New Ulm review. (New Ulm, Brown County, Minn.) 1892-1961, 1903-03-11

i M *&x~AI ject his prisoner to
III GsV the indignity of hand
M n EfIEHl cuffs, but he kept a
I lFC>NN1E firm hold on Alden's
j 1890 left arm just above
the elbow as they left the house. Al
den seemed to be entirely Indifferent
! to this attention. When he reached
the sidewalk, he paused, bringing his
captor to halt. The cab in which he
had come was beside the curb, and Al
den, using his free hand. helped Bren-
/ da into the vehicle.
1t is not customary for New York po-
licemen to daily while their prisoners
/ perform the gentle courtesies of polite
society, but Alden's deadly calmness
| prevailed in this instance.
Homer he asked.
est. Winifred's,'' replied Brenda.
please tell him to drive fast"
Alden gave the order and then, adj
dressing the young woman, said: 81
shall be there soon They dare not
hold me"
Brenda would have spoken, but the
horse suddenly started under the whip,
and the cab lurched on the rough pave
ment. The last glimpse Of Alden lift
ing his hat while the huge policeman
| gripped his left arm remained with
Brenda like a persistent nightmare that
survives the dawn. The conventional
courtesy stuck in her mind. It was a
little picture Of the old days, the time
| Of small pleasures and easy living, SO
sharply brought to an end. Every
thing in life had suddenly become diff
ficult. Words must be weighed and
ones conduct guided by plan, not left
to mold itself into the forms Of mere
usage. And thus she came to think of
what she should do and say at the hos
pital. How meet the emergencies that
might arise? Had Elsie regained her
senses? Had she spoken, or did she lie
dead at that moment in some small
bare room, watched by stolid nurse
who yawned and stretched herself as
the days work drew to close? A por-
| trait in a velvet frame Elsie's mother
beyond doubt-recurred sharply to
Brenda's memory, and she shuddered
1t had stood on the dressing table-a
woman not yet old; pretty, smiling
face. It was dreadful to think of that
face smiling there all that afternoon,
the eyes looking, yet seeing nothing,
the lips unable to utter cry.
II must put it out Of my mind" said
Brenda to herself.
At the hospital there was little to be
learned; nothing to be done. An elder
" man who seemed to be in authority
said: .The child is still living. We
cannot predict the ultimate result OF
the injury as yet. You cannot see her
nor send any message, Leave your ad.
j dress, and we will communicate with
you in accordance with the event,
whatever it may be. 1t will be useless
to wait. If7you are able to see her at
all, there will be no great pressure of
time"
Brenda rode to her home, and as the
cab drifted through the clamoring
whirlpools Of the Avenue she was
thinking that the white haired man
had spoken almost tenderly Of Elsie as
sthe child"
There was nc mother in the Maclane
mansion. She had been dead ten
years. There was an aunt, an amiable
old lady for whom Brenda entertained
no little affection, but in the serious
affairs of life she would as readily
have taken counsel with her brother,
/ who was not yet -. Her father, for
SO strong a man as he was in the
/ world of finance, was weak man at
home. He had no gift Of sympathy, a
deficiency which may have accounted
for both the strength and the weak
ness: Brenda told him the story of
her adventures as it has been here set
forth, and he received 1t with painful
surprise and lively alarm.
why did you go there?' he ex-
claimed. ''What possible interest
could you have in this Wretched girl %
My dear father she replied, with
an excellent counterfeit of a smile.
let me remind you that my affection
for Mr.. Alden has been the one sim
cere emotion Of a sadly artificial life.
4 When | saw that terrible story, the
i first feeling had was sympathy for
i Clarence. wanted to do something
i for him, and | couldn't think of any
/ thing else but to go to her
The papers will be full Of itp' he
i groaned. 7 have always been afraid
of Alden. You know i could never
reconcile myself to him"
Il remember that you always adj
i mired him" said she.
"a good many people admire him, .
exclaimed the old gentleman impa-
tiently, "and they're all afraid of him.
i He is headlong, reckless, unsafe
man, and ] never should have per
mitted you to become engaged to
him.
Brenda smiled without effort this
ume. She knew that her win would
dominate her fathers In any conflict.
and that he would permit her to have
her own way to the end Of the story.