The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1901-05-04

by any means within my power; there's
fore, as I could not ascertain the ad-
dress of your W home. I ventured to
have you brought to mine. One thing
only has given me uneasiness. and that
is my inability to find any trace of
your friends and relieve the intense
anxiety they must hav experienced
concerning you"
The hot blood flushed the beautiful
face on which Allen Layton looked.
His words brought back a wave OF
memory. His card lay in her hand. 1t
was 10 her u to speak-her turn to
tell who h was.
Yet how could She? Had she not
learned how her story had been re-
ceived even by those who had known
her we'll?
Besides, she never again would &C.
knowledge her old name until h
world, too, had acknowledged her right
to it-that was dead and buried In the
old life.
But his eyes were resting wondering
ly upon her. He was waiting for her
to speak.
words are very cold, Mr.. Layton
she said, in a voice SO sweet. SO low,
that it fell like ripples of music on his
ears. Yet I thank you the more be-
cause you a opened your home to
one who herself is homeless. You look
surprised. Yet T. is true. My friends
have felt no anxiety concerning me. 1
have no friends. Had your horses
trampled me beyond recognition be-
meath their hoofs, believe me, iteWould
have been better Sc
Hush, child! Such words are mad.
ness he interrupted. THE fever a
not yet left your BRAIN"
"Ah, yes! the mists of delirium have
wholly cleared. I nave neither, father,
mother, home nor friends. Such Wo-
men are, in the worlds sight, not re-
specialized it not so? You see, Mr..
Layton, your generous Impulses have
led you astray in Offering to such an
one YOU hospitality"
She spoke bitterly, her words at
strange variance with her youth, her
beauty and her winning grace.
Mr.. Layton rejoiced that neither his
mother nor his betrothed had heard
them. Cora, his little sister, he could
better trust, in her quick sympathy.
He was silent a moment, revolving II,
his mind her words, when she spoke
again:
1T will not trespass much longer
she continued, taking up the sentence
where she had left it. "In a day or
two I shall be quite strong-indeed, by
! effort, I might almost go to-day"
He listened with a strange sense OF
pain.
Had he not done all, and more, thar.
was required of him? Why, then,
should the thought of this girl leaving
the shelter of his roof u him SO
| much m~isgiving?
From the moment That he had looked
into her face, as it lay upon his arm
he had felt that he could never agaiD
be Indifferent to her existence.
1t was his that had made the
thought of the hospital so repellant to
him. 1t was this which now forbade
| him~sto look on the sad picture she
painted Of her d%esolate future.
"My child,'' he said, gently. "you" are
very young and very beautiful. 1t is
impossible for you tos face the world
alone, and I am quite sure, If all you
tell me is true, that the experience Is
new and untried. For some reason,
and through no fault Of yours, I am
sure, you have left your home; but you
do not know the world, or you would
have hesitated before taking such q
step. I would. not force your conf
dence-I have not earned 1t; but you
will remember hat while Allen Lay
| ton lives, you can be no longer friend
less?"
Tears sprang to the lovely eyes, the
a-rk ALok h1A ~ IN o0ffon their hi.
ter misery. Impulsively she u
stretched her hand.
"You are very noble, very generous
she said, ''and the memory of your
words will make all my future bright
er. I will go away. tomorrow MI.
Layton. I cannot tell you more about
myself now, but the day may come
when you will know and understand
all. Will you, until then, think Of me
as kindly as you CAM"
"But you name-may I not even
know that?"
She shook her head.
TT have no NAME" she said. "Ah,
Mr.. Layton, o see it was, indeed. a
waif whom you picked up in the
street. The next wind will blow her
away, and you will forget her."
"she is not yet blown away" he an
swered, smiling. "My child" he con-
tinucd, seriously, ''you have neither
friends no money-pardon this latter
discovery made in the necessary search
for some clue to your identity. How,
then, can you fight the world?"
''There are some jewels in my bag"
she answered.
"Your bag?" he questioned. "Had
you one? If SO, it must have been
thrown from you when you fell, and
stolen by some of the crowd. Were the
Jewels valuable?"
ST believe so; but it does not mat
ter" she said, listlessly
'It only renders your desertion Of us
Impossible. Some plan must be ar
ranged whereby, for the present. we
must keep you with us. But pardon
me one necessary question. My moth
er and sister share my home-it is not
necessary that they should share this
confidence. Tell me what name I may
give them. They tell me that your
clothing is marked b. M"
."And my name is-Beatrice Mont
rose You have a sister, Mr.. Layton"
she added; land yet you ask me to re.
main, with all my life a mystery"
MY sister needs a companion near
her own age-some one to read and
study with her. II you will accept the
position, I offer 1t to you" p
Impulsively Beatrice leaned over
and. catching his hand, raised 1t Inn
n,lsively to her lips. T.