Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1889-08-02


made her way to New York, and was wan
dering like one dazed about the streets,
when Daniel stumbled upon her so oppor-
timely.
Mrs, Briggs prepared a cup of strong
coffee, which She compelled DuLcie to
drink, and sat by her, bathing her tenn
pies and cold little hands. But her only
reward was a grateful look once or twice,
and a sad little smile.
BLESS her dear heart, 81 the woman said
aside to Daniel. "She is like a poor,
stricken creature, without a hope or q
friend in the world And Just
notice her dress, how soft and fine 1t is.
such as a real lady might wear. And she
has a wedding ring on her finger, real
gold, with a beautiful diamond stone
a-sparklln' and glitteFing. Daniel, my
boy, what does it mean?'
But Daniel only shook his carrotty head,
and answered:
Don't go to asking any foolish ques-
tons, mother. There is no evil mystery
I'D stake my life on that
Dulcie rallied after nights rest, and
was more like herself. But she showed
no disposition to speak Of her experiences
during the weeks she had been away.
Though burning with curiosity, Mrs.
Briggs had the delicacy to respect the
girls reticence.
You are very good to me, - DuIcie said,
gratefully. But am not going to be g
burden upon you. I shall 60 away in q
day or two"
'fWhere?"
The blue-bel eyes filed with sudden
tears.
ST do not know. Where work is to be
had. I must earn my own living"
with that ring on your hnger?"
Mrs. Briggs touched the diamond al
most reverently. A red flush leaped into
Ii IL E
deadly pale. eyes"
''The poor soul gasped for breath as if
I'd struck her a deadly blow" Mrs.
Briggs said, describing the scene to
Daniel afterWard eff she's married a
rich husband, he's cast her of, or
there's some other bitter trouble. I'll
never pry into her affairs again. But she
sha'n't be sent adrift on the world if I
can keep her"
She said something of the sort to Dull
Gle the next day, as they sat stitching
upon some fine sewing that had been
brought from one of the shops.
you are handy with the needy, miss,
and I have plenty of work. Stay here
and help me until something better
offers"
st should be glad to do so, the soft
eyes filing with grateful tears. ''But you
must have hard struggled to get along as
it is"
Nonsense, dear. We're prosperin',
Daniel and L The lad has struck lie,
an struck it thick. Got a steady place,
with a chance TO earn a putty penny at
odd jobs now and then.
''We've hired your old room to put our
friends in when they come, and you
are welcome to it as long as you are will
ling to stay. So don't let me hear an
other word about leaving US"
The humble place seemed a perfect
haven of rest to Dulcie. She was not
happy-that was too much to expect.
But she tried to be cheerful and content
ed She helped with the simple house
work, and toiled early and late with the
needle.
Busy as was the life she led, it could
not divert her thoughts wholly from the
past. There were times when she brood
ed helplessly over her fate, and her heart
sickened with intense longing for Philip
love and his presence.
TT would be better for him if were
dead, she thought, never dreaming that
this impression actually prevailed at
Highlands. Then Toinette might be to
him all he once hoped and desired"
Mrs. Briggs saw how thin and pale the
girl was growing, and heard her inYOlun-
tary signs. She knew Dulcie was lily
fttedfOr this sort of life, and wished from
the bottom of her kind motherly heart
could do something to brighten her lonely
lot
One evening Daniel came home flushed
with excitement.
eve seen the other one!" he exclaimed.
Dulcie started. She knew instantly to
whom he referred. From the hour OF
Toinette's first appearance in the humble
back street, he had been in the habit of
abiding to her as Dulcie's counterpart, OF
@the other one.
"Where?" she asked, breathlessly.
PASSED me on the street. fairly held
my breath a moment, thinking it must be
you, miss But knew you wouldn't be
there; and she never even looked at me
That wasn't in the least like you. She
was beautifully dressed, and riding in hel
! carriage fine as a queen"
"Alone?"
"A gentleman was with her, miss.
Dulcie's heart began to thrOb wildly
I she could not have told why.
Describe him, Daniel, she said, in
| low voice that trembled a little.
He did this so accurately Dulcle would
have had no difficulty in recognizing
| Philip Raynor without the adjectivei
! dark, handsome, princely."
+ Philip and TOinette in New York to
! gether! What did it mean?
She bent her head upon her hands tC
! hide the frightful pallOr of her face.
/ sharp, bitter pain tugged at her heart.
/ But conjecture was useless. She cOulC
4 not understand.
Surely Philip was not so heartless a
to find solace in Toinette's society al
ready! And yet there could have been M
| mistake
It never entered her thoughts that Toi
nette, too. was now trying her hand q
! masquerading, and had so successfully
! personated her that even Philip was de
| ceived.
For several days she brooded anxious
~ over the perplexing problem; then
suddenly, an explanation occurred to he
that filled her with sickening horror
Some one must have picked up tn
scarf she had dropped on the river BAN
and taken it to Philip.
He would naturally conclude she. ha