Hand County press. (Miller, Dakota [S.D.]) 1882-1893, 1882-02-01
HOW BIRDIE ESCAPED.

"You have god looks, yol have
youth, you have ad lress. - CONS at onee
and / will INTRODUCES you to lad; whose
fortune, with her hand, wil-repair what
Won have wasted. -, : ~ .@t..t d
Rolfe RatIburne threw down lis
nncle's letter, lighted cigar and ele-
waited his feet to the table. He knew
very well, he believed, whom his uncle
referred tc--a ward of his, Miss Eiinor
Chauucey, who must by this time be Of
manageable age, he considered.
I'm not a marrying man, muttered
young Rathburne, "but when i saw
that girl, eight years ago, she promised
TO he beauty Ind man might do
worse, perhaps, than to take a pretty
wife with plenty of money"
He was dissipated looking young
man of 25, with black mus,ache and
curling hair, which he made the most
Of. He had fair proportion of brains,
but no morals to speak OF. He kept
ahoat in good society, however, having
a knowledge Of good breeding, and a
rich uncle--the Honorable Christopher
Brudenel. The Honorable Christopher
Brudenel had written him the above
letter. He Was partial to his nephew.
Soon the French hotel where Rolfe
Rathburne boarded knew him no more.
He left these congenial quarters end
betook himself to the fatigues of a rail-
way journey. M
1t had been some years since he had
been at Ashdon, his uncle's country
house. Eight years before, when he
was a rather vicious lad of ls, his uncle,
in fit of passion, had forbidden him
the house but that was one Of the
many bygones which Mr.. Rolfe Rath-
burne's relatives were obliged 10 over
look. e.. .s
Ashdon, with it's white front pillars,
it's green lawns dotted with fower-laden
stone urns. its fountains and whispering
ash trees-Ashdon looked familiar.
He had walked up from the station,
leaving his baggage 10 be sent for.
LET ME see" he soliloquized, view
ing the place from rise in the road.
The girl was l3 when / saw her last
a charming little brunette-and they
called her Birdie. She must he - DOW.
and fascinating enough, Ill be bound
Lonely here! Uncle keeps her secluded,
! fancy. Good idea! A beauty with 3
fortune is rather dangerous property &c
be living around loose. Wonder what
her fancy is in men? Girls always have
some notions OF their own. As she is
brunette. l suppose i ought TO have
big blonde beard to be killing"
He had reached the gates of Ashdon
by this time, when a man with big
blonde beard suddenly approached him.
He had package of letters in his hand.
Apparently he had just arrived and was
So $40
"were you gong inS" he asked.
eyes" said Rathburne.
The man, who was well dressed and Of
fine appearance, selected letter from
the number in his hand.
II have a letter, herGfor Miss.C Cbaun
cey. Will You be Kind enough TO do
liver it to her personally"
R,thburnc, in good humor, assented
civilly, and the man passed on, walking
rapidly.
.He's not ths,postumn. A Atradesman,
probably" mpsed Rithburne.
The letter was simply addressed, in a
clear uniform cbirogvaphy, "Mis'
Chauncey, Ashdon." He put it in th'
breast pocket of his coat. and turning
the handle OF the iron gates. Of, Ashdon
walked in.
Role Rathburne had delivered tina
letter with Ending eyes. Birdie's dsrl
eyes and rosebud mouth we're mor'
charming than anything he had eve
seen before.
Yes" saidS the Hon. Christophel
Brudenel, "my ward is very pretty, and
so far she has lived very secluded life
I have thought il best"
"Hss she no other friend or guardian
Uncle Chris ?" z Il .sg43lI ..33 Sls
Uncle Chris, fioridand portly, changes
color.
"she is an orphan, quite alone, bu
for--well, in fact she had another guard