The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1896-12-17

though watchrul, ready, eager TO serve,
even though unsummOned, another form
| came suddenly into sight Oh the moon
light walk in front, and voice she we'll
knew hailed from over the low picket
| fence: Twill has just gone up our way,
Miss Farrar. I brought him 2 message
moment ago. Can be Of any serv-
ice?" And there, of course, was Jack
| Ormsby.
''Thank you, no." was the answer in
cold constraint. II had no idea he had
gone and that you were there. Mother
merely wished to speak with him a mo-
ment, and with that she meant to dis
miss him, but her mother, panied by
| her tone of cOnstraint and GOODNESS to-
ward one whom she herself 80 greatly
liked, came to the window herself.
ELLIS, you are not even courteous to
that honest gentleman" she said in
gentle reproach. "Mr. Ormsby," she
added in cordial tones, care you going
anywhere? Are you busy?"
Entirely at your service, Mrs. Far
rar. found myself de trop at the house
after the colonel took his nightcap and
his leave, so I came out for stroll.
The major and Aunt Lou are trying to
remember where they left off last night,
and Kitty, I fancy, is bullying the lieu
| tenant"
"Then would you mind coming in
one minute? I have little packet that
want Willy to find on his dressing ia
BILE when he comes in.''
"Mother,' pleaded Ellis almost
breathlessly, ''I-I"-
FLUSH, dear. Mr.. Ormsby will be
glad, I know
And Mr.. Ormsby was only too glad.
Promptly he came to the door. Prompt
~ he was admitted by Mrs. Daunton,
who stood with palpitating heart at the
foot Of the stairs
'"Thank you so much, was Mrs. Far
rar's hail from the landing above. cit
is in my room and will be ready in one
minute if you will kindly step into the
parlor.'
And then Mrs. Farrar passed on
into her room, and with no audible
word Mrs. Daunton and Jack passed
into the parlor. Ellis stood a mo-
ment, confused, COMPOUNDED, irresolute,
turned back into her own room, and
only by a miracle recovered herself in
time to prevent the loud slam of the
door. Then, with heavily beating heart,
she stood there in the middle of the
floor listening for yet not listening to
the sound of voices from below, the
cold night air blowing in from the open
easement unnoticed, even the mysteri-
GUS prowler at the back of the house
for the moment utterly forgotten.
And meantime, turning quickly upon
Ormsby, the moment she had led him
within the parlor below, Helen Daun
ton, in low, trembling, yet determined
accents, spoke hurriedly: II had not
hoped for this. At best thought to see
you no sooner than tomorrow night.
You have read my note?"
Ormsby bowed coldly. Eyes, but no
words can tell you my surprise at seeing
you here in this household and as the
trusted companion of whom I have
heard so much. Do they know you
are'-
''They know nothing. They have
made me welcome and made life sweet
to me again after it was wrecked and
ruined by their own flesh and blood. I
meant-God forgive me-when first
came to them, lonely, destitute, that
some time they should know, but from
the first grew to love her; from the
day Of my reception under her roof my
heart went out to her as it has done to
no other woman since my own blessed
mother died, long years ago, and then,
then learned Of her precarious health
and temporized and now love her as
I love no other being on earth, and,
knowing that she never heard of her
sons marriage-for she has talked of
him occasionally to mel determined
never to tell her of that or of the little
one murdered by his brutality. I have