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About The frontier. (O'Neill City, Holt County, Neb.) 1880-1965 | View Entire Issue (Oct. 18, 1900)
MY HALF SISTER ;w\;v By ELTON HARRIS XXX i CHAPTER VII—(Continued.) * '‘I mank you, monsieur, for your of fer," Mollle salci gently at length, "but I must decline It. I am very sorry If you feel hurt, but when you leave here I hope you will soon forget It." “What, you refuse!" he exclaimed in credulously. “You will not accept my warning? You will be my enemy?” 1 “I hope not, surely. But If you are my enemy I shall not be yours," she answered steadily, backing away, yet keeping an eye upon the glass doors. For a moment the young man stood gazing at her with more feeling In his face than she could have believed pos sible. Molilo little knew how pretty she looked, as she stood there in her white gown, with the soft dark night as a background, and the lights from the drawing room falling on her curly, ruffled head, nor the simple dignity of the grey eyes that regarded him so fearlessly. All at once his expression changed, and grew black and fierce, distorted with evil thought. "So you decline,” he hissed in her ear. “You think you will marry that long-legged, curly-headed soldier! But disabuse your mind of that idea. You will marry me, Henri Dubois. I swear It! Whether you love me or not, I will bo your husband. Oh, you will soon be glad enough to escape from xnadame ma mere, and you can do it by me-i*-only by me. Ah! how quiet you arid Do you hear?" "Yes, and so will every one else,” Mollle replied, standing very erect, and eyeing with tyayghty disdain his ex cited face.' ”1* have listened to you patiently, but I decline to ,l>e threat-; ened or coerced. It may answer with some people—If never did with a L'Es trango. • Let me pass.”' * i For a moment Henri paused Irreso lute, glaring at her; then he gave way a stop, and she was through the draw ing room, gnd half way upstairs before be could realize that he ha!d been baf fled and refused by this girl of 19. Ho had thought to reduce her to submission, and at the first threat she, usually so gentle, had turned upon him fearlessly; and he, a coward by na ture, failed to recognize, what his mother dimly felt, that it was Impos sible to cower a spirit that rose high er whenever danger threatened. As for Mollle, she was apgry and Indignant; yet, once in her room, she could not help laughing. f “So I am to marry Henri, who will devote his life to making me happy!” she murmured, as she brushed her hair. "It prill not be a money-making profession for him, I have an Idea that once lUKhad my wretched fortune he would turn his devotion to his own amusement." But from that night the life at Chalfont became almost unbearable. Madame openly espoused her son’s cause, saying it was strange Mollle could refuse one so handsome and de voted, for whom other girls were sigh ing in rain. " Slowly and steadily she tried to force her into the hated en gagement, implying that it would be a great relief to her mind to have her married to so estimable a young man, the only one she could countenance for her; and well Mollie knew what this latter remark meant—neither Mr. Anstruther nor any one else need ex pect her consent. As for Henri, he was worse than ever, following her everywhere, sullen or sentimental by turns, repeating bis proposals when ever he had an opportunity; and the only friend she had in the house was her little half-sister, Kate. • For the strange child, ever since the Raster eve when she had flown to Mollie for protection, had attached her self to her with a quiet persistence that was both amusing and touching. Every night she found her rolled up in one corner - of her bed asleep, or pretend ing to be, and the fear of losing this privilege made her try to check this Irritability that was part of her tem perament, and be more amenable to the sorely-tried governess. . This mueh Mollie exacted, though she would never have had the heart to enforce it, tor the little one’s nerves were in a terribly strained state, and MollleV room Beemed her haven of refuge. There she felt safe—there, dark or light, nothing could touch her; there she never had horrible dreams. Bad things could not come near Mollie, who was so sweet and Day by day she followed her about, at first with shy defiance, at last with unconcealed affection and a funny motherly solicitude, and ere the roses began to bloom there was no crime so great in her eyes as to hurt Mollie. "What is the matter?" asked Mollie one morning, when she found her prancing about the lawn in a fury, scolding like a young virago the gar dener, who was marking out a tennis court "Misses says she won’t have no court here,” said the man helplessly, touch ing his cap, "and the gentleman or dered me to jpark one.” “It is my lawn; I won’t allow it! He has no right to meddle, and I shall tell Aunt Clare so;’* she stormed. “Hut I would teach you to play,’’ Mollto said quietly. It was no Idle threat on Kate’s part, she knew. Her father's will strictly •enjoined that her wishes were to be in dulged, and madame happened to be in a frightful temper that day. “Would you like It?" demanded Kate, stopping abruptly. "I think it would be nice.” “You can go on, John,” she said Im periously to the man. “Anything Miss L’Estrange desires is to be done.” It was the same In everything. Her little face would grow haggard with anxiety when Mollie drove with mad ame, and she had no peace until she met her on the steps; while one morn ing, when Mollie awoke, she heard her murmuring away to herself, and a fur tive peep revealed the little maid sit ting up In her frilled nightgown, nurs ing her knees, her flaxen curls falling thickly round her shoulders. “She Is so pretty; look at her long, curling lashes!” she was whispering in a tone of satisfaction. “But I should love her anyhow, for she is my sister; she is my own Mollie, my very own Mollie!” “My own Mollie!” Just what her mother had always called her. Mollie knew better than to move or disturb the child, but from that moment she was never "my half-sister Kate" again, but the littTe sister her mother had left to her, to be guarded and shielded by every means In her power, to be loved and taught all that Mollie, humble in her strength, could teach her, that together they might struggle along that narrow path which leads to oternal life. CHAPTER VIII. It was a hot August evening, and after Mollie had heard Kate's hymns and prayers—for which purpose she always went upstairs after dinner— she took a book and sat at the wide open window in preference to return ing to the drawing room. She often did this now, for lately things had been worse than ever, Henri more persist ent. At first Kate tossed about, rest less with the heat, but at length her regular breathing showed that she slept; and Mollle’s book dropped un heeded, as she sat watching the har vest lightning flashing across the darkening sky. She was thinking of Reggie, who had been obliged to rejoin his regiment in Ireland months ago, without say ing good-by to her, though he had brought Joyce up to Chalfont to call for that purpose. Madame had never mentioned this. She only heard it from Joyce later, when It seemed too late to be angry, though she was very sorry. She had missed him dreadfully. Rev erton was not the same place some how when there was no chance during their walks and drives of seeing his tall, upright figure swinging along, but he used to send all sorts of messages through Joyce. He would come back, and, meantime, she devoted herself to Kate, who dally grew happier and more childlike. Mrs. Anstruther and Joyce did their best for her; but madame cut her off from every one, and lately they had been away, which was a great matter of rbgret, for It was something to feel their friendly presence near, though she was free to wander in the woods and fields with Kate In their absence. The scent of a cigar, chairs being dragged along the pantiles below, and voices, made her lean further out of the window. Madame and Henri were evidently sitting there! How clearly their voices were borne upwards In the still air—little they guessed how plainly! Mollie would have moved away, feeling that she ought not to listen had she not caught a few words; then she leaned forward with all her might. “Kate's money cannot be touched. I have got all I can—every farthing. I literally do not know where to turn for a penny." And madame’s voice sound ed harsh and weary. “You must marry the girl; her fortune will last you for a time. 1 can do nothing more yet.” “Bah! Marry the girl!” He mimick ed her angrily. “It is easy to say, but she will not have me. Truly, me mere, I have a respect for her more than I have felt for any woman before. When I look into those beautiful eyes of hers, so young, so frank, I want her as I have wanted no one else. Were she my wife I could trust her absolutely; I would even try to be a good hus-« band.” "You love her!” madame said Jeal ously. “There, now, you will upbraid me for that!” he sneered. “But she will never have me, she adores that An etrulher; they love in English fashion. You may give up all hopes of bend ing la belle Mol-lee to our will unless you can get her away from Reverton. Come to Paris.” “I cannot. You know by your uncle's will I am obliged to live at Chalfont with Kate. Oh. if I could only get away from the place—get away!" And her voice rose with strange trembling Intensity that was almost a wall. “There, do not begin that!” he mut tered, with callous impatience. "To continue from where we started, I must have money! You have large sums for both girls.” “You have had most of it.” she re torted. “As also that large sum through your uncle's check.” “Hush! we need not speak of that. You have been ever the best of moth ers, as also the handsomest.” "Ah, Henri, my son, you are my all!” she said, in a softened voice. “All I want is your love, and now you would care more for this girl. Now, listen, you must marry her, for in that way 1 can assure your fortune. True, her fortune is not so large as Kate’s, but did anything happen to the child she would have all. Kate is very delicate. Any one can see that. And it would surprise no one if, after your marriage, she did not live long.” There was a moment’s silence. The listener above started and clenched her hands. A match was struck. Henri was evidently lighting a fresh cigar. Then his high voice said lightly: “Ah, ma belle mere, you are clever! That is certainly to be considered. I had thought of it also!” They had moved into the drawing room, and Mollie, white with wrath and dismay, crept quietly to the bed, and stood looking at the sleeping child. Poor little girl! Her whole life she had been made the center for the evil passions of others, and now a fresh danger threatened her. “Touch Kate!” thought Mollie, with beating heart, as she gently brushed the fair curls from the small thin face. Touch her little sister! Not while she, Mollie, could protect her. And she would rouse all Reverton; she would fight them by every means in her pow er, before this nervous, excitable child should sufTer further. Then she re membered that she herself was Kate’s great safeguard, so long as she did not marry Henri. And she would die rather; for the child was madame’s largest source of Income, and would be cared for accordingly. But as she sat in the garden the fol lowing afternoon she felt sick at heart. How could these people be so wicked. . Lying back in an American chair, looking up into the great trees, she re flected sadly upon the terrible abuse ui money. People would do anything for it— scheme, lie, and cheat; and what did it come to in the end? for “They brought nothing into the world, neither - can they carry anything out.” She and Kate were very fond of this part of the garden. They spent all the hot afternoons there, and madame and Henri were out today, so it was very peaceful. Suddenly a bird in the bushes sang a few notes, then a very clear whistle followed; but it came from no bird’s throat—it was a tune she knew well, but never expected to bear in the gar den at Chalfont, and she sat up eager ly and looked round. There was Reggie, who ought to have been a hundred miles away, standing a few yards off, clad in riding clothes, whip in hand, and a smile on his good-looking young face. “Well, what are you doing here?” she cried in amazement, with a decided access of color. “Why, your people are away!" “Oh, yes; but I have just run down about the horses, you see,” returned he glibly, coming quite close. “No; bother the horses. That is not it at all. So you remember the old tune, Mollle?” “It would be funny if I did not. You never whistle anything else.” “But I never sang the words for you, did I? They go like this”—and in a clear mellow voice. Mr. Anstruth er softly trolled them out: “ ‘Won’t you tell me, Mollle darling, That you love none else but me? For I love you, Mollie darling— You are all the world to me.’ (To be continued.) Democracy of the press. The newspaper press is the most democratic institution on earth, says a New York writer. Witnin the pages of a daily journal all classes come to gether on the same level. Fayne Moore and Mrs. Astor are mentioned in the same column. William C. Whitney and Brown, the expressman, have their portraits published side by side. Toduel Sloane, the jockey, and J. Plerpont Morgan, the financier, di vide oodles of space. The convict in the penitentiary is exhibited along side of the Christian minister of the Oospel. The bloodthirsty Boxer and the peaceable peasant of Piedmont have their say in the same style of type. A Newport cotillon and a Texas lynching are equally displayed. The newspapers play no favorites. All knowledge is their forte, all news their capital stock. The red hat of the car dinal is no redder to them than the red gore that is spilled in the roped arena. The bluest blood of the revo lution is treated with no more respect than the blue nose of a Cape Cod fish erman. American Enterprise In China. An American merchant in Hong kong spppiles the China coast with masts, spars and other timber. His name and property appear in the Eng lish records, but he and his business nevertheless are American. At least ten houses in Hawaii do a remunera tive business with China, both export ing and importing. The American Trading company, which usually is regarded as a Japanese house, has its agencies in China and does a large business With that land.—Los Angeles Times. LIST Of BOXER VICTIMS, Banka at Missionaries Sadly Ueplatei Daring the UprUing in China. ' NEW YORK, Oct. 10—A complet. list of Protestant missionaries knowr to have been killed from the begin nlng of the Boxer movement to Sep tember 5 has been received by th« American Bible society from Rev. Johi R. Hykes, D. D., its agent in Shang hai, as follows: In Shan Tung, December 31, 1S99— Rev. S. M. Brooks of the Church oi England mission. In Chi Li, about June 1, 1900—Rev H. V. Norman, Rev. C. Robinson oi the Church of England mission. At Pao Ting Fu, June 30—Rev. F, E. Simcox, Bullion, Pa.; Mrs. Simcox, London, Pa.; three chilaren, Dr. G. Y. Taylor, all of American Presbyter ian mission, Taylorsville, Pa. July 1, Rev. H. T. Pitkin, Philadelphia; Miss A. A. Gould, Bethel, Me.; Miss M. S. Morrill, all of the American Board mission, Portland, Me.; Rev. B. Bag nall, Mrs. Bagnall, cne child. Rev. William Cooper, all of the China In land mission, England. At Hsiac Yi, Shansi, June 30—Miss Whitchurch, Miss Searell of the C4Jna Inland mission, England. Near the Yellow River (while flying from Shansi), July 15 or 16—Rev. G. McConr.eil, M:s. McConnell, one child, Miss King, Miss Burton, all of the China Inland mission, England; Miss F. E. Nathan, Miss M. R. Nathan and Miss Heaysman of the China Inland mission are supposed to have been with this party and to have shared their fate, but as this is not confirmed they are put in the list of missing. At Kiu Chou, Che Kiang, July 21 and 22—Rev. D. B. Thompson, Mrs. Thompson, two children. Miss Des mond, Miss Manchester, Rev. G. F. Ward, Miss Ward, one child, Miss Sherwood, Miss Thirgood, all of the China Inland mission, England. Enroute to Hankow from Shansi— Miss Rice, July 13, Mr. Saunders and child, A. Bell; July 27, Mr. Saunders’ child, Jessie; August 3, Mrs. E. J. Cooper; August 6, Miss Huston: Au gust 11, Rev. Whitehouse, Mrs. White house, all of the English Baptist mis sinn, England; Mr. Buynon, Mrs. Buy non, three children, all of the British and Foreign B.u.e society, England; Mr. Miller Wilson, one child, Mrs. J. Stevens, Miss M. E. Clarke, of the China Inland mission, England. The following is a list of the mis sionaries who are unaccounted for to date (September 5). It only includes those who were in the provincee moat affected by the Boxer troubles, via: Chi Li' and Shansi. The last words from the following who were stationed in northern Shansi was May 8: Mr. S. McKee, Mrs. McKee, I. Anson, Mrs. Anson, Mrs. Aspden, Miss M. E. Smith, Mr. Persson, Miss C. A. Larson, Miss Lun del, Miss Egvi E. Peterson, Mr. G. E. Karlberg, A. Johanson, Mr. Hedlund, all of the China Inland mission, Eng land. The last word from the following was June —Mr. Ogren, Mrs. Ogren, Mr. Peat, Mrs. Peat, Miss Dobson. Miss Hurn, Miss E. Nathan, Miss M. R. Nathan, Miss Heaysman, Mr. Young, Mrs. Young, Mr. Barnatt, Mr. Woodloffe, Dr. Hewitt, all of the China Inland mission, England. No word from the following has been heard: Mrs. S. Olsen, Mrs. E. Olsen, Mr, E. J. Compers and child, Mr. Lutley’s children. Forty Crushed to Death. ST. PETERSBURG, Oct. 9.—Five thousand Pilgrims assembled at the St. Nikander monastry in the Porkhoff district for a religious festival. During the night one of the upper floors col lapsed and many of those sleeping there fell upon those below. A panic was caused by a false alarm of Are and four men and thirty-six women were crushed to death, ma'or others be ing seriously injured. _ Apply Torch to Mukdem. ST. PETERSBURG, Oct. 9.—The Russian general’s staff has received official dinspatches confirming the re ported occupation of Mukden. Lieu tenant General Suhbovitch entered the city October 1. He advanced from Old Niu Chwang on September 2 with eleven battalions of infantry, two squa drons of Cossack cavalry and forty guns, and, after flgnc.ng two engage ments, rounted the Chinese army on September 27. Census Returns Announced. WASHINGTON, Oct. 9—Today the census bureau announced officially that the population of the state of Dela ware was 184.735 in 1900. as against 168,493 in 1890. This is an increase of 10,242, or 9.6 per cent. The population of the District J>f Co lumbia is 278,718, as against 230.392 ten years ago, an increase of 48,326, or 20.9 per cent. Proclamation of Peace. NEW YORK. Oct. 9.—A dispatch to the Journal and Advertiser from Cape town says: A proclamation of peace in South Africa is expected to be is sued by Field Marshal Roberts on Thursday next, that being the anniver sary of the declaration of war. Lord Roberts leaves at the end of the month for England to assume his new duties as commander-in-chief of the British army. Bubonic Plague In Wale*. LONDON, Oct. 9.—A bacteriological examination has been matte in the case of Seaman Garnet who arrived at New castle on September 23 on a vessel from the Rio de la Plata and went to Llandaff, Wales, where he died last Thursday, supposedly of fever. The reports show unmistakably that the disease was the bubonic plague. Strike Is On in Drnvcr. DENVER, Oct. 10.—A general sus pension of the building trades in Den ver is threatened as a result of a strike of the union woodworkers at the five largest planing mills in the city, which was inaugurated to put a stop to the employment of non union men. 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