Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1910-04-30

where Rosalind and Sister Margaret
talked quietly together. 1 felt Miss
Pats hand touch mine, and suddenly
there were tears in her eyes.
Il was wrongi I was most unjust in
what said to you of her. She was
all tenderness, all gentleness when
she came in this morning" She fun
bled at her belt and held up small
cluster of the sweet peas that Rosa
lind had brought from Red Gate.
I told you sol" 1 said, trying to
laugh OF her contrition. What you
said to me is forgotten, Miss Pat"
And now when everything is set
tied, if she wants to marry Gillespie,
let her do it"
But she won't! Haven't 1 told you
that Helen shall never marry him?"
1 had ordered a blackboard, and it
was now announced.
Don't trouble to go upstairs, Aunt
Pat; I will bring your things for you,'
said Rosalind; and Miss Pat turned
upon me with an air of satisfaction
and pride, much as to say: You
see how devoted she is to mel"
1 wish to acknowledge here my OBJ
legations to Sister Margaret for giving
me the benefit of her care and re-
sourcefulness on that difficult day.
There was no nice detail that she over
looked, no danger that she did not an
ticipate. She sat by Miss Pat on the
long drive, while Rosalind and 1 chat
tered nonsense behind them. We were
so fortunate as to strike the first bat
talon, and saw it go into camp on a
bit of open prairie to await the arrival
| of the artillery that followed. But at
no time did I lose sight of the odd
| business that still lay ahead of me,
nor did 1 remember with any salts
| faction how Helen, somewhere across
| woodland and lake, chafed at the de-
| layed climax of her plot. The girl at
my side, lovely and gracious as she
| was, struck me Increasingly as but a
tame shadow of that other one, so like
| and so unlike, I marveled that Miss
Pat had not seen it; and in a period
| of silence on the drive home l think
Rosalind must have guessed my
thought; for 1 caught her regarding
| me with a mischievous smile and she
said. as the others rather too generous
| ly sought to ignore us:
You can see now how different |
am-how very different"
When 1 left them at ST. Agatha s
with an hour to spare before dinner,
|
eyes that there was nothing to fear.
1 was nervously pacing the long ter
race when 1 saw my guests approach
ing 1 told the butler to order dinner
| at once and went down to meet them.
| Miss Pat declared that she never felt
| better; and under the excitement OF
the hour Sister Margaret's eyes
| glowed brightly.
AS we sat down in tho screened cor
ner of the broad terrace, with the frs
grave approach of twilight in the sky
and the curved trumpet of the young
moon hanging in the west, it might
have seemed to an onlooker that the
gods of chance had oddly ordered oul
little company. Miss Patricia in white
was a picture of serenity, with ths
smile constant about her lips, happy II
her hope for the future. Eosalind
fresh to these surroundings. showeS
clearly her pleasure in the pretty set
ting of the scene, and read into it, IL
bright phrases, the delight OF story
book incident.
Let me see," she said, ref1ectiveiy
Just who we are: We are the lady o
the castle perilous dining al fresco
with the abbess, who is also a nobl'
lady, come across the fields to sit a
meat with her. And you, sir. are
knight full orgulous, feared in man.
lands, and sworn to the defense q
these ladies'"
"And you'-and Miss Pats eye
were beautifully kind and gentle, a
she took the cue and turned to Rosa
lind, you are the wellbeloved daugh
ter of my house, faithful in all service
in all ways self-forgetful and kind, GU
r joy and our pride.
: 1t may have been the spirit of tn
l evening that touched us, or only tn
| light of her countenance and the dee
sincerity of her voice; but / knew
/, that tears were bright in all our eye
: for moment And then Rosalin
/ glanced at the western heaven
: through the foliage.
, There are the stars, Aunt Pat
l brighter than ever tonight for you
1 birthday"
: CTo BE CoNTINUED.)
q neHiI and he neen