Wood River times. [volume] (Hailey, Idaho) 1882-1915, 1893-12-27

A smile played over her lips ~ she
idly glanced at the perfumed notes Of
fattery poured in upon her TO accompany
ing flowers, or to tell her book was
coming to her whose heroine she was
like.
But suddenly her face became grave.
An official looking piece Of paper was
In her hand, and she re ID on it:
MISS vERiNA: Will you DO kind
enough to believe it is a matter of i'm
portance for me to know your ia hers
name; also where he died, and how I c
find his last resting place? II you have
certihcae Of his marriage to your
mother, and where ,ou were born2 And
if you are married. Most respectfully
yours, GEORGE HOWARD,
Private detective employed by Lord
w hat IL the meaning Of this?" won
dered Chris, and with a perplexed mien
drew her writing desk to her and answered
the note at once.
She had just dispatched it whom the
maid came to tell her the hour had ar
rived for her to prepare for morning re-
hearsal.
Her mind still pondering upon Lord
Elgin's strange mode of seeking informa-
ton about her. Chris rose to don n street
costume as knock sounded on her
door.
Not calling on her maid to open it, Chris
ran forward and took the card from q
waiter standing there.
1t was bordered with black, and on it
she read:
"Olga Astange!"
chill swept over her.
Coull it be that some Of her mothers
people were to notice her at last-those
proud. cold people, who had never for
given her mother for marrying her father?
She felt it was impossible.
Are you sure the card is for me?" she
asked, thinking there might be mis-
take.
Yes, miss, and the lady waits below"
Il will see her here, said Chris. And
she stood there with q troubled look on
her sweet face, till she heard the rustic of
woman's dress, and Olga paused before
her.
The waiter closed the door and left
them standing there staring at each other
these two girls whose destinies were
strangely mingled.
Neither spoke for moment.
Intuitively each studied the others
face, the others costume.
Olga, to Chris, looked almost stern in
her mourning garments and her long
Grape veil, through which her yellow hair
glistened so brightly.
Chris, to Olga, appeared like child in
a trailing dress; for her light-blue robe.
with its creamy trimming, caused the
fair complexion to seem babyishly white,
and the short, golden curls and innocent
blue eyes added to the effect.
Olga's face said:
Il am surprised to find you so young"
Chris face said:
Il am surprised to find you SO beauti-
full"
Il suppose" cried Olga, breaking the
silence abruptly, you know from my card
who am?-your cousin. But, dear, YOU
must wonder after all these years Of ST.
lence how came to seek you.
My father, your mothers brother.
made me promise when he was dying that
would; that would share with you my
fortune my home, my all.
He had searched for you, but had fail
ed to find you. Ihave succeeded. Dear,
will you let me make reparation to you
for the wrong our ancestors did your par
ents? I have vowed to try and make you
happy. Will you give up this life of
doubtful pie asure and come to miner"
Chris stared.
There was pause.
IL must think" she stammered.
Il have frightened you by my abrupt
ness. Forgive mo. l have SO anxiously
VI tHls meeting IOrROt II Is all
strange to you.
who told you where to find me?" ask
ed Chris, suddenly.
Kenneth Byrne."
1t seemed to Chris the air was full of
ringing bells.
She thought she understood him now.
This was his act; be had wished to
make her his equal before wedding her.
While she had believed him cold and
indifferent, he had been trying to recon
Gle her mot hers family to her.
He had always been true he had never
neglected her; he had made her very
happy; and she could lot even thank
him.
Her gratitude and love shone in her
eyes; she longed to tell him how his kind
ness made her worship him; she felt she
understood him better than any one in the
world at last.
He brought you here?" she questioned.
"Yes," answered Olga, and she did not
add that he had begged her not to come
had told her singers, and actresses, and
writing-women were not of her caste.
That they could not be transplanted
their lives, their ideas, their souls, per-
chance, were different from hers.
She had answered him by saying she
was afraid of nothing; that she had a
duty to be done, and it should be done at
any sacrifice of self.
Had she known the sacrifice, had she
known the future, would she have stood
here so calmly? would she have been
glad as she now was to hear Chris say:
Twill do whatever you tell me-.
There was no more doubt for these two.
Fate decided in that moment the trag-
edy of their lives.
ITO BE CONTINUED
An Encounter with Leopard.