Custer County Republican. (Broken Bow, Neb.) 1882-1921, 1903-10-08
CHATTER VII.

AlS NtllNIt VI WIZ. 4NfNfIEbll anu ~ .
Iorrowful niece, after they had reached
Ihe home of their relative, Mr.. Charles
Rogers, in Charles s,rnnt, Liverpool, and
hidden the handsome young physician
farewell, who had cared for them both
40 tcnderly during their passage across
the Atlantic.
1t need only be said in reference to
that farewell, that the tears rushed to
the hazel eyes of Ethel as she saw him
disappear in the distance and great
md lonely void seemed suddenly to have
dropped into her heart
She knew not why she had taken such
a deep interest in this grave and often
pre-occupied stranger, but from the first
word of kindness he had spoken to her
the first glance into his earnest eyes, she
had felt towards him as she had never
done towards any person of the opposite
sex before.
But now it was all over he had gone
and henceforward she can but learn to do
without him. For day or so it had al.
most seemed an impossibility, but with
The rapid failure of her aunt's strength
her thoughts were forced into another
channel, and her own lonely feelings had
TO be pushed aside for the more moment
ors and important one of their impend-
r. separation.
re third week was drawing to ClOst
aad the young girl had thrown herself
upon her knees by the bedside of the
invalid to catch the last words that she
had to speak in her ear. At her request,
she had been left alone with her child,
and now, with her hand in hers, she muir.
INJURED:
Ethel, darling, ! feel that ! have but
few hours more to be with you, as my
strength is fast waning; but while | may
l wish to tell you what | thought might
be kept from your ears until your TWEEN
ty-frst birthday; but as | shall not b,
with you then, | must impart to you now
an important secret, and give into YOU
charge some documents not to be opened
until that day. My dear, will you talk,
these papers, and promise me that yol
will not break their seal until that tim,
arrives?"
II will, dearest aunt rest assured
will do exactly as you wish"
THE papers l speak of, then, are il
my trunk inside small wallet. TAX
charge of them Immediately, and be sur
to aottend to them at the time mention
Now, | must tell you fact that | nav
withheld from your knowledge for th
beat of reasons, and in order to keep
solemn pledge of secrecy given to you
father when n babe. | took you, as yo
are aware, when a child of few week
old, as my own had died. as well as m
husbands sister, who was your de0
mother.
You were so young, and to be so Ell
tirely ours until your twenty-first birth
day, that all thought 1t best to call yo
by our own name. | now tell you, fo
the first time what has been kept secret
Your father still lives, but for variou
reasons did not wish to claim you or b
known to you until that time. | hav
Informed him of my husbands death
my failing health, and of my return I
England. | have also given him Cousi
Rogers address, who will tell him wher
you can be found when that date arrives
II will only add that there is nothin
10 be ashamed of in your birth. You mr.
true gentlewoman, and when twenty
one will come into pos essOn o
property sufficient for your support bu
this fact is not to be generally known
-Four months will elapse before tina
time comes, and can leave only enoug
TO bury me and purchase suitabl
mourning apparel for Yourself
Il dare not leave you without a pre-
tector and guardian, and as our presen
host is poor and has a struggle to pre-
vide for his own six children and wifi,
have written to my brother Sir Reg
maid Glendenning, asking him to TAX
charge Of you. / told him unless he di,
you would be Obliged to earn your ow
living, and ! hated 20 send YOU out in.
the worlu alone for such purpose.
asked him if you could not be of use
some way to lin, until the fifth of o.
tober, when you would be otherwise pr,
yded for This letter must be sent a
ter my interment. Let him be notified {
my death and invited to my funera
then, after all is over and your mourn
ing garments are made send him the lie
ter,
Now, ny love, | wish you to promi,
me that you will go to him if he senC
for you and assist him in whatever c
pacity lie offers. even though it may |
distasteful. VIII you do this for 20,
dying aunt, Ethel, my child?'
81 surely WILL" was the low reply, so
bed out almost with a wall; but | ca
not think of your dying. q, auntie.
have loved you So how can | live wit
out you?"
LAS thy day, so shall thy streng
be, is all can say. God will comic
you, and In n few more months yo
father will claim and protect you. B
what is this? / cannot see! am gro
ing numb-cold! Ethel-Ethel-I q
dyingw
She spoke no more, and as Mr.. n
Mrs. Rogers FASTENED back to the roc
at Ethels hurried call, T. ey saw tn
she was indeed breathing her last.
Ethel mourned, as one with such
iSying heart would naturally do, oy
her great loss, but amid all her gr
she remembered distinctly every dir,
ton she had received from those love
dying lips The package spoken of W
hidden instantly amid her own poss
sions, and a message dispatched to t
baronet.
The next day teiegraphc dispat
summoned the young girl immediat,
10 the presence of the baronet, sayi
''that he was i'll, and needed her mt one
An hour later saw her seated in ri