The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1901-08-08

OF his new within Rush Travcrs said
nothing. IL leaked out, however.
among his fashionable acquaintances
that he was interested In little child.
! but all supposed u some relative. and
looked upon IL as passing caprice.
He wished that ~ should be so. He
did not want curious eyes prying
into the past of one whose future
he intended to make his care.
The world saw little of him in these
days. IL almost seemed 10 him like
coming home, now that he knew little
feet would run TO welcome him. lit
tie arms clasp C. nselves about his
neck; or later. n little curly head rest
on his shoulder. while the lids
dropped over the pansy eyes, In bap-
py, careless slumber.
The old housekccper alone shared
his secret. She had abused him
rouDdly at first, as was her privilege.
Was he not TO her as her own boy?
But ere - hours had passed little
Pansy had crept into the kind old
heart; and In the night she had risen
from her own bed, and stolen into
the room adjoining hers. to see that
the clothes were carefully tucked
about the little form.
II was new thing TO the child
this watcbful care, but she grew and
expanded under IL like some beautiful
flower.
No one detected her in an untruth.
She avowed her faults boldly. She
laughed, she sang. she cried, as other
children; yet about her was u sipgu-
lar charm. n hnlf-sadncss, strangely
unlike the carclessness OF childhood.
Thus two years rolled away. and
again Rush Trayers determined to 90
abroad. Pansy must he educated.
too, but he knew now what he meant
to do with her future. The child was
dear to him as his own, and his own
she should he. lie would give her
such an education as his own daugh-
ter should have had. had he possessed
one. He would make her u brilliant
woman. She should be worthy OF
some man whom he would choose for
her husband. She would never know
loneliness more, and in the fullncss
OF her lifc's promise he would for
get the emptiness Of his own.
"Cncle Rush." she called him. The
past was already TO her like n dream.
She parted from him in bitter tears
when he left her at her new home,
the school at which she was to he
| educated.
Little did Madam Arnaud dream
that she was receiving among her
select and fashionable pupils n street
fower-girl. Was the girl not the
niece and ward of the aristocrat? She
had never welcomed pupil with
greater pride. nor did the years. as
they came aud went. lead her for one
moment TO suspect She truth.
Among all this fair bcvy Of girls
none were so fair us she who owed
the smooth outer current OF her
life to Rush Travcrs' passing caprice.
The deep blue eyes had borrowed even
more of the pansy's purple tint: III"
bright rose-hush Of health was on
her checks: the rich carminc natures
brush alone can pnint was upon her
lips. In the sunny waves of the chest
nut hair played CLEANS Of rippling
gold. Ter hands and feet were small
and dainty. Her figure had developed
INTO exquisite grace.
The eight years Of study had
marked themselves upon the lovely
face In its bright expression and
sparkling intelligence. Rush Travcrs
might well he proud of her to whom
he had given his proud old name. In
all this time he had seen her but
once-but once he had returned to
his native land.
In the twilight he stood awaiting
her In Madam Arnaud's private room:
but. when the door opened, he started
at the radiant vision which entered.
She threw herself upon his breast.
with u glad sob. then started back.
"uncle Rush." she said, question.
ingly. "you are not glad to see me ?"
lie had recovered himself by then,
and welcomed her warmly; but some.
thing had arisen between them her
womaply perception was first to rec
ognizc. Already this meeting, to
which she had looked forward with
such gladness, was marred.
From all sides. that night. Mr..
rravers was met with congrat ula,ions
ON the beauty and brillinncc OF his
ward, who had received the first
honors Of her class. Was the old
cynicism growing on him, that he
turned from II all us though weary?
For the first time, glancing
casually In n mirror, he discovered
that the thick. brown hair was
strcakci with gray. and the sight
hurt him. Why? lie neither asked
the question nor answered IL.
There was no doubt now of Pansy's
future, he told himself. as. having
thrown open his hosptnble doors. the
world fockrd there to welcome this
new nsrirant To it's honors: but. al
most to his surprise. he found that
he could not remain quietly In the
background, spectator. Women
still smiled upon him, still murmurcd
sweet nothings in his ear. or uttered
gentle reproachcs nj his obduracy.
Wns he never to he lurcd from his
! solitude? Some one soon would steal
from him the bright star which now
lighted his home. Would he be con
tent to leave II In darkness? Thus
they whispered in his ear.
Why should he resent II. rather
than welcome Il? Had he not planned
for her brilliant marriage? Already
u was assured tn her II she would ne
ccpt II. Why, then. did he rejoice as
one and another retired, heavy
hearted, from the lists?
He grew TO hate the world anew.