Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1896-03-19

&tA% 1tAAsAH 40&AAe "a 49,
tie repast had been prepared for her.
She ate a piece of chicken and a jelly,
and was picking a bunch of grapes
when the lady's bell rang for Madelon,
who FASTENED TO answer, but soon re-
turned with q message summoning
Alma to her mothers apartments.
Alma Immediately hurried thither.
She found the beautiful, majestic, pale
faced lady seated In the luxurious
chair beside the elegant table in the
midst of the gloom and glow of that
crimson and golden room. That still
woman was the picture Of which the
boudoir was but the background and
frame.
AS her daughter entered the lady
lifted her languid eyes from the book
h was reading and silently motioned
Alma TO take the chair on the other
side OF the table.
The young girl obeyed and waited
for her mother TO speak. But the
lady's large eyes had again fallen
upon her book, and in Il few moments
n seemed 10 have forgotten the pres
ence OF her daughter.
Alma stole a glance at her watch.
1t was half-past five. Her heart
throbbed with anxiety. She yentured
TO break the silence by saying:
Il did your errand faithfully and
successfully, dear mother"
Il will speak to you about that pres
emily, Alma" said the lady. turning a
leaf Of her book and relapsing into 81
lence.
Alma fell into thought. She had pri-
yate anxieties enough of her to
engage her mind. She was extremely
DESTROYS TO keep her appointment with
her unhappy father. She was extreme
ly fearful also of a r%ecOunter between
her father and her betrothed. She
therefore felt the urgent necessity OF
being herself early on the ground TO
meet the first conner, whether that
should be her father or her betrothed.
If 1t should be the former she would
draw him quickly off in some other di-
rection to avoid a meeting with Capt.
Montrose. If the latter she would
merely greet him and dismiss him TO
shun a recounter with Mr.. Elverton.
All these plans were fraught with
danger, but they were the best that
she could impoyise for the e~xigency.
Meanwhile. how quickly the precious
minutes few while she sat waiting
her mothers leisure.
The elegant little ormolu clock on
the cnimney-piece struck six.
Alma started and looked up. The
hour had come.
Mamma, / wish TO take an evening
walk. If you win permit Inc. | will go.
and return when you have leisure TO
attend to me-" said the young girl des-
perately.
Are you so impatient, Alma? Well,
then, Twill hear you now" said the
lady, closing her book and laying it
down.
mo, mamma, / am not impatient:
indeed should prefer taking my usual
walk first and then come TO you
again." replied the young girl. while
a deep blush suffused her cheeks.
You have had a long drive-enough
of fresh air ard exercise for one day.
You may forego your walk; nay, you
must do so."
Alma's color went and came rapidly.
The lady continued:
II have finished my book and am
quite ready TO attend you; so now tell
me, how did you find your friend?'
This turned the current Of Alma's
thoughts, and she answered:
"Fearfuliy changed, mamma-sC
thin, so pale. so careworn. you would
neye have known her.
"She accepted the loan without re
luctanceF' asked the lady.
mo, mamma, there was much hest
tation; but / used the arguments with
which you had provided me. and
assured her that those who sent heI
the money had a personal interest in
her acquittal that made 1t quite right
they should bear their share i'm the
cost of her defence"
You were right: but how did she
meet this explanation"
With the contiding faith of q CRATE
full child-only anxious to know tn,
Eames of her b~enefactors, that sh,
might mention them in her prayers
why do you say ~benefactors. wheI
there was but me? inquired the l.dy
Mamma, when we speak of anyone
in the third person, without wishin.
even to divulge their sex we say they.
because we have no third person sin
S1lar of the common gender. And be
cause | used the pronoun they sh,
fancied there was more than one, ant
spoke of her b~enefactors,' answered
Alma. blushing deeply at the neces
sary reservation.
We'll, but you did not give tn,
name?"
mo. mamma"
did she speay Of her %approachin,
trial? Is she frightened? Has sh,
hopes? Speak; tell me more abou
her"
In reply TO this adjuration. Alma re
lated in detail the full account Of he
visit to ,Eudora. And while Aim;
described the anguish to which tn,
poor girl was n prey. the lady, lon;
past shedding tears of sympathy, couI,
only drop her head upon her hands
and groan as n suffering under som,
heavy burthen OF
As Alma, forgetting her own embar
rassment In the deep sorrows of Eu
dora, was still engaged I'm describin,
the prison interview. the clock strucl
seven
She started. clasped her hands, an,
gazed appealingly towards her mother
We'll, 1t is too late now Alma. (
keep your appointment. Even Is Car
tain Montrose has waited a whole hou
over his time, 1t is likely that he vii
wrif half an bour lamar whi.h 4