering of the couch and chairs, and
pit up the gilt on the Early Victorian
wallpaper, and brought into relief the
threadbare patches in the carpet, and
reflected itself in the mirror of an old
fashioned gilt considerable at the
back Of the room
"Oh, this is delightful" Marion said,
sinking with a little sigh into a cor.
mel of the couch.
This is mothers boudoir," Esther
answered, 'but It is n O often used I'M
Jess some n is poorly. It's a long
WY NO LILO " IOOM.
What q very big house you have!"
"Yes, 1t is big; much too big. in
fact. You see, it has been added to
again and again. In past generations
the Mawgans were we'll off," Then
che stopped abruptly and turned her
eyes toward the window.
/ Outside the wind was still soughing
@.~aA1x t. 49, <rnnc nrL thn ~ain vvo
falling with a persistent drip, drip on
the brown leaves.
Marion began to talk after awhile,
slowly and in subdued tones.
Esther did not interrupt her. She
allowed her to tell her story in her
own way-in detached fragments;
jumbling up dates and places, jump
ing from tho past to the present, and
then back again to the past. She hid
mothing Of importance save her faith
,Ar's real character. She idealized
him somewhat, as affection Is apt to
DO. She dwelt on his courage and pa
thence and ~gentleness. Her mother
she never knew. Her father had told
her that she was very beautiful and
that she died at the time Of her birth
and with that scrap Of information
she had to be content.
OF her h%ardships she scarcely
spoke. They did not seem hardships
to her now. Even Odero was begin
ming to grow beautiful In her eyes
Relatives she had none. II her father
had brothers or sisters he never
spoke OF them. He was a silent man
"a the main and rarely alluded to the
past.
why he had sent her to England
she did not know, since he was Amert-
can born and bred-at least that was
her belief. But 1t was his wish-his
last command, in fact-that she
should come. She had a letter from
him to Mr.. Mayhew-that. fortunately.
was safe. as was also her purse; but
the papers which would explain ev-
erything to Mr.. Mayhem were at, the
bottom Of the sea.
Very likely Glenn will be able to
help you." Esther said, when Marion
had finished her story.
Il keep wondering what Mr. May
,hew II like" Marion continued, after
: pause. "You see. I never heard Of
him till the night father died. and I
cannot imagine what interest he car
nave In me. II l had only = brother.
or ! relative Of any sort, l should not
6eol % utterly alone In the world"
and the tears filled her eyes again.
~You must let me be your friend.
whatever happens" Esther said, sym.
nathetically, and she pushed her chair
nsarer to the couch and took Marion'a
hand IN hers.
For awhile they sat in silence. look
M u the lrs and listening to thu
soukhing or the wind.
Then the banging Of tho door Pre-
claimed the return Of Clement iron
lgt. Chloe, where he had been most Q
the day.
Esther left the room after awhit
ana made her way downstairs. Sn'
found her brother Ii the library, q
Ilacing himself with . pipe. He ros
~ once when she came into the room
md pushed an easy chair for her OF
>& AA