The Ekalaka eagle. [volume] (Ekalaka, Mont.) 1909-1920, 1913-11-28

III he bound for her. She's hiding
herself. I don't believe she's sick.
Anyhow I'll find out. Come, take me !
to her low. or it will he the worse for
the both Of you. You'd give me a kiss
If she would say so, wouldn't you:'
ION. dear sir. l don't think she
| would say So"
Come on. I'll see her anyway to-
night"
Nor could she divert him from his
purpose.
In an hour. then. Give me an
hour" she pleaded.
Not a minute" he said shortly.
pushing past her. shes shamming.
I'll teach her
Clarissa in desperation put up her
! hands.
I'm an hour I will bring her. l swear
to you I will bring her in an hour You
must not come with me. For my sake
stay, will you?"
He laughed. looking In a better
humor on her prayer. For the sake
Of a milkmaid?" he queried.
For the sake OF a lady" she urged.
"No-by my soul. Not for the lady.
But for the milkmaid. I will. Mind
you. an hour" and seized a glass from
the chimney piece. He turned it and
placed 1t in front Of him on the table.
If you are not back before an hour
and he swore (but amiably) and set
thing back in a big chair, lifting his
spurred boots into another. he COM
posed himself till she should come.
Before the sands were run the great
dining room was lighted by the canny
serving women. While the Cavaliers
head hung heavy with sleep the can
delahra We're shifted just as Mistress
Clarissa had ordered. Fast asleep he
still nodded when. motioning the serv-
ing women out. she appeared.
She stood before him. stately In the
hlackest Of taffetas: one hand rested
on the table. the other, at her side.
clasped n film Of yellow lace. Her
hair waved darkly back in the CLEAN
Of the tapers. and fell into lines Of
beauty over her temples. Rising and
falling on her neck a string OF pearls
reflected the white OF her throat, and
her lips parted richly between her
flushed cheeks.
Sir" she said gently. distinctly.
leisurely. "Sir." The cavalier woke
in a start. "At your wish I am here.
I am Clarissa Hawley."
"Milkmaid no longer.!" he cried in
confusion.
"Since you would let me no longer
be-" she answered simply.
II an the sorrier for It," he replied
more gravely.
II was foolish, then, to hope other
wise," she said. but it was the conde-
scension Of conscious perfection.
There was a pause before the cava-
Tier. plainly chilled. spoke again.
"Since play is ended. I need no longer
conceal my Identity"
you have not for a moment hidden
1t from me, Colonel Stewart"
He was taken aback: but. as II fort1-
fed by an awful memory, he went on:
Need l tell you. then. that the name
you bear has been the horror of my
childhood: that ! recall with it the
murder Of my mother and the starva.
ton Of my father: I am the last Of the
Glengarry Stewards"
She shrunk under the awfulness Of
his indictment. When she spoke 1t was
with an effort. clasping her side with
that little left hand. leaning heavily on
the table as she bent forward.
"No. you need not tell me. A thou
sand times I have cried myself to sleep
in the arms of your fathers sister lis
tcning to the dreadful tale. Why did
she not smother me as she might, a
child In her arms. because ! bore a
hateful name: 1t is only my name.
Shall thnt condemn me-"
You are. | doubt me. his child"
NO, not his child. I am the child OF
Sir Robert IIawley." Another fire in
her eyes now, another tone. a quicker
rising of the pearls and n higher curry
ing Of her neck. mo stain OF cruelty
rests on the Hawleys of Glen Dhu. and
I am left to defend them. Colonel Stew.
art" Majestic now. she drew herself
I up with Il spirit that intoxicated him
his face seemed swept by Il storm of
/ confusion.
"lf them he began at last. IF l have
unjustly condemned you, l will make
such amends as ! yet may. This estate
Is yours"
"As the heir of Sir Richard, 1t is"
Il Ito be concluded