Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1903-09-24
CHAPTER xxxiv.
a Haven of Refuue,

~ AWAAh[A WIN was 0PbhGh Nv
tween Ayice and her former maid UNI
til they reached the outer door, when
Marie handed her a hat and wrap and
made her quickly assume them.
AT the corner Of the street a cab
stood in waiting. Marie gave the word
of command to the coachman, then
took her seat beside the trembling
girl.
Have no fear:s' she said, rcassur-
ingly, Il take you to your friends"
ALAS. l have no friends. Avice re-
piled, and sank back, respondent.
The carriage stopped before a large
and elegant house. There was about
1t to Ayice a familiar air, but she
could remember little. Marie threw a
veil over her features.
Come with me, she said. and In a
few minutes they were admitted INTO
the house.
Florence st. John a 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 amazcment 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 incorporating
mean?"
"You bring me news of Miss Mere
dith2" she cried e~xcitedly.
Marie bowed in acuuiescence.
"Oh. tell me, is she safe and well?"
"Yes. 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. I have brought
her to YOU"
But at that moment a white face, so
worn. SO changed, that Florence could
scarcely recognize Ii, glanced in at the
open door, and q piteous voice said:
Have you, too, cast me OFF,"
Then she opened wide her arms, and
Avice fell sohbing 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. a living presence-Avice,
who had come to her arst In her
dream, but row 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. gen
lily. where have you been? Oh, we
have had such . cruel search for you!'
Where haysaI been?" Avice an
swered, YEARLY. Il do not know. And
you have searched for me? Oh, Flor
ence, they told me you had cast me
Off f~oreyeri"
Cast you off! Who told you? What
DO you mean?"
Il do not know" AvIce again an
swered. II know nothing Florence, I
have been mad. DO you think I am so
stiII2"
mo. my darling-a thousand times
mol You are back with us once more.
You will bave rest and quiet and all
will be well. I will send for Travis
and Milton to come to US at once
No. mol" the girl clung to her in an
agony Of terror. Travis II you will,
II you must-he was, / remember, to
have been your husband; but MOI Mil
ton. II was he who wrote rae that
cruel letter. I have 1t yet here" point.
ing to her heart. II never want to see
him again. Promise me that you win
not send for him."
II promise you, dear, anything: but
what letter do you speak Of? show II
TO me-"
Avice shook her head.
ut was the truth" she said. sadly.
@But l would not have held him to his
promise. He might have trusted me-"
Unconsciously she used the very
words he had employed In reference
TO 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 serv-
ant
Avfce 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 q dreamless sleep; the
long lashes lay on the marble cheeks,
q sigh now and then iuttered from be-
tween the parted lips, but the bloom
and brightness had fed from the young
and exquisitely lovely face.
Would they eve return to 1t? Was
there happiness In the wide world?
Florence asked herself. remembering
how short q while ago both sEe and
Ayice were butterflies dancing in the