Clarke courier. [volume] (Berryville, Va.) 1869-1997, 1901-11-13

he added nothing to the sum that
had been his share when the old
hrm dissolved. Then he fell i'll. and
after lingering in pain for many
months he died. Ny mother did not
long survive him, and l was left
alone. had friends in the citv
where was borp and so came back
to make IT my home"
There was little pause.
And are you happy there2" in
CURED the stranger.
Yes, replied the girl, quite
happy. / have many dear friends
and my books and my employment.
i teach French IN private school.
Those were some of the schoolgirls
whom you saw on the station plat
form. This is our vacation time.
and | had been spending a few DAYS
with house party"
"But how about that precious
godfather of yours? What was he
doing while you we're budding and
blossoming into lovely woman
hood ?"
The girl smiled merrily.
Building up a rampant of gold
about him, she answered-''a ram
part of railways and steamships and
stocks and bonds. and its corner
stone was his share Of the profits
that lac and my father earned to-
gethcr Everybody has hoard Of
Robert Morgan"
The stranger sat quite still.
"les, he presently said, cts a
familiar name-and not altogether
popular one. And so Robert Nor
gan Is your neglectful godfather ?"
The girl nodded.
at IS your own phrase" she said.
Il have no feeling of blame for him.
Absorbed as he is he must have for
gotten the petty occurrences Of the
old life. Yet | would like to meet
him some lime and have him tell
me about my father in his younger
days"
"Perhaps you will" said the
stranger. He looked at the girl GU
riously as he spoke. so you are
Roberta Waring" he slowly added.
The girl turned TO him quickly.
"How do YOU know that? ?" she
asked.
He did not reply for a moment.
His gaze was still on her face, and
he slowly nodded his head.
Roberta Warning" he slowly re-
peated. John Warnings daughter
John Warnings daughter, who has
grown to be n beautiful woman.
Yes, yes He passed his hand
across his forehead.
"Go on knew my father ?" cried the
girl eagerly.
The stranger struck his hand
sharply on his knee.
Stupid. stupid? he murmured.
"Why, YOU are the girl who was to
marry Jim Stillwell's boyl Yes,
yes; ] remember it now"
The girl suddenly turned and
looked out of the window. The
stranger could see a dull red flush
rising in her check.
Il beg your pardon" ne said.
"That was rude and unkind. / spoke
thoughtlessly, and you must for
give me. | have seen your name IN
one of the New York papers"
The girl turned slowly. The
flush was fading from her cheeks,
but her eyes were moist.
"And my portrait" she said, with
a whimsical little smile.
at wasn't a bit like you, my
dear" said the stranger, with anus
ing haste. at didn't do you justice
in any particular"
The young woman smiled at his
earnestness.
Didn't you approve of the COM
plexion ?" she asked.
at was dark, very dark" said the
stranger, "suspiciously dark. 1t
made you a pronounced brunette of
the extreme type 1t is a shame that
such atrocious hbels on art are
countenanced.
"Ah," cried the girl, "you are
making joke of it,"
"A joker"
Don't you see? You were speak
ing of my portrait as a libel that
should not be countenanced. If it
weren't countenanced, it wouldn't
be portrait, would it?
"That was unconscious humor,"
said the stranger; ''but it isn't half
bad, is it? l must remember it. [
don't think | have been humorous
before for 20 years" Then his tone
quickly changed. $50 you are the
Independent young woman who re-
fused to marry Jim StillwelPs boy?"
he slowly said.
The girl looked at him with her
clear brown eyes.
81 refused to marry him in the
face of his family's opposition, she
/ III CT4 ,ro,,lI boua oOcf mo INV