The pioneer press. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 1893-190?, 1903-11-05
! Curse or Darlington
9 BY X TEMPLE MOORE

Nv X. TEMPLE MOORE.

HOuuCCu lNdtuito, 49, - -
hair of iron gray.
LET me thank you for so kindly
protecting my little truant. His moth
er and were becoming quite anxious
about him."
The other children had beaten an |
ignominious retreat wild nope |
flashed through the girls brain. HIS
wife-might she not be a kind wom-
an? And for one night-for 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 cry OF
joy
"Ah, you have found him, John
YOU have found him, my precious dar-
ling!"
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 gray
gown. and snowy, ruflled 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. II got so nervous about
Max that my husband had scarcely
left home when | followed him. Il
wish" noting with womanly instinct
the pleading in the eyes uplifted to
hers, that | could thank you better"
Laurie swallowed great lump in
her throat 1t was so 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.
81 have done nothing-nothing at
ALL" she said, her voice very low--so
| low as to be almost inaudible; but
| il you will you can help me. i am a
stranger in London. l am penniless,
| friendless and homeless; and OH"
| with q 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 till we see what can be
done. John, carry Max. Now tell me
your story as we go along"
But when they had arrived at the
house.-.eahodses, M; girl, on the very
threshold, tainted quietly away.
I'VE must keep her, John" the little
woman insisted to her less generous
hearted husband; "at least till she
| gets stronger. She is so young, and
pretty, and friendless. Poor thing!"
And when she did get stronger, they
decided they should keep her for
good. They had 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 land they offered to pay her
| HDerally Ior ner 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
| knows!
She went around the house, and
about her duties-a quiet, slender
\ girl, white as a snowdrop In the
| springtime. with rare, sweet smile.
and face like the face of a Madonna.
And so three weeks slipped away,
happy because uneveptful, and No
! vember was drawing to close-No-
vember. with its sapphire skies and
sparkling frosts. and breezes invigor-
ating as rich old wine. And one
night a friend--and, to be explicit. a
poor and one-time disgraced relation
came to call on John Morier.
| Miss Lisle had occasion to pass
through the room, The visitor
scanned her sharply.
&c." he said, you have addition
to your family. Who is she?"
Corrine's governess. Her name Is
Laurence LisIe."
Laurence Lisle?" Pierre lie Blanc
rose slowly to his feet. "You are sure
that is her name?"
Eyes. Why?"
Now ! know where have seen the
resemblance before!" he cried. "It
puzzled me at first. She is like--re-
markably like. his voice sinking to a
whisper-'the man beside whom
worked IN the galleys, many years
ago. And his name was Laurence
Lisie. =
1T cannot be possible that She
and yet We will investigated"
He was man of impulse. He rang
the bell sharply.
Tell Miss Isle l request her pres-
ence here" he said to the servant
And then to his cousin: II must sat
isfy myself immediately whether or
rot your suspicious are correct. II SO,
she must leave my house. My child
must not risk association with the
daughter of q convict. All, here she