Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1909-02-26
CHAPTER IN.

breakfast just over at Hampton
House Mr.. Galveston gone out, and the
girls lingering over the fire in the break
fast room.
1t is chilly enough" Una said. &c
make one appreciate'a fire in the morn.
Tugs and evenings now. The winter has
come upon us unawnrcs during Rourke's
stay in London
"Chilly enough" put in Lorraine, nask.
ing in the warm, "to keep one lingering
idly over it, instead of being up and do
ing. What do you intend to be up and
doing to-day z"
Don't Eoii remember that Rourku
begged us not to make arrangements for
to-day until he came-both of us? lie
particularly said to mo-
when he particularly leaves his orders
with you, Una" interrupted the younger
sister, Il always know that the spirit of
Aunt FarriSsey influences the house still.
She used constantly and pathetically to
tell Athol We're that | was not to be
trusted"
why remember such things, Lorraine,
dear?' said her sister, smiling mo one
thinks so now. Only a few days ago you
told me that all the hardness and coldness
Of that time were forgotten, and that
you could feel no want while we were
together
80 l did," cried Lorraine, bending
and laying her lips upon her sisters, land
| meant it, too: | quite meant it. Now,
that's enough about Aunt Farrissey and
the old life"
Yes; because a loving and pleasant
one has begun for all Of us, has not it?'
asked Una, brightly. "And we are so
happy. Lorraine" she added, after a
moments pause, you will not "refuse
again to come with Rourke and me?'
Lorraine leisurely placed one foot upon
the fender and looked critically down
at it.
81 lave an appointment at II o'clock
that will detain me all the morning"
IAN appointment, dear! With whom?"
Don't be inquisitive, Una. With a
young person.
ooh, Lorraine. you could put it off"
"Impossible who could detect a jar
ring note in the grave, serious voice?
"And you will tell Mr.. Trenham this
when he comes. if he so much as remem-
bers the part of his request which related
to me-"
Don't call him Mr.. Trenham," pleaded
the elder sister, w%istfully ut sounds so
strange ; and he always feels hurt. I can
see it in his face, + can hear it in his
voice whenever he answers to your Mr..
Trenham."
"Rourke. Rourke Though repeated
so quizzically, the wore was still most
softly uttered-"how can I call him
Rourke? The name is full of corners
which I can not get round"
"Yet we have never been used to speak
of him by any other name, nave we?
Do you dislike it, dear"
Eyes, 1t is harsh and hard to say. I
should require long practice before I ven
tured to pronounce it in public"
almost eleven o'clock?" cried Lor-
raine, turning from the fire with nervous
haste. "Una, you were causing me to
forget my appointment I shall only Just
be In time now. Don't you come into
my room to disturb me-"
Again the din<y little sitting room,
which had been Lorraine's school room
the room which, during this visit to
Hampton House, she had SO persistently
Stunned. She sat here now voluntarily
and alone, without extra light, or warmth,
or sound; yet lone Of the old memories
chung about her no ghost Of the old days
haunted her. Sitting with her head thrown
back In her clasped hands, she sang to
herself as if she would drown some real
Or fancied sound
A rap upon the door, and Joan entered,
her rosy face assuming even more aston
than it normally wore, on finding
her mistress here alone while there were
sounds of merry talk and laughter in the
hall below.
Joan was promoted now to be maid to
the young mistress, whom, during those
seven past years, she had surreptitiously,
as it were, grown to love with all her hon
est heart and she bore the honor with
a certain grave dignity mixed with con
TINA! establishment, which amused Lor-
raine greatly.
Did you ring, miss?"
Lorraine paused in her singing, and
turned her grave eyes to the girl.
Yes; 1t is eleven o'clock, n l have
an appointment with you nova very
important one"
Bring my %copybook and things, miss?"
inquired Joan briskly.
NO" r~ejoined Lorraine. rather tired
" 1.-THE way I keep this appointment is
for you to bring your sewing and sit at
the window, while I play, or-do any
thing
SO the hours went on; but Lorraine's
solitary occupations were not all engross-
ing, and before the morning was over she
decided to overlook her maid going
through her f~avorite study of writing a
letter to an imaginary %friend--a length
ened process for Joan, as she always had
to make several copies before perfection
attained. Then the bell rang for che
servants dinner. and after an hours soli-
tude Lorraine was summoned to her lunch
in the large. gloomy dining room. Shiy-
ering a little, she took her seat alone ut
the III long table. and began to eat.
Yet this was but one more day, she
said to herself. and there might be many
to spend before Miss Shefford returned
from K%ensington, or Rourke Trenhain
went to fulfill that promise, which he had
told Athol We're he considered to be a
binding ono. to his friend in Scotland.
Had he forgotten having said SO, or
thought so? For day after day he lin
gered in London.
And vet who could feel surprised at
Rourke's u~nwillingness to leave town
while his betrothed was there?
CHAPTER x
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