The pioneer press. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 1893-190?, 1903-07-23
Barbara Bretton's
.eeAmbition~~
CHAPTER x-continued.

AflCe, DARLING, come mere, ne Gun
tinued. Tell me, my child, have
made your life happy?"
80 happy. papa, that all its sunshine
goes out with you
"Ah, no, my darling. Laughter soon
returns to young lips, and the smile 10
young eyes. God in his merciful wis
dom hes 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.
Travis, we are alone? have much
60 say to you. II is of Avice that
would speak Tell me, have you seen
Milton Has any one taken Avice's
place in his hearth"
mo one, father. He is the soul of
manly honor and on Avice's eighteenth
birthday will gladly receive the renewal
0f ner cnliulSn pleuee.
"He must not wait till then; they
must be married at once. Travis that
betrothal was not without it's meaning.
II was to insure future protection and
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 remem-
hered how already ne had tarnished
his heritage.
@Yes, yes!" the sick man answered.
But, Travis, listen. Try and prepare
yourself for what | must tell yoH. Fiji
teen years ago your mother and we're
IN Paris, waere our child was born, a
little girl, and we'll do remember the
feeling of pride and gratitude which
stirred my hear as | sat down TO write
you, at the sctool where we had placed
you, of the sister God had sent yol,
who must 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
the third day fever went to her brain,
and for a time she was delirious; but
In no moment of her delirium was She
content unless the little one was near
ner. Even in her sleep she would
Krope out her hand that she might
touch 1t. When the child was four
days old 1t suddenly sickened and
died"
-Fatherl"--the words burst in a
gasp from the trembling lips OF the
kistener-"and Avice?"
"The physicians said, deprived OF her
child, she must surely die-that for
time we must deceive her oh, Travis,
I can hear now her pitiful VOICE call
Eng upon her baby's name. There was
no time to lose. 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 child--died,
father, you are sure?" questioned the
young man. with now ashen lips.
"Died? Do not tell you they sus-
pected its mother of being MUIR
deress? It lived few hours. but The
sisters telling me the story told Of an
other child they had found sleeping by
its side. | was taken to the little ones
cradle. She wakened from her sleep,
and smiled up in my face. II was as
though a little cherub had lain among
the pillows. Even then she was beau
tiful.
81 could not take her unless formal
~ adopted her; but your mothers life
was at stake, and would have counted
no cost. In few hours the child was
mine, and 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.
80 II proved. The child was small
Tor her age. and when my darling was
restored to consciousness she saw no
difference, nor dreamed of the little
new-made grave in Pere la Chaise
graveyard.
"a few months she fingered with
os, when the little one entwined itself
about both our hearts; but day by day
watched my wife fade, as a lovely
flower droops, and all my love was
powerless to hold her back. At last,
Travis. on her deathbed, told het all
She smiled and blessed me-
"'My baby is waiting for me there,
Henry | shall not be alone In heaven;
but 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.'
And this heritage, my boy, I now
bequeath to you In your dead mothers
name. have shared my property be
tween you alike. even as you have
shared my heart. The papers OF her
adoption. Of which she must never
know. are-Travisl Avice and Milton
You will see that they are"
But the sentence remained unin.
ished; the overtaxed strength gave