Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1876-11-23
THE COMPANION.

Two ladies, both young, both possess.
ing more than the average share of
beauty, both dressed in deep mourn.
ing, were'seated in pleasant morning
room. One, the youngest, and un.
deniably the fairest, was directing
an envelope the other, 4 pale deli
cate girl, looked on with sadly wistful
eyes.
Il Wish,' said the latter at last, 20,
Nesta, wish you would not send that.
My father never intended you to leave
here"
sit is better for me to co. said the
other, carefully sealing the envelop
''better, far BETTER
':Why will you not confide in me
Have we not been sisters from our very
babyhood."
s:But we are sisters only in love,
Ruth. Let me go. Do you not under.
stand! | cannot stay where Raymond
isl
He has not been base enough"
cried Ruth.
:sHush!' interrupted Nesta; she has
said nothing. But his mother was here
yesterday
"Wen?"
''She has just learned that am not
Mr.. Fairthorne's daughter, but Ernes-
tine Hay, wait adopted in childhood,
and thrown penniless upon the world
by my adopted fathers death without
a WILL
''But it is all mine, Nesta; and I
want to settle half upon you, rs my
father intended, as soon as l am of
age
'But Mrs. Bancroft told me more.
She says that to educate Raymond, ard
allow him to study law, she drew
heavily upon the capital of her late
husbands property. Raymond has a
widowed aunt who is very kind to
him, and who is very wealthy. Mrs.
Bancroft hopes Ray will inherit her
fortune, if he does not displease her !;
but she is very proud Of her family
and name, rs we'll as wealth, and it
would entirely destoy all his hopes
there if he married waif, not only
poor, but without a NAME"
''And does Raymond send his mother
to tell you all this. when you are but
weak orphan!'
raymond is still abroad, Ruth. and
does not yet know of my loss. have
promised his mother not to tax his
love or his honor by seeing him, and
so hope for a favorable answer to this"
and she touched the envelope, "that l
may be far from here when he re-
turns
'What have you written =
''Only all answer to the advertise
ment read to you for companion to
an invalid lady. have enclosed a
letter from the minister Mr.. Martin,
speaking of me only under my true
name. If the answer is favorable Ruth,
promise me you will keep my address a
secret from every One.
Raymond has right to it,
"But promised he should not have
it. lie was betrothed to Nesta Fair
thornc, not to Ernestine Hay. If you
will not promise Ruth, I must then
hide myself even from YOU
"But Nesta you must consider Ray.
mond," urged Ruth, earnestly.
Il do consider Raymond, and Ray
mond only. Do you not know that I
am tearing my heart-strings in this
parting, for his sake! You know as
we'll as I do Ruth, how he has been
brought up, in perfect luxury, with no
wish unqualified. If his mother throws
him off, and she will if he marries me,
and he offends his aunt, he will be re-
duced to poverty, with no preparation
for its hardships. 1t takes years to
make even a living as lawyer
81 see,' said Ruth sadly.
"For Raymond to come to me will
only be tortue for both of US. He will
urge me to marry him, in defiance of
mother and aunt, and I am afraid Of
my own resolutions, if his loving arms
are around me, his pleading voice in
my ears"
''Since it must be 50 will keep your
secret Ruth said; ''but it is very
hard for me to give you up. The day
l am of age I shall carry out what l
fully believe to have been fathers in.
tentions, had he not died so suddenly.
I shall settle an independence on you,
whether you desire it or not. So for
one year | must let you go, then.
Promise ME you will accept my gift"
''In the same loving spirit which
you offer it, .Nesta said " would
stay now, but for the promise to Mrs.
Bancroft. l must 60 to the post Office
and send my letter.
''Where, Nesta! did not notice the
address,
ITO Mrs. Green, Craige Hill, West.
field.''
II wonder if it is far from here -
'FOur hours ride. 7 asked Mr.. Mar.
TIM
Three days later Mrs. Green wrote a
favorable reply TO Miss Ernestine Hays
application. and Nesta babe her adopt
ed sister and her old home a long fare.
we'll, to enter upon her new duties
She bore up bravely while Ruth's low
ing, plying eyes were upon her, but
once in the cars, she drew her heavy
Grape veil over her face, and wept
from the flllness of a very sore
heart.
She had given her adopted father a
true child's love, never guessing she
had not the same claim upon him Ruth
had. She had shared all his own daugh.
ter's studies and pleasures, and only the
light clouds of childish sorrow had
ever broken the sunshine of her happy
life.
Miss Grace Fairthorne, Ruth's aunt,
had never made any distinction be-
tween the two little girls, and grieved
as much as Ruth over this parting, al.
though she knew nothing of the deep.
er significance, attributing it only to
the loss of fortune resulting from her
brother sudden death.
1t was in the early summer that
Nesta left her old home, and when the
first burst of sorrow was over, she be-.
came interested in the little events of
travel, new experience in her young
life. -
By the time the train stopped at
Craige Hill her face was once more
composed, and it's noble beauty was
only enhanced by the deep mourning
dress and the expression Of sadness in
her large soft eyes. n
Mrs. Green, an elderly lady who re-
ceived her new companion in the sit.
ting.room. was pleased at once with
the lovely face and the gentle dignity
IF noonno,r Nocfo 1,o1 v>ocooceo1 frC,o =