The pioneer press. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 1893-190?, 1900-10-11


changeling called herself by the same
name as the many-colored, clinging
| maid Of yore; she OF the frequent
laughter, and the many signs, and the
kind, stolen glances. And to make all
worse, she took the upper hand with
him, which Gas John we'll knew was
not the true relation of the sexes. He
steeled his heart against this sick
nurse.
And how do you come to be here?"
ne asked.
She told him how she had nursed her
father in his long illness, and when he
died, and she was left alone, had taken
to nurse others, partly from habit,
partly to be of some service in the
world; partly, 1t might be, for amuse-
ment. There's no accounting for
taste" said she. And she told him how
she went largely to the houses of old
friends, as the need arose; and how she
was thus doubly welcome, as an old
friend first, and then as an experienced
nurse, to whom doctors would confide
the gravest cases.
"And, indeed, it is a rare farce my
being here for poor Maria" she con-
tinued; "but your father takes her all
ments to heart, and cannot always be
refusing him. We are great friends,
your father and 7; he was very kind to
me long ago-ten years ago"
A strange stir came In Johns heart.
All this while had he been thinking
only of himself? All this while, why
had he not written to Flora? In peni-
tential tenderness he took her hand,
and, to his awe and trouble, it re-
manned In his. compliant. A voice
told him this was Flora, after all-told
him SO quietly, yet with thrill of
singing.
"And you never married?" said he.
mo. John; never married" she
replied.
The hall clock striking two recalled
them to the sense of time.
"And now" said she, you have been
fed and warmed. and / have heard your
story, now it's high time to call your
BROTHER
OH cried John, chap-fallen; do
you think that absolutely necessary"
Il can't keep you here; am stran-
GER" said she. do you want to run
away again? thought you had
enough Of that"
He bowed his head under the re-
proof She despised him, he reflected
us he sat once more alone; monstrous
thing for woman to despise man
and strangest of all, she seemed to like
him. Would his brother despise him,
too? And would his brother like him ?
And presently the brother appeared
under Floras escort; and, standing
afar OF beside the doorway, eyed the
hero of this tale.
SO this Is you? he said, at length.
Yes, Alick, it's me-it's John" re-
piled the elder brother, feebly.
And how did you get in here?'
inquired the younger.
Oh, had my pass-keys," says John
The deuce you hadw said Alexan-
der. "Ah. you lived in better world
There are no pass-keys going now"
We'll, father was always averse to
them" sighed John. And the CONVEX.
sation then broke down, and the broth.
ers looked askance at one another in
| silence.
well, and what the devil are we te
do?" said Alexander Il suppose If the
authorities got wind of you, you would
be taken up?"
1T depends on whether they've found
the body or not" returned John. "AnG
| then there's that eabman, to be surep
"Oh, bother the bodyv' said Alexan.
der. Il mean about the other thing
That's serious"
rs that what my father spoke
about?" asked John. 81 don't ever
know what it u.s."
About your robbing your bank II
California, of course" replied Alexan
| der.
1t was plain, from Flora's face. thai
this was the first she had heard of 1t
II was palmer still, from Johns, thai
he was innocent.
81! he exclaimed. Il rob my bank
My God! Flora. this is too much: ever
you must allow that"
Meaning you didn't?" asked Alex.
ander.
II never robbed soul in all my
days" cried John; except my father
Il you call that robbery; and / brought
him back the money in this room, and
he wouldn't even take it,
Look here, john" said his brother
let us have no misunderstanding up
on this, Macewen saw my father; hi
told him bank you had wor, ed for In
San Francisco was wiring over the
habitable globe to have you collared-
that 1t was supposed you had nailed