Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1903-07-23
CHAPTER x-continued.

"Ayice, darling, come here" he con-
tinued. Tell me, my child, have l
made your life happy?"
so happy, papa, that all its sunshine
goes out with you"
'Ah, no, my darling. Laughter soon
returns to young lips. and the smile to
young eyes. God in his merciful wis
dom has SO ordained It; but now my
pet. my treasured child. leave us. Try
and sleep until your brother calls you"
One kiss she pressed on the forehead
already growing white and cold, then,
with swift steps. lest the choking sobs
should escape her, she obediently
crossed the room to seek her own
chamber. to fall on her knees and pray
20 the good God to bid the Reaper pass
by this one ripe flower over which
lowered his dread sickle.
s"Trayis, we are alone? | have much
Go say to YOU. II. is of Ayice that l
would speak Tell me, have you e
Milton Has any one taken Ayice's
place in his hearth"
mo one, father. He is the soul of
marIy honor and on Avice's eighteenth
birthday will gladly receive the renewal
of her childish pledge"
1He must not wait till then: they
must be married at once. Travis, that
betrothal was not without its meaning.
II was to insure future protection aud
q noble name TO my child"
"A noble name, father? Is not the
name of Meredith a password" Travis
questioned proudly.
But even as he spoke a flush OF
shame rose to his cheeks as he emem-
bered how already he had furnished
nils heritage.
sYes. yes!" the sick man answered.
But, Travis, listen. Try and prepare
yourself for what | must tell you. Eff
teen years ago your mother and I we're
zn Paris, wnere our child was born, a
little girl, and well do / remember the
feeling OF pride and gratitude which
stirred my hears as / sat down to write
you. at the school where we had placed
you. of the sister God had sent yoa,
who mus. ever be your little queen.
Your mother would not have her babe
q moment absent from her, but lay
with the head pillowed on her arm, her
eyes always fastened on its face. On
ehe third day fever went to her brain,
and for q time she was delirious; but
In no moment of her delirium was she
content unless the little n was near
her. Even in her. sleep she would
grope out her hand that she might
touch 1t. When the child was four
Gays old 1t suddenly sickened and
died"
"Father!"-the words burst in q
gasp from the trembling lips Of the
HIstaner-"and Avice?"
sThe physicians said. deprived of her
child, she must surely die-that for a
time we must deceive her. Oh, Travis.
I can hear now her pitiful voice call
sng apon her baby's name. There was
no time to lose. I learned OF an insti-
tuition In Paris where friendless and
forsaken children were cared for. All
Paris was then ringing with the story
of a little waif who had been found
upon the steps OF La Madeleine, and
taken In, only to die--a common story
enough, but made notorious by the
beauty Of it's mother, and suspicion
which fell upon her, and which the
notoriety of her after life confirmed"
"But that child-her c~hsld-died,
father, you are sure?" questioned the
young man. with now ashen lips.
.Died? Do | not tell you they sus
pected it's mother of being a MUIR
deress? II lived a few hours. but The
sisters telling me the story told of an.
other child they had found sleeping by
its side. I was taken to the little ones
cradle. She wakened from her sleep,
and smiled up In my face. 1t was as
though a little cherub had lain among
the pillows. Even then she WAS beau
tifui.
IT could no. take her unless I formal
" adopted her; but your mothers life
was al stake, and / would have counted
no cost. In a few hours the child was
maine, and I had the exquisite happi-
ness of seeing your mother sink into
q quiet sleep. holding her little daugh-
ter closely nestled in her bosom-the
sleep, the physicians said, that might
restore life and reason.
so 1t proved. The child was small
Tor her age, and when my darling was
restored to consciousness she saw no
difference. o dreamed OF the little
new-made grave in Pere la Chaise
graveyard.
"A few months she fingered with
as, when the little n entwined itself
about both our hearts; but day by day
I watched my wife fade. as g. lovely
flower droops. and all my love a
powerless to hold her back. At last,
Travis. on her ~deathbed. l told her all.
She smiled and blessed me.
any baby is waiting for me there.
Henry. I shall not be alone In heaven;
but 1 leave you Avice to comfort you
ON earth. Promise me you will forget
she is not blood of your blood. flesh of
your flesh. Accept her as my heri-
tage.'
ga ATT Aa~f>-~ - 49,