Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1890-11-01

L
carrying her shapely head with uncon-
scious hauteur that lessened materially
her chance OF obtaining work. She had
not learned yet TO humble herself in
manner, even though her heart burned
with bitter humiliation-the humilia-
ton OF shame.
Shame, because two years before, her
father. who had reigned Us million
aire, had been detected in fraudulent
dealings that led on and on through the
mire OF dishonesty, forgery, misrepre-
sentation and breach Of trust, till, in o
prison-cell, he committed suicide.
In his ruin was involved that OF
others, and the greatest sufferer had
been his ward, Henry Ashworth, son of
an old friend who had left large estate
in the hands Of Marcus Wright, in trust
for his only child. For years, Harry
Ashworth had been one Of Mr.. Wright's
, family, leaving his home only for school
or college, and returning to it, natural
ly, after graduating in the law-school,
to assume mans duties.
Utterly unsuspecting, trusting his
fathers friend implicitly, Harry never
thought Of investigating his own af-
| fairs, even after no came Of age, and
Mr.. Wright made show of settling
them.
He had loved Hester from the time
she was q child, and their engagement
caused no surprise in their social circle,
though two people more unlike could
not we'll be found.
Hester, tall, dark, stately, yet impul-
sive, was quick-tempered, liable to look
on the gloomy side of life, quick to re-
sent injustice; loving, yet jealous and
exacting.
Harry, q blonde of the English type,
was frank, joyous in disposition, seek
ing the brightness OF all things, con-
fiding and tender-a lover, once won,
who could not be inconstant.
VIXEN the crash came, and he knew
his entire fortune was swept away by
the dishonesty Of his guardian, 1t was
Harry Ashworth who stood between
Hester and her mother and the world;
who guarded them, as far as possible,
from the indignation Of friends turned
to enemies, of those who, wronged by
the dead man, came to pour out the
walls Of wrath upon the innocent
widow and child. 1t was Harry who
saved trifle from the wreck by claim
ing Mrs. Wright's jewels, presents from
her relatives on her marriage. 1t was
Harry who, yielding in all else, would
not give up his right to protect Hester,
but claimed her promise to be his
wife, steadily and unmoved by her pas
sionate, scornful denunciation Of her.
self as her fathers child.
More fortunate than his betrothed,
he had obtained employment as clerk
in lawyers Office. and had salary at
his command about equal in amount to
his tailor's bills of previous years.
Friends, who turned from Testers APP
peals for employment, pitied the vic
tim" Of her fathers frauds, and extend
ed helping hand to Harry. Yet, with
all his love, all his generosity, he could
not arrest that downward, struggling
fall that had carried his betrothed and
her mother to the very verge OF desper-
alton.
Hester had not been gone more than
ten minutes, and Mrs. Wright was still
burying her misery, for the time, in the
delight the flowers brought her, when
she heard rapid steps coming up the
narrow staircase, and the door was
opened quickly to admit the girl again,
flushed and excited.
Mamma she cried, ''did you ever
know anybody named Godfrey Hol-
borne? seem to have some recollec-
ton of the name"
"He was your godfather! But he went
to Colorado years ago."
"Read THAR Hester said, opening the
newspaper in her hand to point out
paragraph. and Mrs. Wright read:
''f Hester Wright Will communicate with
Godfrey Holborne, 2H L. street, she will
learn something to her advantage"
Suddenly there flashed over Mrs.
Wright's face q look Of hope, long a
stranger there.
II can not recall it clearly" she said,
''but your father told me something,
years ago, about some money Godfrey
Holborne held for you. 1t is all very
vague! He was a man of whom they
said he turned every thing he touched
to gold. Every speculation he made
was success, and when he went West
his good luck followed him"
II will go now-to-day!" Hester cried,
and then her face fell, as she added:
''But, mother, il he has money OF
father's-it can not honestly be mine"
"You had better go, dear. l wish l
could remember betterv
Two hundred and forty-seven L
street proved to be private residence;
house of magnificent proportions,
furnished with taste and wealth. and
Hester was ushered into room filed
with treasures Of art and beauty, while