The pioneer press. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 1893-190?, 1903-09-24
CHAPTER xxxIv.
A Haven Of Refuge.

NO further word was spoken De-
tween Avice and her former maid un-
I'll they reached the outer door. when
Marie handed her hat and wrap and
made her quickly assume them.
At the corner of the street cab
stood in waiting. Marie gave the word
OF command to the coachman, then
took her seat beside the trembling
girl.
"Have no fear" she said. reassur.
ingly, II take you to your friends"
ALAS. have no friends" Avice re-
piled. and sank back, Respondent.
The carriage stopped before a large
and elegant house. There was about
It to Avice familiar air. but she
could remember little. Marie threw a
veil over her features. f.f
Come with me- she said, and in
few minutes they were admitted into
the house.
Florence st. John sat alone IN her
dressing room, when a shadow dark.
ened the threshold She glanced quick
ly up, but started with Joy as she rec
ognized the red hair and familiar spec
tacles of Avice's maid--Marie having
again assumed her former disguise.
But to Miss st. Johns amazement the
maid, drawing near, quietly removed
the wig and glasses. thus disclosing a
rather pretty face, though robbed,
seemingly, of ten years of its exist
ence. What did this masGuerading
mean?"
"You bring me news of Miss Mere
dith?" she cried excitedly.
Marie bowed in acquiescence.
"Oh. tell me. is she safe and well?"
Eyes, mademoiselle, both safe and
well. so far as safety to the body. but
she has been very Ill. and her mind
has not yet regained its balance
where is she? Take me to heri"
may, mademoiselle. have brought
her to YOU"
But at that moment white face, so
worn, so changed, that Florence could
scarcely recognize 1t, glanced in at the
open door, and piteous voice said:
"Have you, too, cast me off?"
Then she opened wide her arms, and
Avice fell sob5ing into their embrace
When she turned to look for the
woman Marie had gone. No trace OF
the maid remained, but Avice was
with her, living presence-Avice,
who had come to her first in her
dream, but now in very truth--Avice,
yet not Avice. What must the girl
have suffered to have brought about
this fearful change?
"Avice, my darling" she said, gem
tly, where have you been? oh, we
have had such cruel search for you'll"
where have l been?" Avice an
swered. YEARLY. II do not know. And
You have searched for me? oh. Flor
ence. they told me you had cast me
of forever!"
Cast you off! Who told you? What
do you mean?"
II do not know" Avice again an
swered Il know nothing. Florence, I
have been mad. Do you think am so
stilI?"
"No. my darling--a thousand times
TO! You are back with us once more.
You viii have rest and quiet and all
will be we'll will send for Travis
and Milton to come to us at once"
mo, moi" the girl chung to her in an
agony OF terror. Travis II you will,
If you must--he was, l remember, to
have been your husband; but not Mil
ton. 1t was he who wrote me that
cruel letter. have 1t yet here" point.
ing TO her heart. II never want to see
him again. Promise me that you will
not send for him"
II promise you, dear, anything; but
what letter do you speak Of? show 1t
to me-"
Avice shook her head.
''It was the TRUTH" she said, sadly.
sBut would not have held him to his
promise He might have trusted me-"
Unconsciously she used the very
words he had employed in reference
70 her, In his interview with Barbara.
Florence rose and, crossing to her
writing table. penned a few hasty
lines, which she addressed to Travis
Meredith, then. ringing the bell. she
dispatched them hastily by her sery-
ant
Avice had sunk back, pale and list
less. upon the couch.
Trembling with excitement, Miss St.
John awaited the return OF her mes
senger.
An hour passed slowly away. Avice
had fallen into dreamless sleep: the
long lashes lay on the marble cheeks,
a sigh now and then fluttered from be-
tween the parted lips, but the bloom
and brightness had fed from the young
and exQuisitely lovely face
Would they ever return to Il? Was
there happiness in the wide world?
Florence asked herself. remembering
how short while ago both she and
Avice were butterflies dancing in the
sunshine Of to-day, ignoring the exist
ence OF the storm Of tomorrow, until
.--poor little nuttering motes-it had
burst upon thera, and the bright col
ors Of their wings trailed In the rain.
beaten to earth--until, heavy with its
accumulation, they could NO longer
soar, but droop and Gle Was there
happiness In the world, or had only
she and Avice missed their way IN