HER SILENCE JUSTIFIED.
CHAPTER XlX.—Continued. The thought that a couple of years, at farthest, would make her mistsres of her own actions was so cheering that she could smile as she pressed her lips to her guardian's forehead. ''Ah, sir, when I am not here to i make you anxious, you will be, better able to see how Laurence regrets the past, and how much the is striving to atone for that one mistake of his early youth! Don't sink the father in the soldier. Do not let that one fault mar his pleasure in being with you once more!" The general drew the pretty speaker into an affectionate embrace, but he did not speak and she quitted the room, sighing to think that so good a man should be so unforgiving! CHAPTER XX. AN UNTAMABLE YOUNG WOMAN. When General Hayden descended to the drawing room he was leaning on the arm of Lois, whose face had lost its sullen look and was as bright and winsome as it had been in her forest home. To ,the grand old man who listened to her her with flattering indulgence, she had talked freely of the shore and the woods, led by his interests in her pursuits to descr.be some* of those solitary rambles, whether in search of rare ferns, or orchids, or to procure nuts or berries, that had made her familiar with the habits of creatures but a few degrees wilder than herself. Then, at his bidding, Nurse May fetched from the library a volumo of suetchcs made in the New Forest, and the delight of finding so many scenes with which shp was familiar thus brought before her eyes held her spellbound till she was roused with the tidings that her grandfather was ready to accompany her downstairs. Alone with him, she had been strangely gentle a..d eager to please, gathering with remarkable quickness from the expression of the general's face, whenever her brusk speeches jarred upon him, and trying to clothe her remarks in less objectionable terms. But as soon as she found herself in the presence of Lady Marcia and Miss Braysby all her awkwardness returned. And yet they received her with great warmth and politeness, her ladyship congratulating the general on her healthy looks and softly assuring her tliat she had dreamed ] of her —in fact, that, sleeping or waking, she had never been out of her thoughts. If the two ladies would have stopped there, and let Lois sit quietly near, her grandfather till she had grown accustomed to the size of the apartment, its mirrors and soft carpets, its handsomely framed pictures, elegantly draped curtains, and hanging baskets of flowers, she would have been grateful to them; but Lady Marcia insisted on leading her' into the middle of the room, where she had to stand while the widow, who had offered to convert this wild flower into a ; fashionable belle, walked round her, surveying, criticising, and commenting. "I must hav« Madaihe Rudolphine's advice before I can achieve much. It will.be some time before we can get such a neglected figure into shape. Yes, I must take madame into my counciis. and decide what cosmetic to employ. My first injunction will have to be this: The dear child must not show herself anywhere for weeks; she can have I daily exercises in the garden, but it must never be without gloves and a veil." Lois mentally resolved that the one she would never wear, the others only when she went to church. If she were a general's heiress, atid all the contents of this fine house wo»ld presently be hers, so well and good; but she saw why ske should commence her career in being dictated to by the said general's female acquaintances. v The stormy lines that were beginning to appear in her forehead mu3t have betrayed the current her thoughts were taking, for the grandfather gently addressed her: "It is for your good, my dear, and to enable you to take your place among other girls of your age and position, that Lady Marcia is making thee arrangements. Pray don't oppose them. We will let her determine what you are to do, and' how you are to do it, and feel immensely obliged to her for taking so much trouble on our account." "My dear general, it is always a pleature to do anything for you!" cried Lady Marcia. "In less than a month you shall be del ghted with our progress. I have already secured a profes'sor of deportment." But 'herfi Lois unexpectedly put in a protest. "You needn't send for professors for me. I don't like juggles, and granny says it is all witchcraft and wickedness." "What does she mean?"' queried Lady Marcia. Miss Braysby gently shook her head and "ighed. "Who can tell? Sue is a creature of another world from ours." "Explain yourself, my dear," and } the general drew Lois nearer to him.
BY HENRIETTA B. RUTHVEN. Author of "His Second Love," " Corydon's Infatuation," " Daring Doia," " An Unlucky Legacy," Etc., Etc.
She seemed so much more come-at-able when seated on the low stool beside his invalid chair. "We do not understand the word you are using. What are juggles?" "The strange things the professor does. I have been him make a pudding in old Master Jermy's hat, and bring a new-laid egg out of an empty bag, and swallow a sword. I don't want to see him again. Lady Marcia smothered a laugh, while General Haydon was endeavoring to make Lois understand that there are professors of other arts besides necromancy; but Miss Braysby pushed her chair closer to the stool on vvhich the girl was seated, possessed herself of a reluctant hand, and smiled ecstatically. She had just learned that Ambra was going away for an indefinite period, and was ruefully asking herself what was to become of her. There was covert warfare between this esthetic spinster and Lady Marcia, who saw in her a rival, and unless she could firmly fix herself in the post of duenna and governess to Lois, how W2S she to retain posses sion of her pretty room in the general's house and her place at his table? "Do leave the darling to me, my dearest friends!" she exclaimed., "I have quite made up my mind to relieve you anxiety on her account by devoting myself to her. I said to poor Ambra, who cannot endure the thought of going away without her faithful Loilie, that I saw, which way my duty lies, and she muet not induce me to shirk it." "I'm sure I don't know what Miss Braysby is talking nbout!" cried her ladyship, d lating her sleepy eyes. "Lois must be educated with all possible care, and I have an excellent governess in my eye whom I dare say I can persuade into undertaking her education." The sp ; nster laughed satirically. "Some walking compediutn, I suppose, who crams her unfortunate pupils with the old style. How fortunate f«r Lois that the general and I had decided this point before it was submitted to jou, dear Lady Marcia!" "I really do not remember!" the general's "love of truth induced him to interpose. "You do not remember how I had planned my course of education?" cried Lmosllie, in haste. "My dear sir, we were interrupted before I could explain it, but its simplicity and common-sense must win your approval." | TO BE CONTINUED.] Many persons find themselves affected with a persistent cough after an attack 'of influenza. As this cough can be promptly cured by the x use of Chamberlain's Cougli Kemedy, it should nut be allowed to tun on until it becomes troublesome. For sale by all chemists andstorekeepoi'3. For Children's Hacking Coughs a night, Woods' Great Peppermint Cure l/fi and 2/o.
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Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 3207, 5 June 1909, Page 2
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1,300HER SILENCE JUSTIFIED. Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 3207, 5 June 1909, Page 2
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