Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1885-10-02
DOCTOR HEPBURN's QUEST.

Since Then?
DOCTOR HEPBURN'S QUEST.
A brilliant college career, ending in
complete triumph over all his compe-
titors, was the dream of Frank Leslie's
boyhood and youth. Unlike most such
dreams he achieved the object of his
ambition, but the strain was too severe
for q naturally delicate constitution,
and he was ordered abroad to seek
what restoration of health or strength
was possible. Southern Germany was
advised. and there among the pine-clad
mountains he breathed fresh life and
vigor; his step regained its elasticity,
mis- form its upright carriage: the weak
lung healed, the blood began to show
ruddy and warm in the young mans
face, and strength came back. Ger
tainly at tive-and-twenty years of age
one has to be thankful for this.
His fashionable friends would not
have recognized Frank Leslie in the tall
young fellow in grey tourist suit who
emerged from the forest, one fine Oc-
tober day, and surveyed, with kindling
eve, the white houses of a village clust-
cred in a valley far below him.
- "NWant to get back to the world, do
YEP" asked the old German DOCTOR
10 whose care he had contided himself
in the first steps Of his exile, and to
whom lie had now returned to pay a
parting visit after a heightened pedes-
trian tour,-with a shrewd smile wrink-
ling his kindly face, as he watched the
c~ountcnance he had carefully observed
for signs of returning health for so
many weeks. ''Well, you're strong
enough now; and it's natural at your
age"
'.It is natural enough, at any age, to
want to see a woman's face-to hear a
woman's voice." replied the young
man; land my mother and my sister
are as impatient to see me as l am to
meet them"
mo one clse?" asked DR.. Mueller
neaningly.
"No one elsc," replied Paul, lightly.
He wished there were, as he looked
off into the bright blue world before
springing down the hillside. But il
was not q time for regrets, with the
bright scene before him, courage in his
heart, and strength in his muscles; and
he went whistling down the dewy
road, recalling how YEARLY he had fol.
lowed his guide into the woods three
months before.
Speaking of women" said DR.
Mueller, as they went along, "a coun
trywoman of yours has been staying a
the Gasthaus for some months past il
whom l am much interested. Pool
girl! hers is a sad lot"
'.How?" asked Frank interestedly
Her father, to whom she appears
devoted, is a visionary, smitten with :
craze hat l thought had long since
died out. He is an alchemist, in fact.
'.Impossible!" incredulolsly criei
Frank.
$50 one would think" cried the doc
tor. ''But he is mad upon that point
is sure that he will succeed in making
gold, # he can only secure certain met
ais which he fancies are to be found il
the mountains here. She, poor girl
knows how futile is the search in whlcl
her father has spent time and fortune
yet still clings to him and supports
him. Strange creatures, womenp"
Very" said Frank, ahstractedly
'Is she p~retty?"
you will probably be able to judg'
for yourself" Doctor Mueller dryl!
observed: 'Miss Hepburn is an &C
%quaintance Of my wife's."
Franks eyes dilated. He knew nov
who she was. 1t had been four year
since the eccentric Doctor Hepburn
had disappeared from society.
His daughter, he could, with an eli
Fort, remember her too-a plump littl
thing, with fair braids tied with a blu
ribbon. Why, she was at school, AM
even now must be less than twenty.
The next day he had time to loo,
about him, and found the Gasthaus
rambling old affair, originally built TO
q monastery, and in a dimly lit room
looking out to the courtyard. Docto
Mueller introduced him TO Amy Hep
burn.
He took off his hat.
perhaps your father would not re
member me, but l should like to Sc
him. 1 used to know him. I am Gen
Leslie's son."
A startled color leapcd into her face
she looked down, then at her cottol
dress, her little, worn shoes, and cas-
a troubled glance back at the room be
hind her.
my father e e no one, MI. Leslie
He is out Of health, and--and mucl
changed"