Custer County Republican. (Broken Bow, Neb.) 1882-1921, 1902-09-18


She had been sitting thus ten or fifteen
minutes when a little hustle was heard
without; the door was opened by staid
serving man. and young, bright face
looked into the heavy, dull apartment. 1t
almost seemed to Mrs. Ellston that a
gush of sunshine had been let into the
room.
"Alice, you remind me Of Elizabeth"
said she, taking the lovely girl by the
hand and leading her forward into the
room.
Alice, who saw in her pale, sedate
cOuntenance resemblance to her uncle,
whom she loved, longed to throw herself
in her arms, but the reserve of her man
ners awed and repealed her. She search
cd in vain for n single ray of the warm
and genial light such as frightened and
at the same time softened the counte-
nance of her aunt Esther.
Mrs. Elliston assisted Alice to divest
herself Of her cloak and hood, and then
pointing to u chair near the fire, request
ed her to be seated AS Alice answered
her questions relative to her brother and
sister-in-law, and her home in the new
world she could not forbear wondering,
as she looked round the gloomy apart
mcnt, how the light Of the young life
which had so recently gone out beneath
the same roof could have been so bright
and so golden as it was described to be
In letter written to her aunt by Edward
Illliston, before his sister had been
stricken by disease.
AS this thought came into her mind,
servant entered and laid the table for
three persons.
at will be snugger and more comforta-
BILE to take our evening meal here than
in the hail." remarked Mrs. Elliston.
Alice glanced at the table, and could
not imagine whom the third plate could
be- for
My son came home yesterday" said
| Mrs. Elliston.
Alice looked surprised. for Mrs Ellis
| ton had alluded to him in her letter, say
| ing that he had been absent more than
| year. and expected to remain where
he was n year longer.
"IIe came unexpectedly" said She
"Some business required his presence. AS
| soon US he has attended to ii, he will re-
turn"
/ AT this moment the door opened and Il
young man. in the plain garb of the sect
to which he belonged. entered the apart
ment. Alice was struck with his grace
full and noble bearing. His features were
finely chiseled, and his rich, glossy hair
was not so closely cut but that it showed
its natural tendency to fall round his
forehead, which was broad and very
white, in free, wavy curls. His eyes,
which were the changeful hazel, were
bright, beaming and intellectual. At
| timaS fhay ayhihital a OF 10 =
OF expression, rarely seen in connection
with those traits Of countenance full of
character, which may be considered the
perfection OF manly beauty.
my son." said Mrs. Ellston, turning
to Alice, "and this, Edward. is Alice
Dale, the orphan you have heard me men
ton, who, since she was three years old
has been my brother Nathan's ward"
Edward Elliston welcomed her in a
manner so cordial and respectful that
ut once inspired confidence.
"If mother had told me that she was
expecting YOU" said he, II would have
gone for you myself, instead Of having q
servant sent"
you know, Edward, that you have Q
cold" his mother FASTENED TO say, "anC
it would have been unwise for you to ex
pose yourself to this damp air."
When they had taken their places a
the table, Edward Elliston said grace
which, without being extended to one o.
those long prayers which on similar Oc
casions the Puritans often felt themselve
called upon to make, was reverent. com
, prehensive and appropriate. At its close
Mrs. Elliston gave her son look. as |
, she thought he had been too sparing o
, time and words
ave are taught that we shall not b
heard for our much speaking" said he, il
answer to her look.
, Alice scarcely noticed the quality Of tn
', food that was before her. Even the re
, marks Of Edward Elliston, which Shove
a rare delicacy Of perception. Joined to
I liberal, well-stored mind, could not PR
:. | vent her thoughts from wandering I
, Clarence Harleigh.
!. At that very moment, she thought. b
9 might be within fifteen minutes walk {
. her, and yet she felt that, situated d
= she now was, amid the whirl and eddyin
. tides of the great city, the broad Atlant
q itself had scarcely formed a more insul
cradle obstacle to any chance meeting
She knew that in the letter from h,
+ guardian to his sister, OF which she WI
a the bearer. Mrs. Elliston was requisite
m to make use OF such restrictions as won
,e be likely to prevent her and Harleis
from being thrown together.
-,
j. Clarence Harieigh and Gilbert Fal
land. the night they left the banQuetiI
IA hall. were conducted by pursuivant
* arms to the shore OF the Thames.
boat was in waiting, where were static
h. cd several yeomen of the guard and {
er requisite complement of watermen
en- take them to the Tower. Though tn
rel had received hint that their imprlso
he ment would be short, IL was in no envi
he BILE frame of mind that they took thu
places in the boat, which they were en-
ce full should be as remote from each 9th
tie as the space would permit.
TT Swiftly propelled by the strong arr
OF the watermen, il was not long ,
they were in the shadow of the glOol
structure, which doomed up dlmly in I
er, darkness and obscurity OF night. So
he passing beneath the low and dismal al
ws that had SO often cast Its Ominous shi
On | oxv IN tho heads NJ the braye the hpi