Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1886-07-08


With dry sob fell forward on the
rug. could not have stirred then
had they opened the door and sawme
there.
"He has found out this early that
he has made a mistake. has hep i
thought bitterly, when my brain
stopped whirling so Icould think. ut
is only to please his mother that he
asked me TO become his wife. And to
think he should reveal his disappoint-
ment to that horrid old Griffith first
Oh it was too humiliatIngl"
resolved to release him at once,
but again | listened, having a dim
hope, suppose, that perhaps my
ears had deceived me.
IF it suits my mother" began
Jack.
That's not the thing" interrupted
Griffith. "You never would be suited.
She lacked expression and"
Yes, know-naturalness; know
the faults--for I'm better acquainted
with Birdie than you are, Griffith"
ITO be sure assented Griffith.
'Mouth too large; eyes very vacant,
I've noticed. Iadvise you to give it
up"
"I'll take your advice" exclaimed
Jack emphatically.
Then rushed to my room.
So through Griffith's advice, which
Jack seemed SO ready to take, my
brief little romance waste be shatter-
ed. Well, would never stay and let
him see my heart break, too; for
felt sure | never could live through
this trouble, so dear had Jack IN the
role of lover become to me in q few
short hours.
So, some way--now it all seems like
a vague dream to mel found myself
few hours later wandering aimlessly
down strange street, not knowing or
caring where my steps tended. Some
workmen INSTRUCTED the sidewalk and
| was Obliged to cross the street.
remember stepping down and advanc,
ing a few steps, ofhearing hoarse shouts
OF warning, feeling a sudden shock and
then all was blank.
When | returned to consciousness /
was in a strange room; everything was
strange to me.
Where am II" | asked, although |
could see no one. "What has happen
ed?"
"You are with friends" said a low,
soft voice near me.
Turning my eyes, they fell on sweet
faced lady not yet DID, although her
hair was nearly white. sitting near me.
HOY, came here?" demanded, in
weak, startled voice.
You are weak, but trust to your
good sense to remain calm while | tell
you why you are here About a
month ago you were crossing the
street and my husband and accident
ally ran against and severely injured
you. There was nothing about you
to inentify you, so we brought you
home"
"And this was month. Has no
one been here? Did you advertiser"
''No, replied the lady. 1t was re-
ported in the police news, believe, as
my husband had to pay large fine
for his carelessness, but | never
thought ofadvertising for your friends.
supposed they would go to the sta
ton, and then be directed here, if you
had any in the city"
81 have none" | said bitterly. 81
was only a founding, living upon
charity all my life. F"
was reckless. did not think how
unnecessary it was to speak of my own
history to astranger. Awhole month
had lain there and no one had call
ed. And my pale, thin hands showed
how near to deaths door had been.
I 1nxy OF, f..1
gers noticed that my ring was gone.
Hastily | inquired where it was.
My new-found acquaintance blush
ed, and then said,-
"Will you allow my husband to talk
with you few moments? He has
your cameo"
In a few moments a tall, handsome
gentleman accompanied her into the
room.
years age" he began, after apollo
giving for being the cause of my illness,
and congratulating me on my recov-
cry, 81 had pair OF canoes carved
in this city. They were unlike any
thing ever seen here. | had them set
in pair of earrings for my wife. One
night our house was robbed by q
en- with other valuables."
"Was anything else taken?" | asked
sitting upright, forgetting for mo-
ment my weak state.
The gentleman strove to control
his emotion, but his wife was silently
weeping near the window.
"Yes, our only child" he replied
brokenly. "Now will you tell me how
you came by this cameo, for it is the
same? to-day took it to the person
who carved it for me so long ago, and
he recognized it at once, although it
has been reset. I"
"yYas it seventeen years ago that
your child was stolen?' Iasked eager
Eyes. What do you know of it?" he
questioned hoarsely.
81 know that am your child then"
After | had told the story so often
repeated to me by my mother Raynor
they were perfectly satisfied that be-
longed to them, and their Joy beggars
description.
Their story was that my father had
given his wife necklace of diamonds,
and seeing how pleased her baby was
with it she had shaken the stones be-
fore it's eyes, and at last, IN a spirit
of fun, clasped it about the child's
neck But she did not understand
the fastening and as her husband was
away from home and she could not
get the chain over the child's head,
she was obliged to let thenurse put the
infant to sleep with the glittering or
nament about it,sneck. But the temp
tation proved toogreat for the nurse,
so she had taken baby quietly out to
a neighboring jewellers and had the
necklace unfastened.
The theory we, my newfound parents
and /, formed was, that becoming
frightened at her own exploit, and not
daring to try to replace the baby-I
never can realize that that baby was
myself-lest she be discovered she con-
cluded to abandon it entirely.
"Now, where do these people live
who have cared so kindly for you?
must see them," said my mother.
Reluctantly | gave the address.
Jack came straight to me after my
mother told her errand, and he look
ed so old and worn and haggard that
for moment | was lost in pity for
him.
Then | remembered the indicate
remarks he had made to Miles Griffith,
and in trying to be frigidly cool only
succeeded in crying weakly.
"Oh, jack jack" / sobbed, unable
to be anything but my own impetu-
Gus self; why did you teach me to
love you only to tire of me SO soon?"
''Tirel How? What do you mean,
dear?" he asked, taking my hands anx-
| iouslY as il be feared | WAS not quite