Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1890-04-03
PUBLISHED LANCASTER WISCONSIN, THURSDAY 1890

the same about your words" and he
made no disguise OF locking at the big
cuffs, the emblem of her social position.
Il do not wonder" she replied. calm
ly, ''for am not miss at all. / am 8
widow"
II am deeply grievedw exclaimed Mr.
Drane, hastily. a blow Of that nature
coming upon one so young must be Sc
we're indeed"
There was most improper twinkle
in the young woman's eyes as she re-
sponded:
Pray do not distress yourself My
widowhood came so unexpectedly, was
such a surprise, in fact. that it was
more of shock than a blow. There
were certain compensating circum-
stances, but, of course. l ought not TO
speak Of such matter lightly"
mo, l suppose not" admitted Mr..
Drane, rather obviously. Even in his
wretched situation he felt an extraor-
binary interest in this young widow,
and he wondered again vaguely how it
came that she was away from her en-
ployment at daybreak. She was tapping
the ground with her foot thoughtfully,
evidently hesitating about continuing
her explanation. Mr.. Drane was nat
urally curious Circumstances had
brought them strangely together. What
could be better than TO exchange con-
fidences? He began:
'You have been so good. madam, as
10 admit the possibility Of my having
seen better days. That is decidedly the
case, and / mean to see better ones yet
if luck is not wholly against me-"
Then he stopped abruptly, for the
consciousness of his situation over
whelmed him, and he felt the absurdity
of confiding in a. mere servant. The
young,woman did not notice his manner.
1T is you who have been good, she
said, land you ought to knowmo fully
how you have befriended me. My story
is strange one; people do not credit il,
but trust you viii believe me. Let US
sit down, for am fatigued with anxiety
and sleeplessness."
Still this same irritating condescen-
sion from a lady's maidl Mr.. Drane
thought ruefully OF his bedragglod APP
pearance and admitted that appearances
justified it. What becomes Of the fine
"a mans a man for a that"
when every body estimates him by his
apparel? How can the ragamal1n main
tain his own pride when be knows that
the rest OF the world is against him? II
is folly 30 kick against appearances, and
what is folly is useless, and what Is USE
less should not be held; ergo, a man who
appears to be a vagabond and disre P Lta-
BILE is a vagabond and disreputable, and
so much the worse il he stubbornly en-
deavor to maintain the contrary. Such
was the bitter train of reasoning in
dulged by Mr. Drane as he and the fair
young widow went to the bench from
which she had been driven, for she was
fair, Notwithstanding sundry evidences
of sleepless night, and interesting in
spite of her big cuffs and lace frill. --''1
ITO begin, as woman must, at
neither end Of the story" she began
when theywere seated, you must know
that / possess immense wealth
MI BTdit IOSS q ulck4y.
II beg your pardon for the Interrupt
tion," he said, but do you happen to
have any of that with your
"Alaslno, She replied. dismally, and
that is not the worst of It."
Its as bad as it can be for the mo-
ment," Mr.. Drane insisted. as he re-
sumeG his seat ''You see, would have
been very glad to give you my note for
five hundred if you had it convenient
The young woman looked at him
searchingly.
Il should be wicked if ] did not de-
sire to help you poor man, She said
gravely, land | trust the time may come
speedily when shall be able to do so
Mr.. Drane was stung. but not crushed
you must understand. he exclaimed
that ] should repay Il I've got plenty
of money. that IS, there's plenty be
longing TO me, and can get it Il can
only prove my identity.
The young woman's eyes were dilated
with wonder and doubt.
STRANGE" she said, slowly, for that
is exactly my own case. You shall tell
me your story presently. Listen 10
mine. became an orphan at an early
age, and until little more than year
ago / lived with my guardian, warm
friend OF my fathers. in Buffalo. At
the time Of which / am about to speak
with some particularly had just at
tanned my majority, so that | controlled
what little property had been be-
queathed TO me. | still lived with my
guardian, however, and had not thought
seriously Of the fact that was at last
absolutely a responsible being in the
world. There had been some suitors
for my hand, but to none had I shown
the least favor That they were all sin
cere | have no doubt, for my fortune
was too slight 70 be temptation
Among them was singular young man
of really immense riches He was gen
orally credited with being the possessor
of thirteen millions.
"Deuced unlucky figure" interposed
Mr.. Drane.
~, eIa11 80 e:2 a. es. -