The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1881-11-25
she was not unaccustomed to lonely
rambles along the thorougifares of the

fair young face with large. fearful gray
eyes and q complexion of transparent
white set in Il framework OF glossy
black ringlets that rippled in tiny ten
drills about the neck and brow. 1t was
that of young girl whose simple black
| dress was concealed beneath rough,
half-fallen cloak of gray. She wore a
small black hat; and traveling-bag
was at her side. Arrested as by an ap-
partition, the lady stood motionless as
the girl, clasping her white hands, said
in pure melodious English:
''Oh, madam, do you know where my
mother isP'
'.My poor child" compassionately
said the lady; "who is your mOtherP''
..Nladame Adelaide Karlski," said tho
girl, shrinking from the gaping faces
that passed near; .'she is in New York.
have come such long way, and | am
SO tired
At the name of Karlski, the listeners
face flushed, then paled, as if she had
received shock. Involuntarily she
withdrew pace or two; but all uncon-
scious of the movement, the young
stranger came nearer, still appealing in
tones that thrilled the nearer:
"Oh, you have a kind face. Won't
you take me to my mother"
| Rejecting moment, then hurriedly
looking about her, the lady dropped
her voice, though the din of unknown
tongues was already deafening, and
said:
| Where are the people that came
with you? You did not make the voy-
| age alonc?'
| mo, madam; hut they are all strange.
They were good to me. but they don't
care for me; they don't know me. Only
take me away from all reminders of
that hoirid ship. Take me to my
MOTHER and the young creature chung
to her new friend.
Flush, child. Come With me. will
take care of you"
Quietly but swiftly the two passed out
at the open door and across the Bat
terry. Soon the lady hailed cab and
babe the man drive TO n number on
Fifth avenue.
Unwilling to risk another refusal,
Courtney Lcn"X wrote a brief note to
the commissioner at the desk, asking if
the name of Resale Karlski had been
registered that day among the Russian
immigrants. What was his dismay to
receive an affirmative reply! Hurrying
headlong through n gate that was just
then unlocked he scanned every face in
the Enclosure with a sort of desperation,
and was just turning away hopeless
when q policeman courteously remind
ed him that he could not remain here.
| $50 I've been told" the young man
bitterly replied. Your accursed re-
strictions may cost q life."
Sure of finding the girl somewhere
about the institution, he CURLY left the
surprised official and went outside.
He inquired ut every gate. Yes, a
lady had passed with young girl, but
the man didn't remember what she was
like. The two had gone away in Il car
riaoe. Ladies from the city often took
away the new girls.
Unable to curb his apprehensions,
Courtney Lenox fastened back into the
building where the chattering iiGmi-
grants still swarmcd, and succeeded in
having inquiries made of the little knot
of Russians around one of the stoves.
They were found TO be in great trou-
BILE about Rosalie, who, they reported
had been intrusted to them by stran-
ger, who said the girls friends would
meet her at the New York landing.
How she got separated from them they
did not know.
The mystery dcepened. Courtney
dared not tell his aunt the truth. He
would say there were tidings, Rosalie
was coming. and would then diligently
advertise in the city for the missing
girl.
Slowly and thoughtfully he walked
home; :.
One year passed by. In vain had
Courtney Lenox advertised. In vain
had the grief-stricken, desolate mother
sought her child. For Madame Karlski
did not die.
When the truth was known to her the
very light of reason had seemed fled,
and to this temporary madness she was
indebted for her life.
After many days thus trembling in
the balance health and strength slowly
came back. and with them the determi-
nation to find her child.
Inquiries had been zealOusly made,
but as yet without result. The cabman
who conveyed the two ladies from the
vicinity of Castle Garden on that par
ticular occasion was readily found, as
was also the house to which he had
driven; but the cabman did not know
that as soon as he was out of sight the
elder lady had conducted her charge to
a street railway, and from thence to a
handsome residence q few blocks dis
tant. And still the mystery of the lost
girl remained unfathomed.
A crisp October day found Madame
Karski beside her drawing-room win
dow looking out at the hurrying throng
with her now customary gaze of intense
yearning. She was not alone. On
sofa lounged her handsome nephew,
Courtnay Lenox, quiet and thoughtful.
"Courtnay, what has come over you
of late?" asked the lady.
'.Were l inclined to be witty, aunt,
might confess that something has very
much overcome me of late,' replied he,
with light laugh.
"Courtnay, it can't be-you are not
it is no love affair?' said the other,
with an anxious look.
Something very like it, however,
aunt. Don't look so startled. A fell
low can'thelp these things, you know"
'Alas, then, for my hopes!' she said,
with ill-repressed bitterness. "You
know, Courtnay, how l have set my
heart upon your union with Resale. l
know she still lives. l often feel that
she may be near me. And yet, shall l
never unravel the fearful secret of her
fate? My heart is breaking with hope
deferred"
aunt" said Courtney, after pause,
"could anyone have motive in keep
ing her hidden from youp"
A deeper shade of sorrowful anguish
tinged the worn but still beautiful feat
ures as she replied:
81 have enemies, my boy. One can
not be mixed up in political feuds and
escape them. If | were only assured
that my darling is we'll and happy, l
could still wait patiently"
"Well, my dear aunt. there could not
l5ave Been foul play. The police have
! effectually determined that fact. have
long felt that she is being designedly
kept from you.
at may be so," sighed the lady.
"And yet l suspect no one. But this
love affair, Courtnay" she said, recur-
ring to the UNIV elcome topic.
..Hardly love affair, aunt, since l
do not even know her NAME"
mot know her namep l could not
have suspected YOU of being so adven-
turous," was the surprised rejoinder.
"No. And yet it matters not what
her name may be. She is as lovely as
seraph," he exclaimed with enthusi-
asm.
"Oh, Courtnay, already so far gone
What sort of love is this that raves
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