Custer County Republican. (Broken Bow, Neb.) 1882-1921, 1903-07-30
/ Meadow Brook
4 MARY j. HOLMES
4 tSrsny Farm)

MARY j. HOLMES

she would never have made we're she not
luboring under a mistake"
Here Ada, who was not in the least
prepared for the occasion, began to
staIsmcr out something about letting the
matter drop--she did not wish to harm
me, and had said what she did inadver-
tently, without ever dreaming of making
trouble. She didn't see why Richard
wished to make it such serious mat
ter for she was sure she didn't care
whether ! were forty or eighteen"
But | care" he said, grasping my
arm still tighter II care to have justice
done ] had supposed Miss Lee to be
! frank, ingenious and truthful; end if
what you assert is true, she is the re-
verse, and SHOULD suffer accordingly,
while, on the contrary, if she be inno-
cent, she shall have an opportunity Of
proving herself So"
BY this time Ada had collected her
scattered senses, and resolving to brave
the storm she had raised, replied, Ger.
tainly, Miss Lee has n right to clear her.
self if she can, and prove that she is
really Rosa instead of Anna Lee"
Rosa instead of Anna! What do you
meanY" Numbered Mr.. Delafeld, while
| Ada was not very deep, and in all her
| plotting she had never thought how easy
It would be for me 10 prove the falsity
of her assertion by writing home; 30
| with the utmost GOODNESS she replies: 81
mean this: there were two Lee girls liv-
ing at the house of their uncle where
| occasionally visited one was Anna, a
young lady of twenty-five or twenty
three; the other was Rosa, a school girl
Of fourteen or fifteen. The oldest of
| these two | have every reason to believe
stands before us-at least this, which |
found upon the stairs, would indicate as
much" and she held to view the hand
kerchief which | had dropped and had
not missed.
CHANGING at the name, Mrs. Lansing
said: 81 have observed similar mark
| upon several of her garments, and rather
wondered at It."
This was true, for Anna had dealt
generously with me, giving me many of
her clothes, some of which bore her full
name, while others had merely the in
itials. ] was about to tell of this, when
Mr.. Delafeld prevented me by asking
| If | could prove that | was what ! rep
resented myself to be, and that / was
mere school girl when | saw Miss Mon
trose in Boston.
Yes, sir, | can" ! answered, firmly;
"by writing home | can prove it, if in no
other way. But Mas Montrose knows
better than to confound me with Anna,
whom she surely has reason for remem-
bering"
| Fearful lest her darling secret was
about to be divulged, Ada reused up, and
in tone Of angry defiance, answered:
Yes, have reason for remembering you,
for you did me good service by taking
off my hands a worthless, drunken fell
low, about whom the Bostonans were
annoying me. thank you for it, Miss
Lee, and only wonder how you could sup
pose | would forget you. l recognized
you the moment we met at the table, but
| did not then dream of your calling your
self eighteen when you are certainly
twenty-six."
l was COMPOUNDED and remained speech
less, while with renewed strength my
accuser continued: Perhaps you will
deny having been teacher at that time.
when, according to your statement, YOU
! We're only fourteen,"
NO" l answered, 81 do not deny that;
81 had taught, but | was only thirteen
when did so, as any one at home will
testify"
Thirteen! how improbabler exclaim-
ed Mrs. Lansing, while Ada continued,
And what of your engagement with DIR.
Clayton? l heard it from the lips of
your aunt but perhaps she told me a
falsehood" and she looked maliciously at
me, while with stamp of his foot Mr.
Delaiield said sternly, ada, you have
no right to question her about that"
But | am glad she did," l said, "for
as | live, | have never been engaged to
any man"
Nor in love with one either? viii
you say you were never in love with Dr.
ClaytonW persisted Ada.
1t was cruel question, but could not
deny it, and | remained silent, while
covered beneath the burning gaze OF
MIR. Delafeld, who still held me fast. but
who now loOsened his hold, and slightly
pushing me from him, leaned against IL,
pillar with folded arms and dark, lower
ing brow, while Mrs. Lansing and Ads
exchanged glances of triumph. ThaN
had by nay silence gained a partial nd
vantage over me, but as long as | fell
the clasp of Mr.. Delaheld's hand, | wa,
strong to defy them. Now, however, tina
had failed me, and girl-like | began I,
cry, telling them they could easily ties
the whole matter by writing either I,
Boston or Sunny Bank"
This alternative had not occurred [,
t Ada before; but now she readily saw how
| easily l could prove my innocence. an,
, as she met Mr.. Delafclds inauirin,
f glance, she turned very. pale and laid he
= hand upon her side as If the pain had Ie
l. turned
y Rosa" said Mr.. DelaGeld. "yo,
|, would hardly wish for me to write wer
l. you guilty and as you seem willing tina
n we should do so, | am inclined to hop
that Ada may be mistaken, Come, stan
/, by me"-and reaching out his hand h
= drew me to his side-"and tell me all tn
y particulars of your acquaintance wit
Is Miss Montrose, aud also about that siste
u with whom you are COMPOUNDED, and YOU
j. turning to the other ladies-"are nor I
r. speak until she is through, when Ad
o can make any correction or explanstio
II necessary"