Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1897-12-23
1t was from Stella. There was no ad-

-. >NS ~ 50 "a
Jams q message for you," said Werner,
AFTER he and Nestorius had exchanged a
Few friendly words, the old man much
surprised at the statesman's return. 1T
Is for your eye, but no other. Be sure
you do not mention 1t to Lord Lashmar."
certainly not, il she desires other
wise."
"You will Sec"
Nestorius read the letter. in the fine,
clear hand he knew so well from the
glrrs manuscripts. She had always striv-
en- to make her stories look as attractive
as neat penmanship could make them.
The idea that they would ever take the
still more attractive form Of print had
seemed so remote a hope. And in this
wise she had cultivated writing ms a 6ne
art.
not be unhappy about me, dear
friend and MASTER" she wrote. II have
done that which is best for my " hap
piness. My life at Lashmar has been a
very hard one ever since my b~enefactor's
death. and something occurred yesterday
to make it %unbearable. l could not stay
in that house another hour.
Providence has been very good to me,
and | have found new friends and d new
home with kind, homely people, a home in
which l can work at literature until I
am able to win my independence. Di-
rectly that 10 won, / shall come back to
you and carry out the dream of my life,
which is to have a cottage and a pretty
garden by the river you and I love so
well-the river by which I spent 90 man.
happy days In my childhood and which
recalls the memory Of the dear friend /
lost.
please tell Mr.. Nestorius that I thank
him with all my heart for his goodness
to me, and that I am happy to leave the
fate of my FIRST book in his hands. II
he. who has such experience in literature,
will correct the proofs Of my story, it will
deeply grateful. II the book should be q
failure l shall be more sorry upon that
kind friends account than upon my own.
Heaven bless you. dear friend, and be
sure that absence viii not lessen my affec-
ton for the teacher to whom I owe 20
much more than my loving care can ever
repay. But I look forward to the hope Of
having you by and By for my abiding
guest In Dreamland Cottage.
Don't you think that would be rather
a good name for my house, IL ever I an
happy enough to own one? Your ever
grateful pupil. STELLA.
Up. Son no account let anyone at the
castle, except MI. Nestorius, know that
you have heard from me-"
THANK heaven, she has not fallen
among thieves" said Nestorius, when he
had read this letter. And yet in the next
moment his heart sank within him a. he
asked himself whether my girl 20 utter
ly inexperienced as Stella could be trusted
to discriminate between fair and foulY
Whether these new friends OF homely
class, found with such strange facility,
might not be wolves in Sleeps clothing?
Her youth and beauty and ignorance of
the worlds ways were 50 many sources OF
peril.
Mr.. Nestorius went back to the castle
and got rid Of the CRIME and dust of q
long railway journey, and issued forth
from his dressing room refreshed and re-
~juvenated, but he did not stay to lunch
con. He left a little note for Lord Lash
mar to the effect that he had an appoint
ment in Brumm, and that he would meet
him ut half-past three in the coffee room
of the Lion and Lamb.
Having thus stolen q march upon Lash
mar, and left himself free to pursue his
inquiries u~nhelped and unhindered. Mr..
Nestorius hired a fly in the village and
drove to Brumm, where he first took a
hasty luncheon, and then did three or four
hours private detective work on his own
account, exploring street after street, in
curing closely in all manner Of quietly
respectable neighborhoods where such q
girl as Stella might naturally seek for an
inexpensive lodging: visiting the Free Ii
brary and i~nterrogating the librarians:
strolling In that dreary pleasure ground
known as the Peoples Park; but By 4
strange fatality avoiding just that one
long, narrow street on the way to the Gem
etery, and that M particular chambers
ship In which the Chapmans had their
dwelling place.
He was weary, disheartened and alto
gether Disguised with himself ct half.
past four o'clock, when, punctual to the
very minute, he entered the hotel coffee
room and found LAshmar dropping de.
spondently over . local newspaper.
The police had been able to tell him
nothing. 1t was - II the earth had open
ed and swallowed the girl for whom u.sy
were searching.
.6he must have rome to London" sail
Lashmar, ''that II the only place In which
any one could 20 completely vanish from
human KEN"
Nestorius knew she had not gone to
London, hut he held his peace. they were
alone In the coffee room, where there was
no fire. and where the newly lighted gas
was singing q dismal chorus.
II have been reading her Story Maid
I4ashmar. TT y delightful-so pew, 10
powerfuEaltogether fresh and simple,
and fervcnt and true. To think thur Bold
woods daughter should be ! genius and
that kind Of : genius. Not : vehement
partisan Of Radical politicians ! shrek
ine claimant Tor woman's rights, but !
poet. y dreamer, i weaver OF fancy'a most
enthfaliing web. How she will seOrn N
and the care 10 which vi kept her! How
she Will laugh ut her tyfants when abe
has burst upon the world III IN the charm
Ut her originality and has won Thousands
for her frienda. Such Z book mnst make
aahit.sss
sasTkat Eas Ahat IN 2phlisberss seadsf
~ mas, 1A1Wefe6 N1etee3n onfotl1.