Custer County Republican. (Broken Bow, Neb.) 1882-1921, 1902-10-16

hi'h IOhi iuI'llibIl Wy DIlHEihB uS W
gcthcr at this time. Perhaps, however,
you came here with the knowledge that
young girl under the protection Of a
lady by the name Of Elliston, whom |
suppose to be your mother, found refuge
here last night from Il crew of despera-
does %
Am 1 so fortunate? had consumed
the whole day in vain efforts to trace her,
and was returning home, thoroughly dis.
c0uraged, when. on hearing the cries Of
the lad, entered"
II am already so much a debtor to you
BOTH" said the Jew, who had thus far
stood silently by, that I can hardly ven
ture to ask Of you anything more; yet, If
you could be persuaded to remain here
till daybreak, we should feel comparative
ly safe. Will you permit me TO send
word to Abb. my granddaughter, and the
young damseI who is with her, that I
will bring with me two gentlemen, who
have shown themselves to be our friends
in the hour of need, to spend an hour or
two in their company
1t was a proposition which neither Of
them felt in a humor to decline, and Har-
leigh, having no suspicion that the
young damsei," who had several times
been alluded to by the Jew under that
appellation was Alice Dale, was not de-
TERED from giving his consent on account
Of the promise exacted by Mr.. Walworth
When the door was thrown open, which
disclosed an apartment such as. in splen-
dor, might have been supposed to COM
pare with those of Aladdin's palace, they
were both surprised. Harleigh, who was
ia advance Of ElliSton. stepped back,
that be might enter before him.
"The meeting OF friends should precede
that Of strangers" said he.
Elliston, not knowing exactly how to
cOnstrue this, hesitated moment, but
finding that Harleigh still held back, he
entered the room. saying, as he did so,
something about the greater pleasure be-
ing reserved for the last, the meaning of
which was, OF course, enigmatical to Har-
leigh.
Alice. the moment Edward ElliTon
stepped inside the door, rose and went
forward to meet him.
After all my fears, then, to the con-
trary," said she, "your mother received
the billet l sent her this morning.
"No; we hadn't received a single word
Of intelligence in any shape whatever.
My finding you here was entirely unex-
pected."
Harleish was 50 surprised at seeing
her. whom he thought SO far distant, and
IN the midst Of scene Of SO much mag
nificence, that he was almost inclined to
doubt the evidence Of his own senses all
the doubts and misgiviugs which Mildred
Dacres and Falkland had succeeded In
inspiring him. as respected the constancy
Of Alice, were, for the time being, for
gotten.
AZ he stesd behind Edward BlIiston,
Alice did not at first see him, and when,
Us n suddenly reused from a dream, he
snapped forward, she. too forgot that the
Mshinations OF Falkland and Mildred
must have given him cause to distrust
her. Her heartfelt joy mt seeing him
went far to remove many Of those doubts
he had been unable to overcome.
When the surprise and excitement of
the meeting between her and Harleigh
had somewhat subsidized, the thoughts Of
Alice reverted to the opal. Possibly,
Harleigh might not know that she had
lost H. AT any rate, she felt determined
to seek an opportunity to tell him all she
herself knew respecting its loss. While
these thoughts were yet in her mind, the
Jew, taking it from small casket, hand
ed it to Harleigh.
Your motive in calling this evening""
said he, was to examine It, You may
not find better opportunity than the
present"
As Harleigh took it, he could not for
| hon lAAl a.,
her color heightened, her eyes, which for
moment met his, did not droop. Hav-
ing examined it, Harleigh returned II
without speaking,
you find it to be the same once in your
possession" said the Jew.
Yes"
Alice, who had been attentively watch
ing him, saw that shadow was resting
on Harleigh's brow Rising precipitately
from the divan, where she was sitting by
the side of Abb, she approached him
you knew that | had lost that opa
before you came here this eveuing-diC
you notF" she inquired.
II knew that you had parted with il,
he replied, graVely.
You couldn't think that l gave it t,
Falkland%
He said SO, and publicly, too"
And you believed himT'
Her voice faltered. for in confirmation
of her words, the expression of his coun
tenance every moment grew graver an,
more stern. She paused a short time t
recover herself and then with an earnest
ness and directness that made every wor
tell, she related those incidents connecte,
with the loss of the opal. as far as the
were known to herself Her voice, he
countenance, her manner, all conspired I
. give what she said the stamp of truth.
Are You satisfedY" said she, with
smile, when she had finished.
She hardly would have veutured to as
! this question, had she net seen by tn
clearing away Of the clouds that ha
darkcned his brow, the import OF wha
: she might expect for an answer.
/ II am not only satisfied" he replied
7 but am heartily ashamed of havin
5 wronged you by paying the slightest hee
to those who attempted to deceive me.
, have only to ask your forgiveness"
a (which is quite unnecessary, as 20