Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1897-07-29

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plain: Soon after you left us, three
years ago, | was having the ruins OF
that hshermau's cottage, which was
blown down In a gale, cleared away.
Among the rubbish was found the lid
Of a leather box. Upon 1t was a brass
plate. bearing an inscription that was
I.early iilegible from rust / had 1t
cleaned. and then read clearly the lame
Astrea De Glacie. At the same time.
the bishop of the diocese was visiting
our parish for the purpose OF confirm
ing young people. Now Daney was
one of the candidates for confirmation,
bat we were not sure You see, that Da-
Eey had ever been bptised. And such a
good churchman as myself was not
going 10 chance that. SO, to make sure,
we had her baptised before contirnE-
ton. Miss Hit and myself stood spons-
ors. And right or wrong, we ave her
the name, Astrea De Glacie. SO. il 1t iI
not hers by birthright, 1t Is by baptism.
We hoped that the name might be
some clue to the discovery or her
friends, supposing that she has any In
the world besides ourselves
Have you heard anything Of the
Druries since they left Cornportg' in
quired the young man, taking advant-
age OF a pause.
mot a word, though / have caused
inquiries to be mace for them. Soon
after the rites Of baptism and confirma-
ton were performed for Daney, l took
her to a Northern school among the
mountains of New England. where she
remained two years and q half. 1t was
there that she developed into such a
fine woman / then took her to Europe,
..r. .xu -nnnt thraa months in 4 rD val
Ing over the continent, and three in the
CITY of Paris. / introduced her every
where as Mademoiselle Astrea DE Gla-
Gle. hoping. you see. that there. at
least, the name might lead to some dis
covery. 1t was in Paris ut the house
Of our minister. that we first met Mon
s.eur and Madame De Coucy. Our ac-
uuaintance grew into intimacy during
our three-montlls' SojCurn in Par.s. And
our intimacy ripened into friendship.
when fortune made us fellow pasSen-
gers on the Baltic, when he was coming
cut as minister TO our government, anu
we were returning TO II native and
During that trip, Madame De Coucy
grew SO much attached to Astrea that.
upon our arrival at Washington, she
begged as II favor, the young lady
might be left in her charge for the sea-
son. Well, | knew Astrea could not
enter metropolitan society under better
auspices. SO l left her to the chaper-
onlge of Madame De COucy, while 1
ran down to the island 70 see how the
ship YVES working: found all right. I'M
der the command of first mate Hit, and
then. feeling lonesome for the want of
my little Daney, / just boarded the
Busy Bee as she passed on Tuesday
morning, and here / am. For. you see,
/ cannot exist a week without my little
Danay; so, if they wish TO keep Mad
emoiselle Astrea for the whole season,
I'll be id Il wa going to say If they
don't have to take me. too"
Zone word-does Madame know her
real position in your family?
How can / tell? Madame met us in
the first circles of Paris, and so. no
questions as to Mademoiselle's position
could arise. She knows her TO be nv
ward. That is sufficient. And that. /
think. is all we shall ever know of her,
for. Greville, | think that my first idea
OF her being other than she seemed to
be might have been all moonshinei SO.
If the last hope Of finding her ont to be
som great French demoiselle influences
Your feelings toward her, give her up at
once"
II will never give her up. sir. And I
am truly glad to believe that she is no
ether II a h seems. / adore her as
she is
well. my boy. M one can attribute
your change of sentiment toward her to
mercerary motives, Mt least. Go on and
prosper! Woo the girl as soon rs you
w.l-wed her as o o as she wills.
Nothing would please me better! Only
III be id (as | was going to say if
you must separate her from me-"
The delighted young man treasured
hts uncle on this point. And soon after
they left the house to call on Madame
DE Coucy and Astrea.
The young lady received her guardi-
an with unfeigned delight, and met her
lover with something like a half-con-
Gc:ous blush.
This visit of mere ceremony was ne
cessarily a short che. But as Colonel
Greville's intended journey was indefi-
nitely postponed, 1t IA soon repeated.
Fulke Greville was nm impatient low
er, and took the earliest opportunity Of
declaring his passion TO its beautiful OBJ
ject, and entreated her to become his
wife.
But. to his amaZement and consterna-
ton, he found his suit. backed as it was
by the influence of her guardian. and
urged as 1t was with all the ~eloquence
Of youth and love-promptly and firmly
rejected.
NO. Colonel Greville: / will not mar
ry anyone, least Of all, you" she replied,
sadly, but firmly.
Least OF all me? Oh. why shoul III
be consigned TO deeper and more hope
less perdition than all othersy' he ex-
claimed, in the bitterness of unmerited
despair.
She did not answer until he put the
question in another form:
"Why do you make an exception OF
me. Mademoiselleg'
Because, Colonel Greville, you are
| the proudest man / ever had the honor
Of meeting, and lam nobody! or less
than nobody!-an imposter, who has no
right to the place she fills: no, not even
to the very name she bears."
"Astrea, dear Astrea, do not talk so
| wildly. You tax me with being proud.
| All, love, / shall b eprouder still when 1
call sou mine! You say that you have
| no right to the place you fill? DO not