The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1912-09-26
CHAPTER XXxV.
WHICH TELLS OF PICTURES IN
THE FIRE.

1t did not take poor little Edie very
long to get her things on and to make
ready to go away with Colonel Harris
and with Louisa, Something of the
truth had to be told to her, and we
must do her the justice to state that
when she understood the full strength
of the calamity which had befallen her
and Luke, something of her brothers
calm dignity showed itself in her own
demeanor.
She pulled herself together with re-
markable vigor, and before Mary, the
maid, she contrived to behave just as
If nothing of great importance had &C.
Cured. >.
Il am going to dine u tonight,
Mary" she said quite calmly, and I
mayn't be home until sometime tomor-
row. So don't sit up for me-"
mo, MISS" replied Mary demurely,
who kept her own counsel, like the
we'll drilled. good class servant that
she was.
And tell cook that Mr.. de Mountford
won't be in either. nor Mr.. Jim. I'll
see her tomorrow and let her know
when we all come back"
Very good, miss"
Louisa gave ~ungrudging admira-
ton, and whispered praise to the young
girl. She was proud of Edie's be-
havior, and grateful to her
too. This atmosphere Of reserve did
her good. She could not ave endured
a scene OF weeping n keep her own
EerveS in check all the while.
1t was close upon 5 o'clock When at
last they reached the Langham hotel.
Colonel Harris ordered the dinner to
be served in the private sitting room.
OF course, none Of them could eat any
thing. Their inward thoughts were
following Luke de Mountford along
that weary Calvary which he had set
himself to mount.
Soon after dinner, Edie elected to go
to bed. The poor child had a vague
desire to be alone, and also a vague,
unhappy feeling that she was in the
way She was quite woman enough
now TO understand how much more
acutely Louisa Harris must be suffer-
ing, than she vas herself, and since
she-the sister-lOnged for solitude,
how much keener must be that longing
in the heart of the woman who loved
and had lost Luke.
So she went quietly off to bed. Louisa
kissed her with real affection. Edie
seemed like something OF Luke; like a
tender bequest made by a dying man.
After that she herself said good
night" to her father. Colonel Harris
was obviously in such acute. distress
that Louisa felt that, above all things,
he must have the companionship Of
those Of his W sex. The atmosphere
Of woman's sorrow was essentially bad
for him. He was not a young man,
and the last two days had tried him
very severely. Louisa hoped that If
she pretended to go to bed early, he
would perhaps be induced to go to his
club for an hour.
If he only sat there for an hour,
reading the papers and nodding to his
many friends, 1t would take him out
of himself.
IT am very tired, DEAR she nc
after she had seen Edie safely tucked
up amongst the blankets. Il think I'll
follow Edie's good example. It's no use
sitting here. staring into the fire, Is it,
dear?"
Not a bit of use, Lou. And I sup
pose o would like to be ~alone?"
Il shan't go to bed, dear, unless you
go to the club
Very we'll. Lou. 1t seems the right
thing to do, doesn't 1t? You go to bed
and I'll go to the club for an hour. AS
you say, it's no use sitting staring into
The fire"