Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1897-12-23
nIl5. DlADD@

CHAPTER XX.-(Continucd.p
ia had tainted her as an adventures
. husband huntress. This right-mind'
resolute creature, who had refused
utmost promotion to which n girl in
position could aspire, n rich, indulgent
band, h~igh-placed, famous, having all
elities calculated to charm woman, ex.
y youth. Why had she so flung away
~ fortune, why refused such q help
lie? Simply because she did not love
~. Was her young heart y blank, then,
vas there anyone else? Yet who else
nuId there be for her who had lived like
bird in a ~cage-who had never since his
kpther's death been in the society of any
- Of refinement except Nestorius and
r Werner? There could be no n else;
" heart must be still unawakened to the
|eyytery Of woman's love.
you are very merciful, in your silence"
y said. after a long pause, returning to
y front of the fireplace where Nestorius
~ standing. "But no upbraiding you
apuld bestow upon me could intensity my
ense Of my brutal folly. I was like a
Md destroying a butterfly in wanton
ne ut its beauty. II she were here l
would ask her pardon on my knees. !
nave been miserable from the hour of her
exht-the abject slave Of remorse. All
tnds Of horrors have presented them
|slyes to my mind, even the idea of sui
si6e, that she might have rushed down to
Nhe river and flung herself in
mo. no." interrupted Nestorius, quick
IN. II have no fear of such sinful folly.
Her mind is too well balanced and she has
hat inner consciousness OF genius which
b almost as an armor against the arrows
sf fate. Her dominant idea was that she
would be able to support herself by litera-
ire, to pour out her wealth of thought
Ind fancy in fiction. She had her day
Rlfeam Of a cottage near the Avon. with
o. old nurse of hers for h~ousekeeper and
Immpanion. She Ind q scheme for the
future, and In leaving this house you may
u sure she went with the intention of
working out her own destiny In that man
~. l nm not afraid Of any folly on her
Dart. My only fear il for the dangers to
which her absolute inexperience OF the
world might expose her."
s'She was penniless,' said Lashmar,
sanless-as Lady Carminow suggested
he had borrowed money from you."
ibid Lady Carminow make that sug-
sestioE? How like Lady Carminow! No,
shc had no money from me. poor child!'
"You say she has literary aspirations"
said Lashmar; ''and you imply that she
has talent for writing"
"She has more than talent, Lashmar.
She has archaeological genius, rnrest
gift in these days Of initiative art. She
has genius as original and as unique as
that of Charlotte Bronte, the untutored
child OF those lonely Yorkshire moors you
md / know so well. But ! will not ask
you to believe this upon my assertion.
You shall Judge for yourself, il you will
me to ask for my letters here"
Lashmar rang the bell and Mr.. Mes
lorius' letters were brought, among them
packet Of printers proofs, which Mes
opened, unrolled and arranged in
sequence with the deftness Of hands &C
eustomed to dealing with proofs.
Read for yourself" he said, when
have an hours leisure. That is the
beginning OF Stella's story. / read the
whole OF it in manuscript"
what can she write about. she who
has seen nothing of the worldy"
Blind John Milton had never seen hell
Ind John Keats had never seen a Titan,
Ind yet they contrived to write about
'uch things with very fair effect" nswer-
ID Ncstorius.
1T seems to me that she confded all
aer plans and aspirations to you--her
manuscripts even. You were privileged
n receiving 30 much Of her confidence"
II nm her tutors old friend, and she
Inew that I sympathixed with her. Those
two facts brought us at once en- rapport.
Well, now, Lashmar, what have you done
finding herr"
Lord Lashmdr gave a detailed account
his efforts In Brumm.
CHAPTER XXI.
Nestorius unused somewhat sadly upon
his interview with Lashmar, as he walked
across the park In the blustery autumn
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