Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1903-01-15
Stairs Of Sand
ERNEST DE LANcY PERSON.

she do?''
''Well, the first step would be to
get your father to discharge me, and
that, l believe, he contemplates do
| ing, though he has been friendly to
the last. Still, she could persuade
him. / feel sure of it. Then, you
see, [ would have to go anyway
''Put what is to become of me
what am | to do?" almost in tears.
She was little more than a child,
barely II. 81 don't want you to go
l won't have it," with a stamp of
the foot
my dear, 1 am acting for the
BEST" firmly. ''My usefulness here
is over, and to remain would only
make matters more disagreeable for
you, as well as me. [ am going to
the city, where there is some chance
for me to show my ability, if l have
any. There is no chance for me to
rise here, and when / have made a
competence, and am in position to
take care of you as you deserve,
why, we will marry, in spite of the
world"
"And will that be very long-very,
very long?" she, asked, in doleful
voice, that caused him to laugh.
mot long, if the world appreciates
my transcendent genius" with a
fippant air. "Not long, if hard work
and application will lift me to re-
spectacle place in society"
~
you to CO." poutingly.
Don't think it is not wrench
for me to part from YOU"
But the girl refused to be COM
forted, and it was only through law
ish endearments and many promises
that she became more composed and
reasonable, and began to share his
view, that it was for the best.
"But we can't part this way" she
protested. 81 must give you some
thing to remember me by. Just
wait here for moment until | run
over to the house. I shall not be
gone long," and, before he had a
chance to protest that souvenir
was not necessary, she had fitted
away out beyond the light into the
shadows.
After she had gone he found him
self listening to the myriad voices
of the forest, that seemed to fall
with irritating reiterance on his
ears. He felt far from being in
cheerful mood, not knowing what
the future might bring forth, or if,
indeed, he ever should see her again.
1t was such a breaking away from
old ties, this starting out, after the
placid years he had spent as the vii
lage school-teacher. Sometimes he
wondered if he was fit to wage a
good fight beyond there, in the hum
ming city. Well, at least, he was
not without courage, and, ii he went
down, it would be to fall fighting.
How long the girl was! 1t seemed
to him that she must have been
gone for hours. Perhaps she had
been detained, and it would be i'm
possible for her to return. Still,
knowing what a passionate little per-
son she was, and accustomed pretty
much to having her own way, it
would be difficult matter for them
to have kept her back. Finally, he
could bear the waiting no longer,
but rose and stepped out to the edge
of the trees, looking anxiously in
the direction of the house. 1t would
be really too bad if their last meet
ing should be so woefully curtailed.
A step behind him, and, as he
turned. it was, to face Mrs. Ellison.
Even in that light he saw that her
face wore an angry expression.
"What are you doing here?
He did not answer, for the sur
prise of the meeting had checked
his speech. She was tall, hand
some woman, and wore an evening
dress that displayed her fine arms
and bosom. In the moonlight, with
the dark trees around, she was a
picture for painter.
| She was swinging garden hat
back and forth in one jeweled hand,
with an angry gesture, then, stamp
ing her foot, she repeated the ques-
ton:
81 ask you again, sir, what are you
doing in these grounds?"
''It may be that L came to take
last look at the house-of my friend,
Mr.. Ellison" he stammered.
''You might have spared yourself
the Troublesome it is my house and
not his which was true, Dick knew,
since the wife had the fortune. And
now since you have seen it, go!"
"Yes,' replied the young man, but
making no move to leave.
II know that it was one OF the
family you came to see," she con-
tinued, with rising anger. L con-
graduate Mr.. Ellison on his protege
A fine guardian for young people,
truly. Sneal<ing in here, like thief
in the night, to see my daughter,
who is too young to know better"
"Your daughter will never suffer
at my hands, madam" the anger ris-
mo within him. which he dared not