The Red Cloud chief., 1902-05-16

anu u'Pu u lIltHu, II tN'I Il NouhS
woman did"
Compose yourself, | beg; and be-
gin, please
Charlie believed he was about to
hear some news of more than ordin-
AIRY Importance. In imagination he
could picture the remarkable young
widow who created such IA furore all
over Europe. She might resemble Ar
line in many ways. but surely such
a charmer Of men could not possibly
assume the air OF innocence which this
young woman carried with her.
At the same time he felt impellcd to
relate the adventure he had experienced
with the professor, and even mention
that he had been sulcmnly warned by
the baron.
When she heard that Peterhoff be-
lieyed her to be the celebrated adven-
turess. she hung her head.
Charlie was overcome with contu-
sion.
II have distressed You; and yet !
beg you to believe | meant it all kind
ly. II was a silly thing for Peterhof
to do, but even the s~hrewdest of men
of his stamp make absurd plumbers
sometimes. His last famous one cost
Russia her Car. Remember. ! never
for once took any stock in his ridicu-
lous idea. 1t was all a mistake
Then the maid looked up.
Her eyes were sparkling with real
tears, but Charles haste to assure her
of his positive belief in her innocence
of the charge had brought "A smile to
her face.
at il dreadful. ever to be taken for
such "A notorious woman, don't you
think? But perhaps ! should look at
il reasonably. and believe the baron
has made an excusable blunder. Real
~. some of the garcons here In the no.
tel have addressed me as countess, and
have been puzzled To account FOL
it until now. so we must look alike
a demure little English lassie, anc
she a clever, designing Russian dip
lomat.'
Charlie nodded. eagerly.
What she said seemed so very rea
sonable, and she took it much bette
than he expected.
But he could easily discover tina
Airline was not wholly at her ease.
Frequently she cast quick glances IL
+, the direction of the door.
This fact had come to his attention
some time back; but Charlie did no
/, find the least reason to suspect tina
the baron had aught to do with 1t.
, She seemed to hesitate, perhap
hardly knowing just how to begin he
story.
ALLOW me to remark, in the begin
ming" said Charlie. that, while | al
ready and anxious to serve you, an
o stand ready to do all that may becom
= a man-if there is any reason why 20
should wish to keep these things Sc
=, cret. ! will try to help you. ever viii
=, groping in complete ignorance"
"Oh. no. she answered quickly; Z"
is not that. You are entitled to III
fullest confidence. was only endea'
oring to collect my thoughts so thu
| might know Just how to begin. An
4, besides, | have a natural feeling
- shame. because the person who ha
, sadly fear. been plotting in seer
:, against me. is one who should be N
20 best friend upon earth-my father"
Young though she was. this beaut
g full girl had known what 1t was to 81
=, with poverty, to be left alone al
~ friendless in the world and to me
20 with the most unexpected and gloriO'
fortune.
Her story, ever when briefly tol
70 was a series of dramatic surprises, su'
=, as are we'll fitted for the stage. y
occur so seldom in real life.
She barely mentioned her earli
ao wears, save to tell how her father,
sea captain. had been lost as it W
" believed. at sea; and with her moth
she had fought the grim wolf in la
os don, sewing, as such people of retr
ment reduced to poverty must do
nd order to carr bread.
an Then came her mothers death, I
ha lowed by her bitter fight against I
world, and especially the persecuti
- of a dashing gentleman, who seem
determined that she should marry hi
80 no matter il dislike and disgust to
-" the part of love In her breast.
men Tue WoIu'liuI il'oh VI -
~, that brought Airline in contact W
~, an eccentric old aunt who was exec
ingly wealthy.
700 1t was the old story-Arline's mot
had married beneath her. and fr
that hour had been as dead to
~, relatives: but when a XII Pro
dence threw the forlorn young girl
nj der the housekeeping carriage hor
~ OF the dowager Lady Wallis, and
lis later on discovered that this Low
chit creature wal her own flesh and bic
a sudden love for the girl sprang
in in her withered old heart. which
I'M suited in her adopting this niece
her sole heiress.
ing Two years later Airline was be-
,er- OF her eccentric, but kind relative,
ven found herself once more alone In
in world, this time possessed OF a n