The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1902-06-20

/ ing the latter.
miss Miss Burdenott,' % unused
/ Henry Clifford. IF Mrs. Rexford had
said Mrs. Burdenott, l should say she
! was the once Alice Thornton"
4 Miss Burdenott took Mr.. Clifford's
arm.
i Miss Burdenott,' said the latter, by
way of opening the conversation, .'you
remind me of friend / had some
1 years ago, and were it not for your
4 name, 1 should believe you wole the
same, allowing for changes wrought by
4 time"
|. He felt slight quivering of the hand
resting on his arm, but did not attri-
butte its origin to what he said. With
out waiting reply, he continued.
However in features the likeness is
complete; but in the expression I can
see some difference"
He ceased speaking, and receiving
no answer, he cast his eyes towards
her countenance, and NOTICED that it
was pale. Surprised, he changed the
subject. Soon after he surrendered
her arm to an acquaintance; but his
eye still wandered in her direction, and
his mind REQUIRED to the effect of his
observations. Once or twite her eyes
met his, but she would instantly drop
them, or turn some other way.
He retired from Mrs. Rexford's
house, bewildered. During all of his
years of absence he had not heard from
Alice Thornton, and he supposed that
she had long since become the wife of
another. Miss Burdenott's resem-
blance to his early love recalled the
past, and, but for the name, he would
have addressed her as his yet loved
Alice.
Moved by conflicting thoughts, he
entered his own room and threw HIM
self in 4 chair.
"What if Alice repented of the course
she was pursuing when left? What if
she has waited all these years, hoping
for my return? But no, it cannot be-.
Ten years is long time. The thought
such, I" were the reflections that coursed
through his brain.
The next day snow was falling. Ac-
customed to exposure and tired of his
confinement, after dinner he sauntered
forth. Everywhere enterprise had pro-
duced change. Dwellings had been
changed INTO huge warehouses.
lie was thinking of the change when
Il little hand was put before him and
childish voice said: please give me
something TO buy some Goals and some
thing to eat. Ma hasn't had anything
to eat since yesterday
Casting down his eyes he beheld
slight, frail figure scantily clothed.
Having a taste for adventure he in
CURED: where does ma live?''
Being informed, hetold the little one
he would accompany her. Pleased with /
his readiness. she moved off briskly. |
He was conducted toa narrow street.
through q short alley, up two flights
of stairs, and ushered into room.
Scanning it hastily he saw that the
meagre furniture was tidy, and that a
woman, wasted by disease was lying
on bed in one corner. No fire was
burning, and the room was cold and
cherries.
Taking out a piece of money, he
asked his little guide if she could 90 to
the nearest shop and order some wood
and coal. and something to eat, and
have them sent in Immediately. Wait
ing few moments, the needed articles
arrived. and taking the wood with his !
own hands, he soon had cheerful fire
blazing in the CRATE. He was on the
point of starting out in quest of a
physician when the door opened. and
another girl. evidently couple Of years
older than the one with him, entered,
by muffled lady bear |