Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1902-06-19

iieSeu ner 20 De the celeDraueu duNeu-
turess. she hung her head.
Charlie was overcome with confu-
sion.
Il have distressed you; and yet
beg you to believe meant 1t all kind
ly. 1t was silly thing for Peterhoff
Of his stamp make absurd blunders
sometimes. His last famous one cost
Russia her Gar 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 smile to
her face
1T Is dreadful. even to be taken for
such notorious woman. don't you
think? But perhaps I should look at
it reasonably, and believe the baron
has made an excusable blunder. Real
ly, some of the garcons here in the no.
tel have addressed me as countess, and
l. have been puzzled to account for
II until now, so we must look alike
demure little English lassie, and
she clever, designing Russian dip
lomat."
Charlie nodded, eagerly.
What she said seemed so very rea-
sonable, and she took it much better
than he expected.
But he could easily discover that
Airline was not wholly at her ease.
Frequently she cast quick glances in
the direction of the door
This fact had come to his attention
some time back; but Charlie did not
find the least reason to suspect that
the baron had aught to do with it.
She seemed to hesitate, perhaps
hardly knowing just how to begin her
story.
ALLOW me to remark, in the begin
ming" said Charlie, that. while l am
ready and anxious to serve you. and
stand ready to do all that may become
a man-if there is any reason why you
should wish to keep these things Sc
cret. will try to help you, even while
cropping in complete ignorance"
"Oh, no." she answered quickly; 1T
is not that. You are entitled to the
fullest confidence. | was only endeav-
oring to collect my thoughts SO that
might know just how to begin And
besides. ] have a natural feeling OF
shame. because the person who has.
sadly fear, been plotting in secret
A.. ahA h..
best friend upon earth-my father"
Young though she was. this beauti-
full girl had known what 1t was to sup
with poverty, to be left alone and
friendless in the world and to meet
with the most unexpected and glorious
fortune.
Her story, even when briefly told.
was a series of dramatic surprises. such
as are well fitted for the stage, yet
occur so seldom in real life.
She barely mentioned her earlier
years. save to tell how her father,
sea captain. had been lost as 1t was
believed, at sea and with her mother
she had fought the grim wolf in Lon
don. sewing, as such people OF refine-
ment reduced to poverty must do in
order to earn bread.
Then came her mothers death. fol-
lowed by her bitter fight against the
world, and especially the persecution
of a dashing gentleman, who seemed
determined that she should marry him.
no matter IL dislike and disgust took
the part of love in her breast.
Then the wonderful freak of fortune
that brought Airline in contact with
an eccentric old aunt who was exceed
ingly wealthy.
II was the old story-Arline's mother
had married beneath her. and from
that hour had been as dead to her
relatives; but when kind Provi-
dence threw the forlorn young girl I'M
der the housekeeping carriage horses
Of the dowager Lady Wallis. and she
later on discovered that this lovely
creature was her own flesh and blood,
sudden love for the girl sprang up
in her withered old heart, which re-
suited In her adopting this niece as
her sole heiress.
Two years later Airline was bereft
OF her eccentric. but kind relative. and
world. this time possessed of a most
bountiful fortune.
Then 1t was, with the abruptness of
cannon shot, Captain Brand APP
peared upon the scene.
He had thrilling story to tell OF
his vessels laundering in gale of
the African coast. his narrow escape
from drowning, of being cast ashore.
found by wandering Arabs. taken into
captivity. sold some years later to a
tribe of the Great Sahara. so that he
finally drifted to Dahomey where,
through the assistance of the faithful
woman he had been forced to marry,
he eventually made bold and success
full escape, though his companion gave
up her life in throwing herself in
front OF spear that was meant for
him.
Airline accepted it all as gospel truth,
and would have at the time believed
even a much more miraculous series OF
adventures could such have been by
any means invented by this modern
Munchausen.
This was before she knew Captain
Brand so WELL
She spent money with liberal hand.
He was enabled to indulge his love
for fine clothes to Its full bent. He
smoked the finest cigars. drank the
most expensive liquors. and she feared