The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1881-11-25


Since this encounter have watched for
her; have actually logged her foot
steps; but | can't, without rudeness,
approach her."
"Take care, Courtney! BE hasty, be
rash, if you will, in everything but
marriage. don't like this affair. II
is unworthy of you"
"Aunt, must know this girl. She
has II sad look, fancy; yet her voice is
clear and sweet, and her smile enrap-
turing, even when only talking to her
body-guard. must and will know
| her"
At this moment the doOr-bell pealed
long and loud. Fighting himself on
the sofa, the young man looked expect
ant, while Madame Karlski exhibited
some Impotence at the interruption.
At the opening of tile door there en-
tered tall female figure, yelled in
heavy crepe. Advancing to the centre
of the room she threw back the pail
like covering, and fixed a pair of pierre
| ing black eyes upon the other lady who
had risen 10 meet her.
"Eloise! You?" exclaimed Madame
karlski, sinking back in her chair.
"Yes-lr' responded the stranger;
''you did not EXPECT me. But l may as
well be seated, since have come to ask
you few questions. What have you
done with my brother and his child?"
"And can you still harp on that SUBJ
ject, Eloise Pietroff ? Have you fol-
lowed me here to prosecute me Pr re-
turned the other with flash of kindred
anger. "You know was not response
BILE for your brothers fate"
mot responsible ~ interrupted the
other vehemently. ''Did not beg you
on my bended knees to keep him in
EngJandP You could have done it. But
fatal ambition made you lead him back
into danger. You knew | loved him
better than anything on earth p and
| the voice rose to shrek in its wild
excitement.
"Be calm. for Heavens sake, Eloise
You could not have loved him better
than Ibis wife. Who could foreseo
disaster when so bright future seemed
to open to him? / could not deter him
from returning to Russia. Have not
suffered? And his child-our child
our lovely precious Rosalie! Forced to
flee like thief in the night. there was
no alternative but to leave her. con-
fided her TO your uncle; surely she
| could not be in better hands"
"And where is she now? Have you
entirely abandoned her to strangers?"
"Eloise. will not submit to such in
justice. Do not dare to speak to me
like that. You and all this great city
must know, if you have read my printed
appeals, that am almost heart-broken
because of her fate. Uric Potowski
was suspected of Nihilism and arrested
by the same power that put my hus-
band to death. He managed to escape,
and afterwards fled with his wife, but
my child was ere this sent out to me in
| an emigrant ship. Hunted as l was,
| could not earlier reclaim her. She had
scarcely landed ere she mysteriously
disappeared. / have used every effort
to trace her, and live only to that end.
My own life has nearly been the forfeit
TO the suspense that consumes me-"
HIRE Courtney LcnoX. who had been
watching the stranger with curious in
terest, approached her and said:
Excuse me, madam; perhaps the
disappearance of this young girl is no
secret to YOU. am sure saw you at
Castle Garden on The day when l
watched so eagerly for her arrival" '
by what right do you question or
suspect me, young man? Vino are
you?'
my nephew. Eloise-Courtnay Len
OK. He is now my only protector.
Without him | should be entirely alone.
But do you know-can You tell me Of
my childp'
81 cam" said the other, in a cold,
passionlesS tone. 1T is for this l am
here. She is with me. She appealed
to me within the hour of her arrival.
all unconscious of my relationship, and
instantly resolved to make her my
own if she would come. To this end l
have disregarded all newspaper no.
tees"
"And could you thus carry out your
cruel revenge?'' exclaimed the now
painfully agitated mother. Take me
to hcr-I cannot longer live without
her. ~
"Yes," was the cold reply; 81 meant
to have made her mine. l was child
less. had, thanks to you, no one else
to live for. l had wealth, and this
lovely child was my idolized brothers
very image. l taught her to love me.
When she pleaded to be taken to you
promised that in one year she should
seek you if she then felt willing to leave
me. The time has come. / have failed
in this as in all else. She loves me,
but she pines for you, the mother she
hardly remembers, and have brought
her. l now wash my hands of her
and of YOU"
With stately tread she left the room,
and opening the street door, made a
sign to some one in the waiting car
riage. Courtnay would have followed,
but an exclamation from his aunt, who
had rushed to the window, showed him
that she was falling. He supported
her to chair as a youthful figure
glided in and sprang into the almost
unconscious mothers arms. AS the
two met in this fond embrace. Court
nay hurried past them to detain the
stern visitor, but she had driven away,
and, closing the door, he re-entered the
drawing-room just as Rosalie had drawn
q seat beside her mother, whom she
caressed increasingly.
One glance at the girl translixed the
young man. Looking up, rosy glow
overspread the fair face, and an invol-
untary smile of recognition or remem-
brance illumined the perfect features.
With one irrepresslble bound Court
nay threw himself down before her, and
raising both small white hands to his
flushed face, cried:
"Oh, Rosalie! was it you, my below.
edp''
Startled from her trance of happiness,
Madame Karlski exclaimed:
"Is it SOP Is it my Resale whom
you lover Thank God for this bless
ing! l do not deserve it." Then to
the blushing, bewildered girl she said:
"Look up, my darling. Bid this dear
boy be happy-this new cousin whom
Providence has, trust, destined to be
still more to YOU"
"My dear aunt" said the now ration
| al lover, "do not brighten our treasure.
I was overcome by the wonderful reve-
lation of her identity with the one l
have so adored. But let her be free to
decide my fate"
And Rosalie did decide it. She could
not long have remained insensible to
his worth, even had not her fancy been
captivated by the handsome strsnger
who had so often "by chance" crossed
her well-guarded path.
The ban that had clouded her below
ed mothers life was removed, and it
now rested with Rosalie to effect re-
Cancellation between the two female rel
atives who were so dear to her. This
she in time accomplished. And as
wealth and honors crowded upon her
and the noble being whom she had
chosen for life's journey, she ever
looked back with chaslened thankful