The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1904-12-29

Il am such q poor. nsrvssess crsa-
ture-G utterly destitute OF all pres
encs of mln6~-thst | conld only crouch
In a conner and NIB with terror"
After q drive. which seemed to her
excited fancy % endure for hours. they
stopped before a tall iron gate.s which.
after n time. was opened from within.
They drove over u long. winding walk.
nj the eni OF which was a large. gloomy
looking house. before which the vehicls
stopped. Then. assisted by Montgomery.
she was suffered TO alisht. A female
servant conducted her TO the apartment
In which ! found her.
"She was very kind 10 me-" Clara
went on. 'and assured me over and over
again that no harm would he done 10
me-that | was among friends. and
whatever liked 20 ask for ! should
have. but that she could not permit me to
leave that room. But no entreaty could
wiring from her who her employer Was.
I have been here now nearly a fortnight
everything have expressed a wish for
has been given me. n I was growing
quite reconciled TO my position. for i
can be content In any place where ! I'm
treated kindly: but this evening. just a.
I was watching the great red sun sink
behind the trees. ! heard my door opeA.
and upon looking round I saw"
She buried her face In her hands.
seemingly unable TO proceed. kney
perfectly well whom she had seen. al
though ] asked the question.
Those terrible eyes," she answered
sinking her voice TO a whisper.
by the aid OF words ! had heard spok.
en- n few hours before. | began 10 VI
derstand II all now. but only dimly. ]
asked her what she meant.
"Ah. I have never told you" shet said
with n shudder. 81 viii tell you pow.
that you may understand my fearful po-
sition. and that you may take me away
from H."
She knelt down at my feet. and nestled
Ing In n subducd voice.
IL was brought up by n dear. kin
grandfather. the only friend ever knew:
for my father. who was an officer. died
In India. when | was very young. and
my mother followed him within less than
n year. She was my grandfather's young.
est and f~avoritc daughter: and. after
her death. he seemed 90 have trans.
ferred all his affection 10 me. for he lit
orally dotted upon me. ] had a cousin
who was much-much older than my
self. but. like myself. nm orphan. 1
never liked him-or. I should rather say,
I was always frightened OF him; yet ev.
crybody called him handsome. especially
NIL the women. Until my mother brought
me home. a little girl. from India. he was
the f~avorite nephew. aud was supposed
To be the heir 20 all his grandfather's
wealth. John Rodwsll hated me. and
showed Il. too. and that turned the old
gentleman against him. When was
about thirteen. grandfather made n fresh
will: ard rs he was never content TO
have the n moment from his side. u was
dictated TO the lawyer In my presence.
In Il I was named hcircss 90 all he pos
sessed. with the exception OF nm annu-
ity To John. and the former will. by
which John would have inherited all his
wealth, was destroyed. | was very much
troubled when I heard this: and l told
grandfather how much happier | should
be if he would let things remain as they
were. as ! was certain Cousin John
would know better what 10 do with the
money than | should.
well, In some way or other Cousin
John found out that a new viii had
been made, and that ! was present az
the time. Once or twice he put ON
questions 10 me In an oG-hnnd kind OF
manner ms TO It's contents: but mindful
OF the strict ~injunctions I had received.
l was very cautious. and finding that he
could elicit nothing from me. lac gave up
the attempt. But he became a more
frequent visitor 10 us. lie also took
great pains TO ingratiate himself into
grandfathcr's good graces. aud not un-
successfully.
TO he eontiuued.'