The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1897-10-29
CHAPTER NIV.-fContinued.)


",ro undcceive her now would be crucl,'
raid Ncstorius gravely. "Hcr idea of her
fathers existence is II consoling hnlluci-
nation. AS she grows older and knows
more of the world, doubt will arise and
hen sad certainty that they two can new
ermorc meet on earth. Poor Boldwood
can soc him now rushing along Holywell
in his rag of a gown. A tall, Herculean
form. face like a Titan's ugliness and
power crriously combined. He had fine
eyes, I remember, but not her eyes. They
are Southern
"The legacy of the Gitana, no doubt
BY the by. found something among my
brothers hoards that may interest you
Boldwood's relics-only a miniature and
some charred papers utterly unreadable." "
"Who knows whether we might not get
them read; experts contrive to decipher
even Il charred manuscript nowadays.
should like to examine Boldwoods relics. v
How keen you are. Upon my word,
you have all the eagerness of Il boy"
Lashmar rose and went to a Chippendale
cabinet, one of the gems of the library.
1t was the place in which his brother had
kept all his private letters, and Lasllmar
had explored it six months after he came
into his Inheritance, curiously, sadly. Che
tin case was opened and the packet of
papers laid on the table.
''These can be deciphered, believe"
said Nestorius; "they are only scorched
and blackened by smoke, not charrcd.
am going up to London on business to-
morrow; will you allow me to take these
with me and place them in the hands Of
an expert for transcription
"1f you really think it worth while.
They may be papers of no importance
letters from duns, perhaps"
"Boldwood would hardly have kept
them in that tin case unless they We're
of some consequence. They may throw a
light upon his life abroad-upon his mar
rage.'
And on Stella's birth. l understand!
1t is your interest in her which makes
you eager to find out all you can about her
father
Naturally. My interest is in the living,
not in the dead"
miniature.
'Stella's eyes!' he said. "and the out
line of Stella cheek and chin. This must
have been her grandfather"
Mr. Nestorius was absent three days,
uuiiHe WHICH IuleFNul everybody missed
him. the women sorely.
Stella welcomed him with happy smile,
when they met unexpectedly in the park,
messed Ids return.
II was going to Verner's cottage" he
said, looking down at her with smile she
interpreted as paternGl and protecting,
but in which shrewd Mrs. Mulciber would
hov -
Il thought l should find you there.
gave your story to one of the keenest pub
fishers in town-told him to make his
reader give an opinion upon it instantly.
He was to sit up all night to read it if
need be, for l wanted the manuscript sent
to the printer forthwith. The reader did
sit up for the best part of the night, Stella.
He declares that the story is the finest
thing he has read in the way of fiction for
the past five years; full of power-fresh,
young power-untrained, of course; but
the style is incompatible. Where did the
writer get his style?' he asked. 1t is so
simple, yet so strong; scholarly, and yet
SO original
II am so glad,' gasped Stella. dizzy
with delight: land so very glad he thought
the writer was Il man."
girlsh rapture. When a man Of mature
years stoops 10 admire clever girl of
nineteen, his admiration has gentle pro-
tocting air. which is very sweet TO the re-
cipient, and from such Il man as NestOr-
ius, Kindness was like the notice of n god.
Stella felt as if she were living in n new
atmosphere, balmy, reposeful. She felt
herself lifted out of the region of slavery
and humiliation.
Were but this little book successful her
bondage would be ut an end forever. She
wanted SO little for freedom. She could
live upon so little, she who had never
had any money or known what it was to
have her wishes gratitied since she was
child One feeble ray of success would
be light enough for her obscure path. Only
to get out of this great, grand, beautiful
house. in which she felt herself seer so
much lower than a servant, a dependent,
an incunhrance. Only to get away from
the possibility of encountering those proud
eyes and scornful lips which always STIR
red spirit to rebellion. She had school
ed herself to endure her lhdyship's tyran-
ny; but never could she so school herself
as to look without angry feeling upon the
man who had ordered her out of the IL
brary rs if she had been dog. Yes, he
had driven her like dog from that famil-
lar room in which she had lived so hap
PLY through the sunny years of her child
hood.
CHAPTER Nv.