Wood River times. [volume] (Hailey, Idaho) 1882-1915, 1893-11-03

lug Ao man VI OOOkS-0 oc0Olar-A
learned gentleman"
the force OF this reasoning, and for q
moment could not entirely hide her
confusion.
Il was not q sailor, therefore, a. you
can see at glance" resumed Ralph,
with q promptness which showed how
much he was preoccupied by the prob
lem Of his former existence. but
what was r."
Alma hardly knew what to answer.
but soon replied:
why do you ask? Is it not mani
testify impossible that any OF these har-
rowing questions should ever receive
solution? Father and have passed in
review q hundred times every possibly
theory Of your past history, but all are
equally unsatisfactory and all are
equally far from any definite conclu-
siOn."
1t occurred to me, of course, that I
must have come in one of the ships
which, about that time, entered the
harbOr." continued Ralph, thought
fully, "and I have accordingly been
making inquiries"
The pallor deepened on Alma's face.
You have?" she gasped.
Yes, have been making inquiries.
long visits to Honolulu"
The start given by Alma at this dec
lasation partook largely Of alright.
She stole several sly chances in quick
succession at her companion.
"Well?" she finally faltered.
We'll, have had my labor for my
pains. have learned all I can in re-
gard to the ships which were in port at
the date in question, and also made
every possible Inquiry in regard to the
persons aboard Of those ships, but I
have not been able to find the least light
In that quarter. It is impossible to say
this island"
Or even when," suggested Alma,
still averting her face. you may have
been on the island months or years be-
fore we found you. You may have been
afflicted with-with some terrible men
tai disease. In any case, whoever you
may have been, and whatever your
parentage, it is reasonable to think
that you may have been deliberately
abandoned by your friends, and that
they have taken such good care to
cover up their tracks that you never,
never will be able to get the least trace
of them"
This view of the case was not q new
one. Ralph had often contemplated it
before, but he had never been able to
consider it calmly. TWAS, in fact, the
most painful Of all the theories he had
ever formed concerning himself, and
Its horrors now kept him silent.
And such being the common-sense
view Of the matter" resumed Alma,
why should you worry yourself to
death with mystery that can never
be cleared up? Is it not better to let
tho dood OF al aud <,,~ NJ
tention to the living PRESENT."
This Is the very course propose to
take" declared Ralph with q long
drawn sigh. SIT would be both foolish
and wicked, of course, for me to spend
! my life in an endeavor to answer ques-
tiOns which are from their very nature
unanswerable. But one of the most
pressing duties of the present is for ma
to cease to be an object of charity-to
avoid taxing your goodness and that OF
your father any further-in short, to
adopt some work or profession that will
insure me support and render me in.
dependent of Others"
What! you are tired Of US? You
would leave us?" cried Alma, turning
pale again and looking a world of ten.
der reproaches.
SIT is not that, Miss Bullet" said
Ralph, with gentle gravity. "Amona
all the thousands of truths I have
learned during the past few weeks,
have not failed to learn that the first
principle of manhood is pecuniary in.
dependence; and the time has arrived
for me- to carry this truth into prac'
tice."
Alma unused painfully few moments,
and then turned her most effective
glances upo-I her companion, her feat
| ureS Frightening,
Very WE'LL" she said, II see no OBJ
jections to your being Independent,
since such is your desire. Father will
sell you some land, which you can pay
for by your labor, or he will endeavol
to procure for you q position of some
kind in Honolulu. But whatever you
do, bear in mind that father and I are
your true friends, that we have your
happiness at heart, and that we ara
anxious to do all we can for vou."
you have both been singularly kind
to me-" returned Ralph, as he leaned
forward and took the girls hand
In his own, pressing it gratefully
ITO you, especially, owe more thar
my life. Rest assured that 1 shall al
ways be grateful"
While he was uttering these declara,
lions, with the hearty honesty charac
teristic Of him, the dark face of an in
truder, kanaka, was suddenly raised
into view from behind a clump Of
bushes few rods in the rear of the
couple, and clenched hand was shaker
menacingly at them, while a pair O.
savage eyes looked at them with the
raging fires Of jealousy.
Neither Of the couple detected THU
intrusion.
"But enough Of all this for to-day,
continued Ralph, relinquishing the
hand Of the girl and arising. Il set
your father in the distance, returning
from Honolulu, and you will doubtless
wish to meet him, as he was to bring
you some new fashions" and the young
} Chicagoan smiled. Let's walk in tina
direction"
The sun was now setting in food o
glory, and by tho time the couple hat
finished a pleasant chat with Bullet thu
~ a. I Z 4