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(43. A DREADFUL TEMPTATION, =
-ways—you must lethim love me alittle, dear, becauseTam
.. hisown dear mother.”
4nd, Xenie, you will call him Jack—for his father’s
- and words, ‘if shall all be as you wish... I only wish.to call . .
him mine before the world. you know.. I would not take
~ him wholly from you, my little sister.” .
She paused a moment, then added, in faint accents: -
sake, you know.”
“Yes, darling,” Xenie answered, tenderly, melted out of |
‘her momentary resentment by the. pathos of Lora’s looks
é
“A thousand thanks,” murmured Lora, feebly, then she —
put up her white arm and drew Xenie’s face down to hers. .
_“T have been dreaming, dear,” she said. ‘'It seemed to —
- me in my dream as if my poor Jack were not dead after all.
+ It seemed to me he escaped from the terrible fire and ship-—
~~ wreck, and came back to me brave and handsome, and lov- .
oe ’ ing, as of old. . It seems so real to me even now that I feel. . oe
/ ag though I could go out and almostlay my hand uponmy
': poor boy’s head. Ah, Xenie, if it only: could beso!” .
of Jack any more to-night, but of your pretty babe.” ae
_/ “Grandmamma is quite proud of her little, grandson al-
- Mrs. St. John Jooked across at her mother, and Mrs. Car- |
~*~ -yoll'shook her head’ warningly. . Then she said aloud,ina » |
... soothing tone: ‘ hoe
“These are but sick fancies, dear. “You. must not think
oready,” said Xenie, with tender archness.
..**Mamuina, shall you realiy love the little lad? You‘ were
a) angry) at first,” Lova said, falterngly.
' “Matis allover with now, my daughter. I shall lovemy’.
ix little grandson as.dearly as I love his mother, soon,” replied .: ~~
ma Mrs. Carroll; ‘‘but now, love,,I cannot allow you-to talk.
~ any longer... Excitement is not good for you. Run away:
-- to bed, Xenie.. We do not need you to-night.” —
_ No, itis my turn to-night. Last night you sat up, you:
». Know. . Iwill steal a little rest upon the lounge when Lora...”
. gets composed to sleep again.” - ye Tae ae
_.. Kenie went away'to her room and threw herself across. °
the bed, dressed as she was, believing that she was too ex-.
“Let me stay and share your vigil,” pleaded Xenie. | -
*..eited to go to sleep again.
But: a gradual drowsiness stole over her’ tumultuous.
\ thoughts, and she was soon wrapped ina troubled, dream- - ne
~fulslumber., 9 OO SE OE I ea 2
’
ves
oo ‘Daylight was glimmering faintly into the room, when |
ees
- fry
- 4
‘
- Mrs. Carroll rushed in, pale ‘and -terrified, and shook her =~
© daughter wildly, 2
“Oh, Xenie, wake, wake, for God’s sake!” she cried, in’.
_ the wildest accents of despair and terror. ‘‘Such aterrible;-° 0 +
terrible thing has happened to Lora!” .
pees
oat