Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1891-09-17
CHAPTER II.
TURNED OUT TO PERISH.

A knock was heard at the door at this
moment, and one of the merchants
clerks stepped hesitatingly into his pres
ence.
~If you please. Mr.. Skiddsr, 4" he an
nOunced, ~here's a young woman who
wishes to see you. 4"
The merchant glared at his dependent
so angrily that he retreated invOlun-
tarily step or two.
~How dare you come to me with mes
sages from such creatures?H he demand
ed. @The second Offense will cost you
your place. If you had been longer in
my service. sir, you would know that 1
never see beggars."
He waved his hand imperatively, but
the clerk stood his ground, with the re-
mark:
The young woman IS no beggar, sir.
She's your own nieee!"
ats falsel7 roared The merchant. u
have no niecei She's an impostori Call
the pOlicel"
The clerk withdrew, but the door had
scarcely closed when 1t opened again,
and he reappeared with an agitated
face. Before he could speak, however,
the aperture widened, and second per
son entered the merchants presence.
The newcomer was the niece who had
just been so rudely repudiated-
What rare. witching girl she wasi
She had the wild free grace of fawn;
a slender. swaying figure; a sweet pure,
girlish face, framed in flowing hair, and d
pair of lovely brown eyes, innocent,
truthful and ANONYMOUSLY appealing eyes
from which looked q Woman's Thoughtful
soul that had learned too early the bitter
ness of life.
She approached the merchant, extend
ing her hand, as the clerk hastily re-
treated.
Are you my uncle Hiram?" she asked.
Il am Ellie Tower, your sisters only
daughter
~Elfe Tower?" repeated the merchant,
with stare OF surprise %The daughter
Of my only sister Mary?"
~The same, uncle.
The merchant shook her hand feebly
a single instant and invited her by gest-
ure to be seated
This is a great surprise. n he said, re-
Stunning his seat. "What brings you to
Chicago? Come on a little visit, Ell?
Better have staid in the country
Il am come to stay, Uncle Hiram,
announced the girl quietly. 81 am alone
in the world"
aAlone? How's shat?"
my father died last year, as mother
wrote you," explained Ellie. Mamma
has followed him." and her voice grew
broken. @She died last week, Uncle
Hiram, and when she was dying she told
me to come to you. She sent you her
dearest love, regretting keenly-"
"Humph!" said the merchant. ~Of
course I'm sorry she's dead. but it's
years since I saw her, and the loss
doesn't come on me as keenly as on you
Mary was a good woman, a little senti-
mental, perhaps, and always talking
about affection, honor. truthfulness, and
that sort OF thing, but she meant we'll,
don't doubt How many children did
your parents leave?"
Il was their only child, UnLle Hiram,
save the one who died
@Ah, yes" and the merchant yawned-
II have lost sight Of my sister during the
past few years 1t is true, received q
letter In which she said her husband was
dead, but never found time to answer
it Ny business cares have always been
heavy. I visited your parents in Ingle-
helm ten years ago, when You were a
mere child They were very prosperous
in those days-oWned a grocery store.
with houses and lots, horses, and so
forth. Your father had few expenses IN
that little village. 1 suppose, Ellie, you
have inherited handsome property?S
@Quite the contrary, uncle Ny father
made some investments which turned
out badly, including his Joint purchase
with you OF those wild lands on the Mus
selshell River, In Montana He was
also burned out and failed in business
thFee months before be died.