Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1903-11-05

1t AAC hunh gOu III 81 hlIuly
protecting my little truant. His moth
err and / were becoming quite anxious
about him"
The other children had beaten an
ignominiors retreat. Al wild hope
flashed through the girls brain. His
wife-might she not be a 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-
lingi'
She had caught the child's chubby
face between her hands and was kiss
ing it joyfully. A. little, round, rosy,
kindly faced woman, clad in a gray
gown. and a snowy, RULED 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. Il 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 | could thank you better"
Laurie swallowed a great lump In
her throat. 1t was 80 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 nothing-nothing at
ALL" she said, her voice very .ow-so
low IS to be almort inaudible; 'but
IL you will you can help me. / am a
stranger In London. I am penniless,
friendless and homeless; and OH"
with a 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 TIL we see what can be
done. John. carry Max. Now tell me
your story as we go asong.'
but when they had arrived at the
house, at the square, comfortable,
homelike house. the girl, on the very
threshold, tainted quietly away.
We must keep her, John" the little
woman insisted to her less generous
hearted husband: Eat least till she
gets stronger. She is so young, ard
pretty. and ~friendless. Poor thingt"
And when she did get stronger. they
decided they should keep her for
good. They had q girl OF twelve.
whom they desired should learn music
and the foreign languages, and these
Miss Lisle could teach.
They were well-off people, fair and
just, too and they offered to pay her
liberaiiy for her services.
And she? All, she was glad to hide
from the merciless world in that ha-
ven OF rest! 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
knowsi
She went around the house, and
about her duties-a quiet, slender
| girl. white as q snowdrop In the
springtime. with a rare, sweet smile.
and q face like the face OF a Madonna.
And so three weeks slipped away
happy because uneventful. and No
vember was drawing to a close-No-
vember. with its sapphire skies and
sparkling ~frosts. and breezes invigor-
ating Is rich old wine. And one
night q friend-and, to be explicit, q
poor and one-time disgraced relation
came to call on John Morier.
Miss Lisle had occasion to pass
through the Dom The visitor
scanned her sharply.
so" he said, .you have a addition
to your family. Who is she?"
Corrine's governess. Her lame Is
Laurence Lisle."
Laurence Lisle?" Pierre lie Blanc
rose slowly TO HIS feet. "Yuu are sure
that is her manner"
@Yes. why?"
Nov I know where I have seen the
resemblance beforel" he cried. at
puzzled mo at first. She is like-re-
markably like" his voice sinking to a
whisper-"the man beside whom
worked In the gaIleys, many years
ago. And his namc was Laure zee
Isle"
1T cannot be possible that She
and YET We win investigated"
He was a nan OF impulse. He rang
The bell sharply.
tell Miss Lisle / request her pres
ence here" he said to the servant.
And then to his cousin: Il must sat