Kingsbury County independent. (DeSmet, Kingsbury County, S.D.) 1894-1929, 1905-02-17

You Iuiiy understand nae, Etnct (
Unless you do as l wish in this mat,
ter you cannot remain an inmate oil
this house. | will not have such an.
example OF disobedience set to my own
daughters. They are at an age when
they may be badly influenced by Il and
seriously harmed"
Stephen Curliss, broker and specu-
iator in g%erenal, threw himself
back in his chair at the breakfast table
and looked with a frown of dislike on
his swarthy face al the delicately
beautiful girl who was pouring out his
second cup of coffee.
A wealthy widower with two plain
daughters. he had married. in a mo-
ment of weakness. the beautiful widow
of an acquaintance who had died deep
ly in debt. HIS wife retained her good
looks, and was, after a fashion, dear
10 him.
But Ethel. with the face of her dead
father, who had been his rival at
school and in business alike, had been
obnoxious to him from the first.
Ethel We're was proud as well as
beautiful. She tried to hide from his
notice the wound hat his words in
But her lips trembled, her dark eyes
moistened, and 1t was some moments
before she could reply.
Il thanked Mr.. Winsiow for the
honor he had done me- she said at
last. But / told him of my engage
ment to Frank Hartweil / think II
ungentlemanly of him to renew his
proposal, and l cannot accept IT,"
Then you must find another home"
f,A x-, 49,. Z tT A... - - go.
est, Ethel. Winslow is rich; he is a
respectable merchant. and he is quite
foolish in his fondness for you. j am
acting for your w good in urging you
TO marry him. You will say so your
self in ten years hence, If you take my
advice. But IL you persist in refusing
him because you were once engaged TO
that unfortunate young sailor. who has
gone down with his ship, you must
take h consequences"
Say no morel" exclaimed Ethel.
brokenly. II do refuse: / must refuse.
Only let me remain here till my mother
returns from Yorkshire, and then / Will
find another home"
Your mother is quite too i'll to be
disturbed by this nonsense, Ethel. i
wrote to her last week. There is her
answer. You must decide this very
day. And she will not be here for
H Ct NCEhS " tuIllt.
With her mothers .atter In her hand,
Ethel hurried to her room. Hot, blind
ing tears fell Owe the words which
the weak and delicate wife had written
to her stern husbands order.
Since poor Frank is lost TO o for
eve in this world, do, my dear child,
be guided by Mr.. Curllss.' The last
line ram: Marry Mr.. Winslow, and in
the home of wealth which he will give
you, you and / may yet see some happy
days"
Without bidding farewell to a person
under that hostile roof. Ethel left the
house.
Mr.. Curliss, glancing oyer his paper
by the window, saw her go, noted the
little bag, and whistled softly TO him
self.
Presently came a carrier with an
order for Ethel's trunk. Mr.. Curliss
saw the man himself, tipped him lib
orally, made a brief explanation and
sent him away without the luggage.
THAT will bring my lady back to
ask my pardon" he chuckled, returning
to his paper.
But the hours went on. till twilight
deepened init nigntfast,, and no Ethel
came. Friendless, alone. and well-nigh
penniless, she had made her desperate
plunge into the great world.
1t was nearly dusk when Ethel
reached London. The lamps were
twinkling in long, amending lines
throughout the streets when she timid-
ly entered a hotel and asked for a
room.
Young, lovely, unprotected, coming
on foot and with no luggage, IT was
little wonder that the t'gentlemanly
clerk" found that the house was full.
Dat ~ bic rx.nrs1nrfaar 1ka.o At-
audible comments of several well
dressed loungers near his desk sent the
hot blood surging to EtheI's cheeks,
and hurried her from the place at a
speed which soon outstripped several
idlers on the pavement, who were an
talized by the glimpses of her fair face
90 it flashed
What am / to do? Where am to
goT" thought the poor girl, when she
had reached a poorer and safer part
OF the city, where she could pass un-
molested among the crowds. who were
too much absorbed in their own trou-
bles to have leisure to think Of hers.
Blu she scarcely knew what she was
doing; she only walked on, almost
stunned by her appalling situation, till
she heard the ripping OF water near
by, and knew by the cold breeze that
blew toward her that she stood upon
the rivers bank.
BY day this place was a busy scene.
At nightfall. being lined with ware
houses, it was deserted and quiet.
The door Of the nearest warehouse
opened softly. Two men came out
a third remained at the door-and the
flash Of a dark lantern was thrown
across the girls figure and face.
"All right. The cab is ready down
below at the corner, and there is the
x.;~f yn,, 1nnexy xx-lsrf ~ IL - ..sI u.
man In the doorway.
"AIl right" replied the other two.
Ethel, frightened. yet scarcely beIiev-
ing that they could be speaking OF her.
had turned TO fly. when the foremost
man seized her by the arm.
Not that way, miss. The gentleman
is waiting for you down yonder., he
said. trying to speak in a gracious
and assuring one.
You are mistaken. 7 am not wait
ing for anyone. Please let me pass"
replied Ethel. white with terror.
Look alive. Benz" said the man in
the door, with an oath. You'll have
the cops here next at this rate"
That's So" said the second man in
the street.
S~natching Ethel from his compan-
ions grasp, he placed one hand over
her mouth and hurried with her TO q
cab that stood I'M the shadow at the
end of the street.
1--WE got her safe and sound he said
through the window as soon az they
were safely within the carriage. run,
Ben, and tell him; and stir yourself,
nv man. for IL we are not out OF this
in five minutes some of them blessed
sailors will come loafing by, and then
we may zee trouble. Now. missy, do
you just keep quiet" he added in a
gurIy tone as the poor girl struggled