Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1903-05-28

The latter pointed to the dark figure
by the stone.
Who" he asked, sis that?"
That's Miss Charteris. She lives
in the little old Chiffon cottage now.
| She makes dresses"
My Cod" the man murmured
Has it come to this with Jean?"
Conscious of the boys sharp scrut-
my the man took from his pocket two
pieces of metal-one brass, one silver
Here take these down to the
agent Give him the check and tell
him to send my trunk to the hotel. You
may keep the dollar!"
Billie grabbed the money and stimuli
taneuOusly uttered yell.
"Ro-sine!" He was valiant enough
in this plutocratic hour. "Ro-sine!
Come on! I'm goin' to buy candy"
A final placing of the last wreath,
an eager question, an answering nod
from the bowed head-then the child
was flying toward the road through the
mellowing radiance of the fading light,
shouting questions to Billie as she
came. Something in the skimming
flight Of the agile little body, in her
voice, in the shape OF the curl-clus-
tered head, caused the stranger to put
out OBTAINING hand.
What" he cried, lis your name, lit
tie one?"
"Rosine." She wrested herself
free. Let me go with Billie. My
names Rosine-Rosine Raymond
Then she was dashipg down the
hill after the fortunate Billie.
The man, tall, straight, and soldier
ly with prematurely silvered hair and
dark mustache, went striding across
the green space that interviewed be-
tween him and that quiet woman by
the white shaft.
jean" he cried hoarsely. Jean
Charteris."
A low, shivering cry broke from
the woman. She stiffened erect
stood as if frozen.
Tell me-" he begged, "about that
that child! She says her name is
Jean, is she-"
The shock of his coming had left
her weak and shaking. 1t was with
an effort she spoke.
"Yes-she is your child. Do you
learn it now for the first time?"
God help me-yes. | did not dream
there might be child. When a few
months after our marriage | learned
how Rose had deceived me l was furi
Gus. | had oonfided in her. | told her
how | loved you. And She-She spoke
of your engagement to Will Clement.
Her sympathy was sweet. There was
no question of heart being caught in
the rebound. Never save for one
woman has my heart beaten a pulse
the faster. She knew this when We
were married. But she hOped-until
the day some months after our mar
rage when a chance word during
chance meeting with Clement, brought
the whole truth out. You had refused
him And this Rose knew when she
told me the contrary. | settled every
away, vowing never to look upon her
face again."
The weary, bitter voice ceased.
I'VE shall speak of this now" said
Jean Charters, slowly, land then
never again! The bank in which you
had deposited was the same which
controlled my fathers business. When
the defalcation came Roses money
and ours was sucked down in the
whirlpool. Father did not long sur
vive the blow. Rose could do nothing.
She had been brought up in idleness-
in luxury. Besides she was ill-and
miserably unhappy. Sol was always
clever as seamstress-she came to
me- and we were comfortable-quite
comfortable together. Two years ago
a sharp attack of pneumonia ended
| all. Rosine was then f."
You took her into your home and
your life" said the man in voice that
though low-shook with passion.
"You supported her and her child! Ii
ho uSad IN watch for tho mail and the