The Douglas independent. [volume] (Roseburg, Or.) 187?-1885, 1879-08-16

time years and years ago, and it is moth
ing more than natural that I should take
an interest in you now. Have you heard
from Leslie yet 2"
1t was the doctors way TO jump from
one subject to another, and the abrupt
question did not surprise Edna.
No; it has been seven weeks since
heard from him. I wrote him when /
removed here, informing him of my in
tended project, but have not received an
answer yet.
The doctor meditated, but said no
more on the subject, and after q stay of
half an hour he took his leave.
It looks little suspicious, and yet
don't hardly believe it, he sohloquized,
as he went down the path. don't
like to be mistaken when form an opin-
ion of any one, and if Leslie Holmes
throws Edna over because of her go-
ahead-a-tiveness, / shall lie, and he will
deserve to be Kicked" and the doctor
stepped little brisker, as if he would
find pleasure in administering the pun
ishment. should it be necessary. She's
got the true grit meditatiyely, ''and
she's bound to go ahead and win. She's
q sensible girl, q remarkably sensible
girl, and amt afraid to soil her fingers
to gain an honest living. If Leslie mar
ries her, he will get prize"
With this the doctor climbed into his
buggy and disappeared down the road in
cloud of dust.
What shall 1 do, Edna9 Every dol
lar is gone-even the roof over my head
is not my own"
All gone, Auntie It seems as
though something must be left
No; everything is swept away. It
agent, and he speeulated largely and
lost, and has left the country. The
debts had to be paid, Of course, and it
took the last dollar in the world, and
Mrs. Horton sobbed audibly behind her
handkerchief.
Edna sat silently thinking. 1t was
now a year since she had moved into her
cottage, and she had been successful in
her enterprise beyond her most sanguine
expectations. She was not looking quite
as well as when we saw her last; a trihe
thinner and trife paler, but that
was all.
ssAunt Helen" she said, looking up
after a moments thought, "you can
come here. have much better facili-
ties this season for raising fruit and veg
etables than / had last, and with the
ready market that is always here 1 shall
have no difficulty in supporting us both.
"Oh, Edna, shall be so glad, so
| thankful, tool"
So it was settled. And Mrs. Horton,
| with great deal of respect and admira-
| al, n 81 fal IN
her niece, and which had been growing
steadily as her scheme progressed, took
up her abode at Ednas cottage; and Mr..
/ Clifford set about an investigation to see
| if any of the property could be regained.
Clifford was an able lawyer, and the re-
suit was that in two months time Mrs.
Horton found herself possessed of her
home and sufficient of the lost property
to enable her to live at ease once more.
And Edna? Despite her success, des-
! pite her "strong-mindedness, there was
more loneliness in her heart than she
| would have cared to own, as she stood
alone on the moon-lighted, vine-wreathed
plaza the night after her aunt had re-
| turned to her own home. For in the fif-
teen months that had passed since she
began her new life, she had heard nc
word from Leslie Holmes. She felt Q
| little bitter at times, and little scornful
also, as slowly and reluctantly the un
pleasant fact that it had been as she hall
feared, forced itself upon her mind.
ST wonder" she thought, "if he is like
other men, who preach up womanly In
dependence and usefulness, and then a:
soon as q woman puts her pet theory intC
practice, turns in disgust from hel
Strong -mindedness.' If he is a man ht
will honor me for my independence, and
| if he is not it don't matter.
But though she felt this truly, pane
| of the keenest pain shot through her al
the thought of his falseness. So absorbed
/ was she that she did not hear the clicl
of the gate latch, nor the quick, spring
ing step that came up the walk, until il
was close beside her. She turned then
| confronting a tall; handsome bearded
man, at sight OF whom she stopped, par
alyzed by tide of conflicting emotions
Edna, my own, my brave little girl!'
"Oh, Lesliei"
| Then she was in his arms, close clasped
| to his breast, all the doubts and suspense
of the long months swept away, and only
peace and sunshine left.
Then Dr. Gray came up the path, al
unconscious, stopping in bewlldermeni
as he beheld the apparition before him
why, bless my soulF' he exclaimed
in amazement, "if it ain 't--yes, it's Les
lie Holmes! You young dog, what dc
you mean by putting in an appearance
at this late day?"
f'Better late than never" laughed Les
lie. as he shook the doctors proffered
hand. ST should have been here long
since, but I heard Edna had moved
away, and not knowing where never
wrote. I changed my quarters over 6
year ago, which accounts, suppose, fol
| the fact that did not hear from her."
| "HumphP' said the doctor. 1T is &
| good thing you can render straight ac
count. suppose yon came back rich
but l can tell You Edna Farleigh is &
| greater fortune to any man than there ii
| in the mines of California"
Which was Leslies opinion, exactly.
|