Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1891-08-21

vtiti though he noticed her confusion,
attributed 1t to embarrassment sprlnSlnS
from IN inability To understand him.
"Ah, can't talk" he repeated regret
fully. "EXru>. M: III write, SAYING
wai.h hc laid down the bouquet and
reached for his tablet. Then proppins
mu.,li NJ on the loun-", he scrubbed
RAPIDLY a moment, while Louise, sick
AMI weak with mysterious fears. took
tn" bouquet hastily and buried her face
IA IA" flowers To gam support from their
ruu-,nt od0rs.
With a smile Of interest and curiosity
H. now paused and handed her the tab
lct. He had written upon it the follow
lu.:
suppose YOU are Mrs. Sheflield's adopted
daughter. I've just been reading about it in
Tom Bassctt', correspondence with Mr.. Caus-
ten. my predecessor. Very interesting!
She gave a little smothered cry, her
checks faded, her breath came quick and
un~'"adllv, she grew dizzy, the walls
spun around, she heard the invalid shout
for help; then darkness blotted out the
world. When she awOke she found
Wniwarl at her side, the agent bend
I'M over her and the assistant bringing
water and spirits from the sideboard
"EAcu~e me, she gaSped, her pride re-
viViu. with her life. "A sudden faint.
and She tried to smile. but she saw the
tablet WAS in Windwards hand. He was
looking at 1t very kindly, but very sober
": and i'll his large, pathetic eyes-the
soft. blue eyes Of old Tom B;lssett-she
read the truth of her life. Her flushed
checks paled again, and she grew weak
and dizzy.
whisky" cried the invalid, pressing
a glass To- her lips. ''Sorry, very sorry!
Awkward! Never mind. All the same!
Up stairs? Rest awhile? Nancy. Up
stairs. Too lad! Fool! FOOL" and he
turned his face to the wall with groan,
while Louise let herself be raised and
assisted to bedroom and stretched ON a
sofa.
"Shall | go:" asked Windward, not
wishing ~ intrude. but anxious for her
welfare.
mo. no, she said family. sit down.
Tell me everything"
In Il moment he said. You are
weak -
Now" she exclaimed.
81 don't know much" he said.
BE frank she whispered-"be truth.
full"
II viii I've" he answered, seating him
self at her side and taking her hand; it
WAS like ice But it is not Sc painful.
DO not be- alarmed"
Tell me" she cried impatiently.
"As understand it, Miss Sheffield
I'm not Miss Sheffield" she inter.
interrupted who am |? What's my
name
Its Louise. any way" he exclaimed,
desperately.
That's good" said the sufferer. "Call
me that. then. Go on.'
AS understand it," said Windwarl
won were the only child of poor people
who had one of the French claims. and
with whom my uncle Tom got acquainted
on that account. 1t happened that both
your parents died while You were an in
FAINT. and h. had You adopted by his
with them. and You all grew up together
rs you know. judge you We're to be
treated as one Of the family and never to
know or feel difference | found out
the truth only few days ago, by acct
dent. while reading over the papers of
the agency relating to the claim, inter
sprrscd i'll which are occasional refer
enccs to family matters"
us that ALL asked Louise, rs Wind.
ward paused.
"ThoSs are the main features as rec.
ollect them, he replied. What know
| learned, as ] say, from incidental ref
errnces III the correspondence"
My uncle" she checked herself
"thr colonel knows nothing of this
mean of your knowledge of the secret"
"Oh, no." Windward replied. 81 felt
that he wished it kept buried, and
found 10y an inquiry that you We're lgnor.
ant"
IL recollect," interrupted Louise.
so l have said nothing to any one,
he said.
That is right" said Louise. "You
spoke of papers-can see them?"
81 suppose SO; certainly"
Would you mind getting them?" she
inquired. Nancy is here if want help,
but don't think shall Perhaps I'd
better rest moment. I'll send Nancy
down shortly"
Certainly" replied Windward. crest
by all means, and do not he distressed.
Your friends are the same, your life is
not affected. This will bind us all the
more closely"
Thank you. Windward," she said,
closing her eyes YEARLY. II know you
will all he kind and good. But it is not
the same" Her lip trembled and she
added, Il am very lonely"
\ mad thought flashed through Wind
wards mind. Should he fling himself at
her feet and enrich his life by giving it
to her!
Had he spoken then and there who
knows what might have been! Perhaps.
had he never spoken in vain, it might
have been. But We learn caution by
failure. He paused; he reflected, and he
let the one golden moment pass.
Il will be down stairs" he said, grave
ly and kindly.
Thank you, Windward," replied she;
"rll feel better directly" And she
smiled and motioned him away.
Nancy. my good girl" she then said
to the servant, won't You fetch me a
shawl? feel chilly
Nancy used to the cares and needs of
n sick ruom-had one at hand and threw
it over the shivering person of the suf-
ferer.
IF You'll come back in a few min
utes," she said, "Tll try to rest little. y
Yes. miss" the girl replied. "Ill be
in the next room, and you can knock or
speak if you want me"
Saying this. Nancy arranged the shawl
the better to protect the lady, and then
softly left the room.
Louise was alone; alone among stran-
gers. alone i'll life; even memory was false,
and the past myth. One friend, and
only one, who knew her, and whom she
loved. remained unchanged and unchang-
ing; and to this friend, gracious, faith
full and powerful, the special friend of
the friendless siid the orphan, she went
with her crushing load of sorrow.
After few moments. hearingn no sound
and fearful lest the visitor might be
needing assistance. the watchful servant
stepped softly to open the door. but stop
ped, hushed and awed, on the threshold
for within she saw the strange lady seek.
ing herself the aid she needed lon her knees.
ITO Be Continued