Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1896-02-13
CHAPTER xIII-1Continued)

JesSep, s~pringing Up, o~yerturning his
chair, and rushing out of the room.
The remainder of the party held
their braathS IN suspense until JesSup
pushed open the door and re]appeared,
dragging after him the pale, weary,
half-staryed, d~ripping-wet figure of a
young girl, whom he pulled up before
the astonished h~ousekeeper, saying.
mGckingly:
fhere-there's your Banshee! A
girl as has been caught out In the
storm, and was frightened at ringing
the door-beli ut such IA great house as
this"
The very form, the very face! 1
never, no, l never did see such a like
ness: the express image of my Young
nliSsus, only thinner, and pale and
smaller. Come to the fire, my lass.
What is your name, and how came
you out in the storm? You are not one
OF the village girlsE' inquired the
h-ousckeeper, drawing the chilled
stranger to the bright little coal fire,
that the dampness of the evening
made yery comfortable, ever at this
season.
Then seeing, in the glare of the light
that the girl was wet to the skin, she
exclaimed:
'tOh, deary me-; you haven't n dry
thread on You, Nou must have been
out IN the whole storm: come into my
chamber and get a suit of dry clothes
on your back, and then you shall have
some hot supper. before you answer
any Of my questions"
And, taking the young stranger by
the hand, tho good hOusekeeper con-
Quoted her into an adjoining room.
They Were gone about fifteen min
utcs. at the end OF which Mrs. Broad
SIDES returned, leading her proteCc
WHO was now comfortably clad i'm Il
black silk dress. that looked as if il
had been made for her.
Dear me, how well that fits" said
Miss Tabs.
eS, it was my young missus'S. She
left most Of her clothes here, poor
child, when she went away. and
have taken car of them ever since.
And now, il you want to know what
my darling looked like. Just look at
this young gal: for there never was
two peas so much alike rs Miss Anna
fleanora, and this Soung gal. only
TIA: this one looks like the ghost of
q other. And now. my child. sit
down at the corner of the table here
bf-AAN - III IdNt sOIiIt III iIlS cur
RED chicken, while We make YOU a
glass Of warm port wine negus; and |
no one shall trouble you with any
questions until you have done supper"
said the good hodsekeeper, settling her
protegee in the most comfortable seat.
Another fifteen minutes suf1iced Ia
satisfy the appetite of the stranger.
Who was thereupon required to crafty
the curiosity of her entertainers.
And now. my lass, tell us all about
yourself. o are not OF this country
side, | SUPPOSE said Mrs. Broadsides,
when they had gathered around the
fire.
mo, ma'am. I came from London
this morning by rail as far as the sta
tion, and then set off to walk
But where were Won going, my
child, when YOU were caught In the
storm?'
10 Allworth Abbey. ma'am.''
'To Allworth Abbey" exclaimed
Mrs. Broadsides and Miss Tabs in a
breath.
YES" said the girl, looking up In
surprise at the manner in which they
had received her communication.
Put this was no time TO explain by
Introducing the tragedy of Allworth
bbstg !. tbtt iNllNtbS Nbllith VIII iOI |
once eager to hear than tell news, and
50 Mrs. Broadsidcs inquired:
''And whatever could have taken
to Alworth Abbey of all the
in the world. my poor dear?'
Well, ! don't mind telling you as
you are 80 good to me. | am an or
.han; my mother died when | was an
and my poor father died a few
ago in his lodgings in London
me quite destitute. So the
officers talked of sending me TO
the union, or binding me apprentice
To q mistress. | couldn't bear the
thoughts OF either. so ! ran away. tray
cling by rail as long as my money
and then setting out to walk"
.'Rut why 10 Aliworth Abbey
Because my poor mother had a fos-
tcf-sister living at service there, who,
/ thought, might he kind to me.
"What-what WIS her namc:' in
Miss Tabs.
''Tabitha Tabs. l remember il well.'
"Nhy. that was my name; but my
never had but one nurse child.
and that was Miss Anna Eleanoia
BrunteD oh. my goodneGs. Mrs.
Broadsid.s. can-can-can IL he as this
Is her darter." exclaimed Miss Tabs,
What is your name, young ginT"
exclaimed the ~honsekccper. in an agi-
voice. grasping tho arm and
gazing eagerly into the face of the
stranger.
eAnnella Wilder. oh, please do not
squeeze my arm SO tightly: you'll
break the bone!' said the girl, shrink
ing from such a very pressing proof
of regard.
'Annella Wilder. Amelia was the
pet same we used To call my darling
icing short for Anna Eleanor: and
was the name of the young fell
as bolted with her. And o as
like her as one pea-poG is to another.
and as sure as fate you are my poor
darling's child, You arc, you arc! oh.
dear, on. dear! OH cried the house
keeper, catching the girl TO her bosom
ana sobbing and weeping ove her.
And SO my darling Is dead. Ai,d
when Won were an infant. you say.
And her Young husband, your father,
did he oyer forget her w.ro gave up so
much FOR his sake? Did he ever put
another woman in her place. cried
tho ~affectionate creature, still holding
the Girl 10 her bosom.