The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1904-06-18
A MAIDEN'S
. JOUST WITH 4
THE Y
BY HOMER. STOUT
Copyright, 1901, by Daily Story Pub. Co.,

have yentured from the shelter of the
convent on her Quixotic mission. And
had she dreamed how hopeless her
mission was she would not have under
taken ii. But then she vas only II
and had grown up within the quiet
walls, under the eyes of the good sis
ters, ever watchful that no faint OF
worldliness penetrated the little domin-
ion within their keeping,
Accident had thrown into her hands
information regarding the Ncircum-
stances of her advent to the convent
and the relationship between her par
ents which had led to her separation
from them,
1t was only a letter intended for 9TH
er eyes which had accidentally fallen
into her hands. 1t explained what had
puzzled her sorely for many years
why neither of her parents had ever
been to see her or had sent for her TO
come to them. 1t told Of a blaze of
jealous anger on the part of her moth
er, aroused by some incidents in the
husbands office. and a naughty refusal
to explain on his part. 1t informed her
of the separation with agreement on
both sides hat neither was to see the
daughter and to keep from her the
knowledge of their separation.
She remembered as a childish dream
her beautiful m and her tall and
distinguished papa, and the happy
home of her babyhood. Oh, how many
weary hours she had sObbed away in
homesickness and heartsickness after
She had come to the convent and heard
no word from the fond parents who
had bade her so fearful a farewell.
The fugitive letter explained, too, the
circumstances which had aroused the
mothers suspicion-a pure matter of
business with a client, the nature Of
which the husband could hot in honor
divulge at the time.
At the memory Of the affection her
parents always had borne each other
she burst into tears that so unreal a
thing should have separated them and
broken up a family, She pondered a
long time. Suddenly a mighty resolu-
ton took form In her mind.
II will seek them out and reunite
them" she exclaimed, crushing the let
ter in her hand.
Then she had hastily made up a
package of a few things necessary for
a short journey. gotten all the money
she dared ask for on the pretense of
desiring to make a gift to some chart
table purpose, and quietly slipped
away.
Her plans were very vague. She
never had been out into the world and
all her knowledge Of it had been OBJ
tanned from the very conservative
books she had been allowed to read.
But she was brave of heart and her
mission looked simple.
The letter had mentioned the name
of a certain lawyer, Hiram Stapleton,
in the great city nearby, in whose
hands funds had been left for her care.
She would go straight to him and, OF
course, he would know where her faith
er and mother were. He would direct
her. The rest would be easy, she was
sure.
The ride to the city In the rushing
cars had been a great delight to her.
She was bewildered and somewhat
frightened at the noise and rush and
crowds in the city, but chung bravely
to the address of Hiram Stapleton. The
elevator had startled her and the great
office with its clicking typewriters and
luxurious somber furnishings, and
mysterious private Offices and rows of
massive books and clerks and tele-
phones filed her with awe, but she
chung to her plan tenaciously.
When the boy brought Hiram Staple
ton a card upon which was written
mira Lansing" he looked puzzled,
then alarmed.
Send her in" he directed.
So Marian Lansing was ushered into
the private office and told the stern
old lawyer of her plans and pur-
poses.
my dear girl" he exclaimed in
when she had finished. at is
impossible, worse than quixotic. You
must not think of such a thing. The
were very careless to allow you
to leave. | shall look into it. A young
girl like you to be travelling about the
country alone-especially in the city
it is scandalous. Let me see, how old
are you?"
Seventeen" she replied. with spirit.
old enough to see my mother
and father and explain things to them.
Where are they? Oh. tell me where
they are?"
at is impossible" replied the lawyer
again. "The agreement was plain that
neither should see you until you were
81. | am charged with your care, too.
This is a very unhappy affair. You
must return to the convent at once. |
will go with you myself and take this
up with the mother superior.
Let me see. There is a train at AGO. |
We have just time to catch 1t. You
not do such an indiscreet thing
With her heart full of grief and an
ger, she accompanied him down the
elevator and into the carriage he sum-
moned. On the way to the depot she
recovered her possession and renewed
her resolution to reunite her parents.
She had made a mistake and fallen into
the hands of the enemy. She must es-
cape and readjust her plans. AT the
depot the lawyer went to the ticket
to purchase the tickets. APP
preciating her opportunity she darted
out OF the door and into an electric
street car about to start. Looking
back she laughed to see Hiram Staple
.on rush out Of the door of the station
ind look wildly in every direction.