Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1897-11-18

"Jt is true, madam; Fora was the
name given me by my abductors, al
ter they had dyed my hair and starred
my skim
.You have a long story to tell me,
my dear"
Indeed, / have, madam
venus. you may retire; but go and
say TO Mr.. Dunbar that 1 would feel
Obliged IL he would come here" said
Mrs. Greville.
Venus obeyed: and as soon as the
door closed behind her. the lady
turned to Astrea. and. in a voice quiv-
ering with emotion, inquired:
.'Oh. Heaven, my child. can you re-
assure meE'
Yes. my dear madam, / can. Prov
idence has watched owe me. l nave
been safer
Thank Heaven calculated the
lady.
Lois opened her blue eyes. and
looked from one 10 the other for an
explanation of this short explanatory
dialogue; but ut the same moment
the door opened, and Welby dunbar
entered the room.
Mrs. Greyille arose and met him. say
ing, in a low voice:
"Welby. my dear, | believe you to pc
n man of steady nerves, not easily
surprised from your self-possession. L
am about to put that to the test
And taking him by the hand, she led
HIN up to the stranger. saying:
"Astrea, my love, this is my son. MT.
Dunbar; Welby, my dear. this is Mrs.
Fulke Greville, of whom you nave
been so long in search"
However steady Welby's nerves
might have. been on ordinary occa-
sions, he was now certainly startled
from his propriety. Instead of bow
as he was bound TO do, he started
back a little, trembled, flushed n
paled. fumbled In his pocket for the
miniature the Marquise de Glacie a
given him. and gaZed alternately upon
that and the face OF the original. AT
length. as if satisfied, he exclaimed:
1T is, indeed! 1t must be" And
then. with an ingenious blush, he
said:
Pray. pardon me madam, IL the sur
prise. the delight, and the ~increduiity
/ experienced in this unexpected meet
ing have made me forget myself"
II have nothing to pardon in your
caution; and much to be grateful for
in the easy recognition that you have
given me- said Astrea, gently. But
we have met before, you know. TOT
have not forgotten the little Daney on
the emigrant ship" she inquired. with
n sweet smile lighting up the blue
eyes that she fixed upon him.
A whirl of emotion rushed over his
face. He had not forgotten; but he
had never suspected that the poor,
pale baby of the emigrant ship was
the missing child of Madame de Gla-
Gle.
because, if you have" she add
ed, Il have not forgotten the tish-boy
who was my only friend. / do be-
lieve l should have died If you had
not fed ME with oysters every day.
Oh, how l cried when they carried me
awayr'
..And how I hunted you through
New York; said Welby, gazing still
in stupefaction upon her
and how / scolded you, In the per-
son Of Fulke Greville, whom | be-
lieved to be yourself. practicing an
imposition on u.s. smiled Astrea.
And now, Welby." said Mrs. Gre
Nllie, ldhe IL iii anu didN up W
our circle. | sem for you here, not
only to meet Astrea, but. also to hear
the explanation she is aDou to give
US"
Then, turning to Astrea, she contin-
ued:
"And now. my love. If you feel
equal 10 the task, we wish you to tell
us your story"
Thus invited, Astrea related ii @ his
tory of her abduction. as far as ii was
known TO herself, from the night that
she was surprised in her oom by the
black.robed figure. who clapped the
sponge of chloroform over her mouth
and nose, oyerpowering her senses, up
to the hour in which as Fora she
was summoned to Mrs. Greville's pres
ence.
Her hearers listened with GREATNESS
interest. AT the end Of the story Mrs.
Greville was the first to speak.
What a life of vicissitudes has
yours been. Born an heiress: stolen
in your infancy and subjected to the
worst evils of poverty; adopted by a
wealthy man; married to a distin-
guished military officer: torn ut night
liNn% yOui Otiddt ChdllDSE CdiItcu W
sea by pirates: sold as a slave: driv-
en- by desperation to the Cypress
Swamp; hunted by bloodhounds: re-
captured: subjected TO insult: exposed
to death; and rescued only at the last
moment by an unexpected stroke of
Providence! Oh. Heaven of Heavens,
what a story. You have passed
through n furnace seven times heated.
Astrea. but you have come from the
fire. pure as refined gold. strong as
tempered steelr'
Now, l think she has escaped all
these dangers, as Tam O'Shanter's
mare Gid with the witches. with the
loss of her long, flowing hairr.'
BE still, you saucy girl said Mrs.
said Mrs. Greyille. smiling.
Then rising, and excusing herself to
Astrea, she requested Welby to attend
her. and left the apartment.
When they had reached the dining
room and seated themselves, Mrs. Gre
vile inquired:
And now, what should be our first
stepy'
I'm view OF what may be even now
be taking place in the criminal courts
OF Maryland. and with which Ii Is not
advisable to trouble the young lady"
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