The Dolores star. [volume] (Dolores, Montezuma County, Colo.) 1901-current, 1915-01-01
CHAPTER jv-conticued,

Of chaiiis Wrandaii at the home Of his
parents.
CHAPTER iv-continued.
Beside Sara Wrandall. on the small.
pink divan, sat . stranger In this SON.
Der company: young woman in
black. whose pale face was uncovered.
and whose lashes were lifted so rarely
that one could not know Of the deep.
real pain that lay behind them. in her
Irish blue eyes.
She had arrived at the house an
hour or two before the time set for
the ceremony. in company with the
widow. True to her resolution, the
widow Of Challis Wrandall had re-
manned away from the home Of his
people until the last hour. She had
been consulted, to be sure, In regard
to the final arrangements, but the
meetings had taken place in her own
apartment, many blocks distant from
the house in lower Fifth avenue. The
afternoon before she had received
Redmond Wrandall and Leslie. his
son. She had not sent for them. They
came perfunctorily and not through
any sense Of obligation. These two
ct least knew that sympathy was not
what she wanted. but peace. Twice
during the two trying days. Leslie had
come to see her. Vivian telephoned.
On the occasion Of his first visit,
Leslie had met the guest in the house.
The second time he called. he made
II . point to ask Sara all about her.
II was he who gently closed the
door after the two women when. on
the morning Of the funeral, they en-
tered the dark. nower-iaden room in
which stood the casket containing the
body OF his brother. He left them
lone together In that room for half
N hour or more. and II was he who
vent forward to meet them when they
came forth. Sara leaned on his arm
a. she ascended the stairs TO the room
where the others were waiting. The
ashen-faced girl followed.
Mrs. Wrandall. the elder. kissed
Sara and drew her down beside her
on the couch. To her own surprise. as
we'll a. that Of the others, Sara broke
down and wept bitterly. After all.
she was sorry for Challis' mother. II
was the human instinct. she could not
hold out against II. And the older
woman put away the ancient grudge
she held against this mortal enemy
and dissolved into tears OF real com
passion.
A little later she whispered broken.
ly In Sara's ear: MY dear. my dear.
this has brought " together. ! hope
you will learn to love me-"
Sara caught her breath. but uttered
no word. She looked into her mother.
in-law's eyes. and smiled through her
tears. The Wrandalls. looking on In
amaze, saw the smile reflected In the
face Of the older woman. Then II was
that Vivian crossed quickly and put
her arms about the shoulders Of her
sister.in-law. The white nag on both
sides.
Hetty Castleton stood alone and wa.
vering, Just inside the door. No
stranger situation could be imagined
than the one In which this unfortunate
GIRL found herself at tho present mo.
ment. She was virtually In the hands
Of those who would destroy her; she
was In the house Of those who most
deeply were affected by her act on
that fatal night. Among them all she
stood. facing them. listening TO the
means and sobs, and yet her limbs did
not give way beneath her.
Some one gently touched her arm.
II was Leslie. She shrank back. a
fearful look In her eyes. In the semi.
darkness be failed to note the expires.
sion.
Wont you cit hsrs," he asked. in.