The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1884-10-10


riedly, he unconsclously dropped from
one of his pockets some papers.
Some one. treading the passage
shortly afterward, saw this trail of lit
erature. and STOPPING, picked them up.
This some one CHANGED to be Miss
Alene Elierby. One of these papers
was Il lttened and dust-worn.
Certainly Miss Alene knew better
that to read what did not belong to
her. yet she was perusiug with wide
open eyes the writing on this soiled
paper. First she had been attracted
because the chirography seemed to re-
semble her own. next when she saw
her own name appended.
Well, since that name Is there. we
will read. too.
"Dear Bob.-You have surprised me. yet
confess am not wholly dispicased at youl
proposal. Please call this evening.-Your
evermore, Alone Ellerby.
This was rewritten again and again
all over the sheet, each copy growing
nearer and nearer to likeness of her
own hand.
She dropped the paper and thought.
Then she looked again at the date and
drew a great sigh. 1t was dated May
14th. the bay before Raymond Ogere
babe her goodbye.
Well, Alene neither tainted away,
nor did she face Mr.. Willis with o
scathing glance Of scoru or any tragic
phrases. She only left the other pa
pers where she had found them. re-
treated into her state-room, with the
one clenched tight in her little fist.
Then she set her lips, stamped her
slim foot once. and calculated. with
her cheeks burning bright:
II will never, never speak to the
mean little wretch again!''
''Dear me. what sad language. Miss
Alenei Yet you said that by yourself,
and we had no right to hear"
That night Alene astonished the
worthy relative who accompanied her.
BY asking her If she knew Mr.. Raymond
Ogers's address.
mo. my dear. I do not" was the
reply. and with the words her last hope
of ever again meeting Ogere vanished.
For here she was speeding away
over the Atlantic, every minute bear
ing her farther and farther from the
man she loved, and with no means at
her command by which to communi-
cate with him.
A year would doubtless elapse be-
fore they would return, and what things
might not happen in q yearp
A few days before Alene sailed for
the old world. Raymond Ogere sat up.
on the balcony of his hotel in Paris.
He had been at that city three weeks;
for. after leaving Alene. he had uuex-
pectedly found It necessary to start for
France Immediately, on business for
the firm.
Glad he was of this means of dis
traction from what had cast q gloom
over all his prospects. Not rs hereto
fore did he enter upon the trip with en-
ergy and interest, but to flee from Bit
ter disappointment.
BY his side sat lady, who had done
much to brighten his voyage thither,
and his sojourn in Paris. This was the
Countess Brittole. who had been visit
ing some friends among the Ameri-
cans.
The countess was poor. and owned
nothing but an owEhaunted chateau
away off somewhere where she never
went. but which she cherished rs the
solo remnant of the past glory of the
Brittole family.
Plainly the countess had expressed
her admiration for the elegant young
men" of the Uuited States, and plainly
had she shown her admiration for this
particular young man by her side.
She was widow. and quite her own
age, to be sure; but what did such
things matter, so long as people agreed
and were happy Aud then her posi-
ton gave her such rare opportunities
to advantage an ambitious man. And,
unconsciously. Raymond found HIM
self listening to this wOoing. and when
at parting for the night, the countess
laid in his hand a tea-rose she had
worn in her hair, he actually caught
himself murmuring some very mellow
sentiment.
Fifteen minutes later, as he stood
alone in his chamber, he opened his
memorandum book to make an entry
therein; something fell to the floor. As
he bent to find it, he saw only a dried.
crink!ed bunch Of apple-blossoms. Yet
he sat- forgetful OF everything else,
gazing upon it, until at last two tears
fell plump upon the little dead petals.
Whatever he had thought of the
countess, she was now forgotten, and
in her place he saw . fresh, slim girl
in white, with pink cheeks and pink
flowers peeping out behind them. He
had that morning decided, his business
being now properly adjusted, to take
run over to Switzerland, as the count
ess had said she should do. But in
stead. he took up his newspaper and
looked At the steamship list Within
twenty four hours he had engaged o
state-room on steamer bound for New
York.
A Jar, q crash, shudder felt from
stem to stern, and Alene was wide
awake in a tricc. People were rush.
ing on deck-evervbody was frantic
what had happened?
They had collided with another steam
or, and their own ship was slowly fill
ing and sinking.
At length it was discovered that the
other ship was comparatively unin-
jured, and boats were put out. and the
throng Of terrified passengers convey
ed as rapidly as possible TO the other
vessel.
With no baggage and little clothing,
Just as they had fled from their state
rooms. they were conveyed on board
the waiting steamer, crowd OF woe
BECOME, frenzied. frightened people.
Warm-hearted passengers were wait
ing to receive and aid, and women and
children were carried by strong arms
to the welcome hooks of shelter pro-
vided for them.
One gentleman-a finely formed fell
low of about thirty-stoppcd short, as
the Pickering light of the cabin fell on
the face of the young girl he held. She
had not tainted. but she was weeping
Historically, and needed nothing about
her.
Her gold-brown hair fell in masses
over her white wrapper. and tangled
in his hands.
He staggered against the partition
for an instant, then, controlling him
self, he was about to pass on, when
some one darted past him. He stead
ied himself at once. He seemed to re-
alize the situation.
"Ah. Mr.. Willis, here is your--wife. ="
Mr.. Bob Willis turned.
my whatp" he asked, looking as if
the terror of the night had been such
as to leave him prepared for anything.
'.Your wife"
"Ohi-ah!-you are mistaken, sir.
All, see. old friend 0 yere! How dye
dop" and the next moment no was