Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1903-04-28
Sunny Bank Farm
FLOYD LIVINGSTON


mean this: there were two Lee girls liv-
ing at the house of their uncle where /
occasionally visited; one was Anna,
young lady Of twenty-five or twenty
threei the other was Rosa, school girl
of fourteen or fifteen. The Oldest of
these two | have every reason to believe
stands before us-at least this, which l
found upon the stairs, would Indicate as
much" and she held to view, the hand
kerchief which l had dropped and lad
not missed.
CHANGING at the name, Mrs Lansing
said: Il have observed a 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 l could prove that 1 was what l rep
resented myself to be. and that / was
mere school girl when l saw Miss Mon
trose in Boston.
Yes. sir. | can" / answered, firmly;
"by writing home / can prove it, if in no
other way. But Miss 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 rodsed up, and
ia tone of angry defiance. answered:
Yes, have reason for remembering you,
for you did me good service by taking
of my hands a worthless, drunken fell
low, about whom the Bostonians were
annoying me. l thank you for it, Miss
Lee, and only wonder how you could sup
pose l would forget you. l recognized
you the moment we met at the table, out
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
were only fourteen"
mo- l answered, 81 do net deny that:
Il had taught, but / was only thirteen
when ! did so, as any one at home will
testify"
Thirteen! how improbabler' exclain-
ed Mrs. Lansing. while Ada continued
~A44A NAoe VI Jul WIFI
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 a stamp of his foot Mr.
Delafeld said sternly, ada, you have
no right to question her about that"
"But l am glad she did," said, "for
as / live, l have never been engaged to
any man."
Nor in love with one either? Will
you say you were never in love with DR..
Clayton?' persisted Ada.
1t was a cruel question, but l could not
deny it, and l remained silent, while I
covered bene".h the burning gaze of
Mr.. Delafeld, WIN still held me fast, but
who now loosened his hold, and slightly
pushing me from i'm, leaned against tie
pillar with folded arms and dark, lower
ing brow, while Mrs. Lansing and Ada
exchanged glances of triumph. They
had by my silence gained a partial ad-
vantage over me, but as long as | felt
the clasp of Mr.. Delafeld's hand. l was
strong to defy them. Now, however, that
had failed me, and girl-like l began to
cry. telling them they could easily test
the whole matter by writing either to
Boston or Sunny Bank"
This alternative had not occurred to
Ada before; but now she readily saw how
easily L could prove my innocence, and
as she met Mr.. Delafeld's inquiriny
glance. she turned very pale and laid her
hand upon her side as if the pain had Ie-
turned.
Rosa" said Mr.. Delafield you
would hardly wish for me to write were
we should do so, l am inclined to hope
that Ada may be mistaken, Come, stand
by me"-and reaching out his hand he
drew me to his side-"and tell me all the
particulars of your acquaintance with
Miss Montrose, and also about that sister
with whom you are COMPOUNDED, and you"
turning to the other ladies-"are not to
speak until she is through, when Ada
can make any correction or explanation
necessary"
1t was an act of justice which l owed
10 myself. knew, and wiping my eyes,
/ was about to commence, when Ada,
rising up, said, mockingy, with the
honorable judges permission will leave.
as | do not wish to hear the falsehoods
which l am sure will be uttered"
In a firm, unfaltering manner l told
both my story and that of Anna. who, /
said. had eloped with Herbert Langley
and was now broken-hearted widow,
living with his mother in Boston. At
this part of my narrative Ada's hand
was pressed eonyulsiyely on her side,
while with parted lips and pale cheeks
she leaned forward, looking at me anx
iously; but when she saw that | did not
speak of her ever having been engaged
to Herbert, the color came back to her
face, and with a sigh of relief she list
ened more composedly. admitting that
she might have been mistaken: looked
so much like Anna that twas not inn
possible"
This l knew was false, but | did not
contradict her, and proceeded with my
story. until suddenly recollecting the in
cident at the theater, l turned TO MIR.
Dela6eld and asked IF he remembered
itT'
He thought a moment. and then the
arm, which had gradually been winding
itself about my waist. clasped me TO his
side, while he exclaimed. Remember
it? Perfectly; and you are that little
girl, They called you Rosa; and this is
why your face has puzzled me so much,
l see il all now. You are innocent,
thank heaven and the hand which.
heretofore. had held Ada fast, now rest
ed earessingiy upon my head and parted
back my curls. as he said. more TO him
self than TO me. land you have remem-
bered me all this time" Then. turning
toward Ada. he said. sternly, we viii
hear you now"
Ada was caught in her own snare. She
had thought 10 prevent me from doing
her injury by branding me as liar.
and now that l was proved innocent 1t
filed her with 1onIaS.Ju. and she resnain-
ed silent until Mrs. Lansing came TO
her aid by saying. Il do not think Ada
meant 10 do wrong: she probably mistook
Rosa for her sister, hence the blunder."
This gave Ada 1urage. and crossing
over TO me, she took my hand. begging
my forgiveness and saying she had been
mistG&en-she certainly did not mean TO
do me so great a wrong. and she hoped
| would forget il and try TO look upon
her as my friend. for such she would