The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1879-12-04

was no time to reflect on the matter, for
she stirred slightly, and faint moan of
pain came through her pale lips.
With sense of deep remorse for the
violence l had done the poor girl, |
bound up her wound with her handker-
chief and slipped good portion of the
money l had about me into the pocket
of her coat. felt that her need must
be desperate indeed.
After moment her eyes opened and
she gazed wildly around.
"What has happened p she said, con-
fusedly. "Where is my fatherT
Then she gazed at me wonderingly.
"Oh l remember" she cried, in a
heartrending accent. "Oh, sir, if you
knew why did it Let me go tc my
father-pray, pray let me go!o
"You SHALL" said I, soothingly; 81 will
take you to him, for you are not able to
walk alone. Poor child it was mis-
take, and was very brutal. Say no
more, but lean on me.
She obeyed in silence, and singing
my horses bride over my arm, l led her
down the road until she paused before a
miserable hut, whose battered aspect and
unlighted windows gave sorrowful evil
dence of the poverty of the inmates.
AS l released her she suddenly seized
my hand, and gazing up into my face
appealingly, broke into a passion Of
tears.
Il understand YOU" said. No one
shall ever know what has occurred to-
night from my lips. No wrong has been
done, except through my violence and l
hope that you will forgive. Now go to
your father.
Waving my hand in farewell, sprang
upon my horse and rode away.
Cautious inquiry in the next town
elected the fact that the old hut l had
seen was occupied by an old man named
Windsor and his daughter named Julia.
They had come from the East three
years previous and had evidently seen
better days. Even now, miserably poor
as they are, they preserved dingy,
aristocratic appearance, so that their
neighbors knew little about them and
cared less. How they lived my inform
ant could not guess. The father had
been in feeble health for long time,
yet the daughter, fragile delicate girl,
had found the means to support him.
| had learned one of those "means,"
and went away from the town with a
deeper respect for Julia Windsor than |
had ever felt for a woman.
Two years later found Inc permanently
established in New York. | had nearl y
forgotten my adventure with the road
agent, and should have forgotten it al
together had it not been for the old pis-
tol, which l still retained.
One evening, during reception at
the house of friend, l observed among
the guests lady whose face seemed
strangely familiar to me. Where l had
met her before l eonld not remember;
but there was something in her appear
ance that 1 recognized by heart rather
than mind.
On inquiring who she was, l learned
that she had lately returned from the
West with her father, W. had expert
enced severe reverses q 'ortune some
years ago, but had recei y regained his
property. Her name Il (, told me was
Miss Lee.
had never known anyone of the
name but certainly knew her While
l was puzzling myself for solution of
the mystery, one of the heavy braids
which covered her forehead fell aside,
and I saw a small red scar upon her
temple. Then knew her-it was my
would be-robber. Miss Lee or Julia
Windsor; l could not be mistaken in
her identity.
AS may be readily imagined ! was not
long in seeking an introduction to her.
If, on her part, she recognized me, she
entertained her composure admirably.
A small red spot rising in her cheek and
fading instantly was the only sign Of
anxiety that l could detect
If had thought her beautiful in her
ugly male attire two years before, |
found her doubly SO now. The express
sion of care and grief had passed out of
her face, but it had left its traces in her
soft eye and the tremendous outline of
her mouth. An air of quiet thought
fulness-the repose Of a soul heavily
chastened with sorrow-had a supreme
charm for me.
l had not been sitting near her ten
minutes before it became painfully ap-