Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1890-02-28

pard-from, IL may be DEATH"
"Oh, | would tell you everything
this very minute. If | lost my license
the very next" declared Mrs Top
ping. ''But know no more than the
babe unborn, for madam is as close
and proud and careful as can be.
pity poor Miss Lena from the bottom
of my heart, for there isn't n worse
young man anywhere than Mr.. Gus
taviOus, or whatever his name is; and
madam knows it, though she won't
own to it. There's been moro than
ono quarrel atween those two. Count
Dcspard and our beautiful lady would
r,sc from their graves if they knew all
as is going on!''
Clifford was pacing the room with
impatient strides, his face white and
stern, when suddenly he took up his
hat.
81 am going to look at Fairview,"
he said. II will be back in half an
hour" and he went.
He looked in at the deserted lodge,
he leaned against the closed iron
gates, he paced up and down the gate
way among the leaves now fast falling
from the trees. Clouds had gathered
in the sky-all was dark, dosolatc and
drcary; the wind moaned around the
ruin, an owl gave Il dismal screech
close by. He could not long endure
tho loneliness and his dismal thoughts
and hastily made his way back to the
inn. There n good dinner and a blaz-
ing fire awaited him, bespeaking Mrs.
Topping's care; but Clifford found it
impossible to rest or cat.
al am going away at once" he said,
in reply to Mrs. Topping's remon-
STRANGE. 81 will find her-I will save
her; for she has promised to be my
wife. L can neither eat nor sleep in
my present sta'e OF uncertainty
Please let me have my bill at once-I
shall catch the last train up to town"
"To be sure, sir. / know pretty
much how you feel, and I'll bring your
bill in a minute. All / can say is, |
wish it had been heavier; but, if l can
help you in any way only, Toll me-"
'You can help me by keeping all
you know to yourself-not telling
even your husband; and, more than
that, you can help me, if you should
hear or see anything OF Madam Du-
masque, by writing to me at this ad-
dress. | told you | should ask your
aid; you see | am keeping my word"
said Clifford, attempting to smile.
''And I'll keep mine, sir" replied
Mrs. Topping, as she copied the adj
dress he had written down. I'm be
sure to do all you wish; and, as to
telling my Joe, why, if no NEVER
knows it till he hears it from me,
that'll be long time yet. Keep your
heart up, sir! And l wish you good
luck, and poor Miss Lena too. You
may depend on the word of Sarah
Topping"
IL do; feel you are true friend,
and you will not find me ungrateful.
Remember, that address will always
find me sooner or later. Good bye"
''Good-bye, sir" returned the good
hearted little woman with curtsey,
as he shook hands with her; and then
she turned away and shed some sym
pathetic tears. while Clifford was
whirled through tho rain and mist.
at do seem n cr.el shame!" COM
mented Mrs. Topping, as she sat sew
ing in her quaint bar-parlor: but she
did not utter her thoughts aloud, for
they referred to tho separation of Gilt
ford and Lene-
The secret had been safe with her,
and all the questonings of Mr.. Joe
Topping were uuavailing. As she sat
Mt nccdlowork She was picturing Cliff
ford as he stood before her the last
time she Saw hirn-his face partly
turned away from her, his hand rails
cd in gesture of despair. She great
ly admired the tell. broad -shouldered
young fellow. with his handsome class
zeal features and lark-bluc eyes. She
strongly resent d his being separated
from the lovely girl of whom all in
the village were proud
AT first Mrs. Topping hoped for
news week after week; then she said:
''Ihey must come home some time or
other, so the truth will have to be
known" but Christmas arrived with
ice and frost ana snow, the birds came
daily TO be fed in the yard and garden
of 1.-The Flackthorn;" yet Faireview
remained deserted, and spring saw the |
fragrant violet and fair primrose
blooming UNDECIDED in the neglected
walk. Summer followed, gay with !
sunshine, rich with flowers; autumn
came; year had fled, and there was |
not Sigh Of any of those in whose |
site the landia1y was so deeply inter-
ested.
Once more winter came and made |
the tireside welcome place; and the |
good woman sighed as she sat by her |
trim hearth, and wondered what had |
become Of the two lovers whom fate |
had treated so harshly.
The house taken by Madame Du- |
was situated about a mile from |
the dull fashionable Watering place of |
Fladgate. The place did not bear an
enviable reputation, having been I'M
occupied since the death of the last |
tenant, who owned the desolate-look-
ing mill which stood at the back of the |
house. 1t was said that the man who |
ad died there was reckless drunken !
prohigate, and that dark deeds had
been perpetratol in the mill, which
was worked by water as we'll as by
wind.
Lena was now in the middle of her
second winter in the Mill House. She
had passed many terrible nights I'M