The pioneer press. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 1893-190?, 1903-11-05

er and were becoming quite anxious
about him"
The other children had beaten an
ignominious retreat A wild hope
flashed through the girls brain. His
wife-might she not be kind wom-
an? And for one night-for a few
hours Even as the thought came
to her a woman came running swiftly
up the pavement. She stopped at the
little group before her with a cry of
joy.
"Ah, you have found him, John
you have found him, my precious dar-
ling"
She had caught the child's chubby
face between her hands and was kiss
ing il joyfully. A little, round, rosy,
kindly faced woman, clad in a gray
gown. and a snowy, ruflled apron. and
bright wooden shawl.
"She wouldn't let dem hit me-" the
child she was caressing reasserted,
pointing TO Laurie.
Something in the loneliness of that
slender, dropping figure, touched her
strangely.
THANK you, my dear" she said IN
prompt, motherly fashion, and went
up to the girl with one plump hand
extended. 81 got so nervous about
Max that my husband had scarcely
left home when followed him. 81
WISH" noting with womanly instinct
the pleading in the eyes uplifted to
hers, that l could thank you better"
Laurie swallowed a great lump in
her throat. 1t was so hard-it was
like begging-and yet night was here.
There was kindest encouragement in
the kindly face above her.
She came one step forward. and
stood in the yellow glare of the gas
light-timid, shrinking, pathetically
mournful looking in her somber drap-
cries.
Il have done Notwithstanding at
ALL" she said, her voice very low-so
low as to be almost inaudible; "but
II you will you can help me. l am a
stranger in London. | am penniless,
friendless and homeless; and OH"
with quick, hysterical catching Of
her breath and sudden, startled, light.
ing of weary, brilliant eyes. Il am
afraid, afraid, afraid"
MY poor child, you shall come
home with me till we see what can be
done. John, carry Max. Now tell me
| your story as we go along"
'But when they had arrived at the
house, at the square. comfortable,
homelike house, the girl, on the very
threshold, tainted quietly away.
1--WE must keep her, john" the little
woman insisted to her less generous
hearted husband; cat least till she
gets stronger. She is so young, and
pretty, and friendless. Poor thing!"
And when she did get stronger, they
decided they should keep her for
good. They had a girl of twelve,
whom they desired should learn music
and the foreign languages, and these
| Miss Isle could teach.
They were well-off people, fair and
just, too land they offered to pay her
literally for her services.
And she? An, she was glad 10 hide
from the merciless world In that ha-
ven of restl Glad to have one little
room which she called her own,
wherein to sit down when "the day
was done"-glad to be free to think
though how sad the thoughts, God
knows!
She went around the house, and
about her duties--a quiet, slender
girl, white as a snowdrop in the
springtime, with a rare, sweet smile
and a face like the face Of Madonna
And so three weeks slipped away
happy because uneventful, and No
vember was drawing to close--No
vember, with its sapphire skies and
sparkling frosts, and breezes invigor
atlng as rich old wire. And one
night a friend--and, to be explicit, 9
poor and one-time disgraced relation
came to call on John Morier.
Miss Isle had occasion to pass
through the room. The visitor
scanned her sharply.
$50" he said, you have a addition
to your family. Who is she?"
Corrine's governess. Her name 1:
Laurence Isle"
Laurence Lisle?" Pierre lie Blan,
rose slowly to his feet. you are sure
that is her name?"
Eyes. why?"
Nov know where have seen the
resemblance beforel" he cried. II
puzzled me at first. She is like-re
markedly like" his voice sinking to {
whisper--"the man beside whom
worked in the galleys, many years
ago. And his name was Laurenc,
). Isle"
sit cannot be possible that She
and yet We will investigator"
He was a man OF impulse. He rams
the bell sharply.
Tell Miss Isle ] request her pres
ence here" he said to the servant
And then to his cousin: II must sat
isfy myself Immediately whether OF
not your suspicious are correct. II so
: she must leave my house. My child
must not risk association with tht
J daughter OF convict. All, here she
is now!"
! She came into the room, a small
girlish. dark-clad figure. Her face
was a subject for painter, seen II
, that soft, luminous light--so young 4
uoa AZ do{pf{Iv ,ova1v 81 R,1Y -