Wood River times. [volume] (Hailey, Idaho) 1882-1915, 1893-11-20
Christian erinla
A Thrilling Romance OF
Land and Sea.
BY ARRAH LEIGH.
CHAPTER IV-COntlnued.


After she had gone out he came back.
and, sitting down at his table. took nm
letter lying before him. 1t began;
GEoRGETowN. N. C., Sept. 70. IS
MY DEAR BROTHER: For years I have
neither heard from you nor addressed YOU,
and ana presume you still live in our old
would give to have those walls shelter
me once more! 1t seems to me impossible
that must always be an alien from nv
own. Albert. will you not help me to
como bsck? Try and induce nv father
widow.
know your heart cannot fail of being
so!tened when tell you my sad story. As
weeks ago my husb band and myself started
Tor New YORK in sailing vessel. She was
Wrecked. We cut adri!t from the ship, and
'1oated Tor days on roughly constructed
rai.: Inc sailors became frantic with hun
wanted to eat my baby. My husband pro.
tected her. and the men fought him.
They all rolled into the sea together and
persisted.
You can imagine nly agony, left alone on
that raft; the sun beating upon me, the
waves drenching me. With nv little girl
for companion. |. hungry. wi etched. hope
less. iioated another day; then a party Of
up and took me ashore.
l raved In delirium or weeks and am yet
very i'll. The doctors here say will be an
invalid tor life | have no money. Albert
be starving now. expect. il these strolling
PLAYERS had not fallen in love with my
child. and aid her to act with them. The
idea OF my child. who looks just like me.
being an actress! 1t drives me wild. but if
you will not help me- what can I dor Oh.
II you could only see little Chris. you would
help me. She is SO beautiful. so bright. so
winsome! she gains all hearts. No other
child could compete with her. Ihave writ
ten father about her. Help me to move his
heart. that we may como home, for it is
risking soul for you to leave Chris in this
world OF poverty. Surrounded by vice.
what will she become? Spare her. Spare
me. is the ardent prayer OF your loving sis
ter. GRACE AsTANGE
Albert Astange leaned his head on his
hands again. Suddenly he heard a voice
outside in the hall. The door opened;
an old gray-haired man entered. He had
the same proud face as the man sitting
here.
Albert" he said, "have you time to
talk with me?"
The son bowed in silence.
Then must tell you 1 have just re-
ceived a pitious letter from your sister
Grace. l have said 1 would never for
give her for her marriage, but she writes
band is dead. What should l do about
answering her appeal for help?"
Albert Astange rose up uneasily.
His good and evil geniuses waged
battle for supremacy. At last he turned
to speak. AS he did SO an accident hap
pened which changed the current of his
thou 1hts.
His lips opened to tell the old man ne
thought 1t his duty to bring the unfor-
tunate widow home, as low, sobbing
cry sounded in the air.
! He sprang to the door.
- Crouching down in the hall he saw lit
tie Olga. Her sister Belle was bending
over her, pulling her hair with one hand,
pinching her arm with the other.
IN teach you to tattle about me, and
to make father scold me, you nasty little
red haired thing" she exclaimed.
In another moment her fathers hand
fell on her shoulder.
Albert Astange was a person who never
showed anger. His voice was calm now
as he said:
Belle, go to your room, and do not
leave it for week. At the expiration of
that time shall see you are punished.
He lifted Olga up in his arms and car
ried her into the library. Her arm was
black and blue. She nestled upon his
breast.
Tell me, have your sisters ever hurt
you before?" asked the father, anxiously.
! "Yes, but don't want them whipped.
Papa, sisters are nasty; I'll never have
any move. They are always saying l
have red hair and am ugly.
There we're tea rs in her eyes as Olga
spoke.
Albert Astange looked at his father.
think If l were in your place, faith
er," he began, after a pause, Il would
send Grace two or three hundred dollars
and tell her you are done with her. You
certainly do not want to reopen your old
house, and could not have Mrs. Verina
here"
Yet it seems a dreadful thing that nv
grandchild should be on the STAGE" said
the old man, thoughtfully.
1t Is her mothers conduct that places
ner there, replied Albert, coldly. Then
ne added: IF you like, will send her
t me money and letter. to spare you the
The old man hesitated, looked at the
sons face, sighed, and then said as he
I wish You would" and left the apart.
ment abruptly.
Albert Astsnge fell into deep reverie,
from which he was aroused by the ring
ing OF the dinner bell; but he passed
!tom the gloomy hall into the stately,
dafk dlnlng-room, as If in q dream, After
the dreary meal was over, he returned to
tne library, and wrote letter, the COM
rp@s'tion Of which took him a long time
20 consider; though it was brief when
Severa! hours elapsed ere he folded the
epistle which told Grace Astange that the
three hundred dollar check he Enclosed
was the last she might ever expect from
him, let her write what she would about
herself and child.
Having directed an envelope. he rang a
bell on the table. A waiter appeared.
John. said his master, Il desire YOU
TO take this letter to the postofice at
once. 1t must be registered"
The man bowed, took the envelope. and
Quilted the apartment. Mr.. Astanoe let
his eyes fall on the lines his sister had
written him.
lie read, unconsciously, aloud:
1t is risking q soul for YOU to leave
Chris in this world"
Inc gentleman rose abruptly and
walked to the window. The rain had
now begun to fall; a heavy veil of mist
hung over the Sound: the heavens looked
dull and cheerless. Through the slush