The Warner sun. (Warner, Brown Co., Dakota [S.D.]) 1885-1???, 1886-02-19

| iron crosses and gr0teSque beaded
wreaths hanging on the same, at the
end of the village street, thousands o
miles from her native land. Perhaps
it was a happy release. She had been
a wanderer for years, going about
from place to place in search ofhealth
| that would not come at the bidding
! hope and courage, and friends and
means, growing less and less season
by season.
The slender girl, who now turned
| away from thenew-made mound, upon
which by Beverley's thoughtfulness,
| some fresh flowers had been laid, had
been familiar with the make-shifts OF
genteel poverty ever since she had
grown from a joyous childhood into
aimless early wOmanhOOd.
Poor Lucille Ventnor! hers had been
a happy girlhood.
She had not spoken a word as she
walked back to the house, and Bever-
ley, who found himself, by the unex-
pected Developments of fate, in some
measure constituted this unknown
girls sole present friend and guardian,
knew not how to breach the question
of her plans and movements for the
future which had now become i'm
minent.
At length he spoke to the landlady.
"You must rouse her from her leth-
argy. A young girl like that can't
stay on here alone in this strange inn.
You must ask her whether she has no
friends to whom she can write and
whom she can acquaint with her con,
dition."
But when the girl was spoken to she
answered: "NO, there is no one"
After pushing back the dark hair from
her face with q rapid movement, she
seemed to be looking with large, fright,
ened, horrOr-striCken eyes into the
hard strange world upon which she
was suddenly thrust.
Beverley went out on thegallery and
smoked another meditative cigar and
there, in sight of the bIue Tyrolean hills
came to q decision. Clara Valentine
was living in Paris since her husbands
death, and she had the means to give
this girl a home.
No sooner thought of than done.
Beverley had himself announced to
Miss Ventnor, and in a few kind words
offered her his sisters protection.
Il am going to Paris myself to-mor-
row. Ii you will be ready I will take
you directly to my sisters home"
For a moment the young girl stood
s~peechless. Then raising her eyes to
the kind dark ones bent on her, the
long tension abruptly gave way, and
she burst into an uncomfortable hys-
terical weeping fit.
Beverley was Mortified. But the
young girl came herself to his assist
ance. She mastered herself after a
moment with a violent effort, and
dried her tears.
81 beg your pardon" she said, sim
ply: Icould not helpit. You are very
kind to me Thank you"
The large pathetic eyes looked up to
him with childlike confidence.
81 shall be ready tomorrow when
eve you say"
When Beverley turned away there
was a lump in his throat.
4 x 4 X
''Well, this is about the most utter
ly preposterous thing / ever heard OF
in my life! And you, of all men, to be
mixed up in anything of the kind"
This was Mrs. Valentines first ex-
clamation when left alone after her
brothers arrival with Lucille Vent
nor.
He had telegraphed to his sister to
take the first edge off her surprise, and
then, when Lucillehad been conducted
TO her room, had stated the case
briefly and forcibly to her.
Mrs. Valentine was by no an
unfeeling woman under most circum-
stances, but in this case it distinctly
seemed to her that her bachelor broth
er had been by no means called on to
interfere. Some else might have
taken charge of the girl, she said with
irritation.
''Who?" inquired Beverley. "She is
absolutely alone In the world, poor
child! And she was there Pennies
among strangers"
"Good Heavens, Hugh what if she
were? Do you think it was making
her lot easier to compromise the
girl?"
Compromise her? What do you
mean?" Beverley flushed darkly.
Mrs. Valentine knew that look in
her brothers face, and generally avoid
ed it.
"Of course it is compromising to her
to have brought her here alone with
you-a young girl like that-who has
no claim upon YOU" she said, shrug-
ging her shoulder, but speaking with
less excitement.
s.She is about twenty years younger
than l." said Beverley. in a tone he
did not often use, 'sand itis unworthy
of you, Clara, to bring In any such
word or thought in connection with
her or me. Come" he added, drop
ping again into his nonchalant bonho.
mie manner, syouhave a better heart
than you want to show, Clara. Drop
a little ofyUur worldliness and be kind
to this child. She needs kindness