Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1896-09-10

her features. HE has got you into trou.
BILE, has he? Well, it's no good hunting
him up, I can tell you that. He hasn't
got q penny to his name, and he IL new
er likely to have one"
The dim feeling Of alarm which had
been throbbing in Hulda's breast since
she crossed the threshold Of the house
stole with q numbing chill down he,
back. She had but one desire, and that
was to escape from this terrible woman
before she had utterly shattered her idol.
She had, to be sure, said nothing that
vas discreditable to Olaf, unless it was
discroditable to be poor, and yet abe was
quivering with fear lest some hideous
secret should suddenly glare out at her.
with its petrifying Medusa gaze. She
had to tear herself away with q palpable
wrench from q certain baleful fascina-
ton which the woman exercised ovex
her, and the hours or minutes that in.
tervened between the last recorded re-
mark and her entrance into the Nor.
wegian consul's office on Milwaukee
avenue always remained q blank in hen
memory. She walked about half stun.
ned, yet with ahalf miraculous security
found her way through the tangle Of
unfamiliar streets by appealing to the
police whenever abe lost her bearingA
The consul, IL appeared, knew Olaf
Brun, but limited that he moved fre-
quently, and he was not sure where he
was to be found. He was extremely dis.
Greet and Hulda had . suspicion, which
made her blush with humiliation and
wrath, that he took such fragments OF
her story a. she chose 10 diyulge with
q grain Of salt. At all events, he wa
chary Of information and probably sup.
plemented her romance with details
which were not to her credit She infer
red, what had never before occurred to
her, that q young lady who descends nm
expectedly upon . gentleman, even
though her motive be the Hottest, II not
always welcome. There were complics-
tions and ~intricacies In masculine life
Of which she, In her innocence, had new
er dreamed, but q dim consciousness of
them dawned upon her a. abe sat tete-
a-tete with the consul, whose attitude
toward her was full Of courteous reser-
vations and adumbrations Of things
which q gentleman always finds it en-
barrassing to allude to in the presence
Of q lady. Was he trying TO put her on
her guard-to prepare her for unpleasant
surprises? She scorned to entertain the
thought. All her passionate faith in her
lover and her pride in him ~ q chival.
rous and unblemished gentleman nared
mp and put all unworthy suspicious to
flight
MAY I ask where you are stayingi''
the consul inquired a. she rose to 60.
II need not say that II I obtain any IN
formation regarding Mr.. Bruins where.
abouts I shall make haste to commune
cate with you"
She had to confess that she had Just
arrived. and that a. yet she had found
no permanent lodgingsL
Excusing himself, he picked up pen
and wrote her q letter Of introduction
to the lady manager Of the Young Wo.
mans Christian association.
IF You will 60 to this address, " II
said. handing her the letter. you will
find q cheap and comfortable home.
where You may remain until-untu you
may desire to 60 ELSEWHERE" he finish.
ed with q sigh Of relief. He seemed T.
feel the obligations Of his ofacial posi-.
ton in the presence Of this young girl
and to be determined 70 acquit himself
creditably. And ahe felt reflectively
what . burden she must be to him and
was anxious to relieve him Of his OWL
sense Of responsibility. She therefor'
thanked him hastily for his kindness
and took her leave.
She was now 20 faint from excite
ment, hunger and fatigue that her vision
seemed blurred. and the earth grew nm
steady under her feet She strove b,
sheer will power to overcome the sink
ing sensation which every now an,
then compelled her 70 stop and gras]
hold Of . gaspost lest ahe fall and b
trampled down. She could not AFFORD 4
be weak now within sight At the goal
With clinched teeth and hands convul
svely clasped, ahe resolved TO Be strong
The prayers Of her childhood ditte
through her mind. and amid The deafeu
ing tumult Of wheels, street car bells Al
shrieking Of locomotives ahe breathe
forth her invocation Tor help ~
strength. But, though she grew oalme1
she could not fail 10 note that she ~
also growing feebler. Unless ahs 10uD
some refuge she surely would fall down
and rude hands would lay hold Of n
and carry her Oh she knew not whithel
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