Morgan County republican. (Versailles, Mo.) 1906-1914, 1907-09-19

AT the place where | am boarding
there is an old buggy and horse, and
II can procure It's use and you will
accept my services, | will gladly drive
you TO the farm mentioned"
The soft gray eyes were lifted to
his face with a glow Of trust and
gratitude that would have repaid the
speaker for a far greater offer.
"Oh, cannot tell you how grateful
! should be- she said, ~fervently, and
perhaps | could sit here in the store,
till you have made inquiry"
Undoubtedly" replied Leonard,
promptly, and escorting his protege to
a tea within, he FASTENED away in
her service.
The ready sympathy and aid accord.
ed her In her dire need. had quickly
won the confidence of his fair com.
panion. and her ardent appreciation
of the kindness thus bestowed. in
spired the desire to render herself
as agreeable and as little burdensome
rs possible. and ere a mile Law ra.
hind them, her little story had been
briefly %conhded; how her father. he
ing In adverse circumstances, had left
her three months before in Willie,
with friends, while he had gone out
in the country to begin life e
AS the villagers had informed him,
the road was neither difficult nor oh.
scure, and in little more than an hour
he drew rein before the comfortable
looking country house known as Red.
bank Farm.
Almost before he could assist her,
his eager companion had sprang light
ly to the ground, and was already at
door, while Leonard more deliberately
secured the horse. lie could not
bring himself to leave her thus alb
ruptly, without at least learning the
result of her fears for the one so dear
to her.
Advancing therefore to the door
through which he had seen her disap.
pear, he was met by a woman whose
kind lace betokened u~nmistakable
gravity.
ut is fortunate you have brought
her" she said, with the ready com.
municativeness common to rural dis.
%tricts, and evidently supposlng that
LEONARD lad accompanied her young
visitor as a friend or relative. The
poor man has been calm for her day
and night, and | hope now he'll die
peaceful"
What" cried Leonard, with
startled emotion that surprised him.
| Golf tHn van mann fn gnp ha 10 az Ill
as that?'
so ILL.," repeated his hostess. why
he cannot last more'n an hour, |
/ should say Why was his girl SO slow
in comm? | wrote a letter for him
myself, when he was first took, near
three weeks ago. and ! took car to
write on the back of It: in haste!'"
For the simple reason that the let,
ter did not reach her till yesterday.
replied Leonard. almost resentfully.
How could it go through the mail
with no stamp upon IT."
mo stamp" repeated the woman. a
look of deep contrition suddenly over
spreading her ~cOuntenance. "Deary
deary! | never thought o. that!
haven't wrote a letter since | was q
gin, "neh 'hes uSeu W oe pau ioi
a. III. o'ne, e"u' never 'no"s"' u
She turned hastily away, and
Leonard ~instinctively followed to the
room near by, where as she softly
opeieu 'ne uool' .hes po'h s'oou
"olioh'eSS ou 'he 'hresnoiu'
was 'ui' s,ehe W move III.
soo'nes. hea''' WIN recN'ess MANI
the sirI hau tosseu her nat asiue, AND
,neeti"e III '"e nVoi az 'ne oeus'ue
hel "eau was puiieu on me o'eaS'
u ''e S'oN man NE wan hahu Ies'ihs
.arehs'S o"' neip'ees'S on ne sol'
o'o"" ueSSeo, pu' on nis paii'u lace
"o'h ny '"heeS anu many trace o'
9oitu"' pean'eu y !" 'nii'e VI III
enapie peace anu s%a'lslac.ioh' "hi'e
I'll "nispe'e came 'ne "orus'
l hhe" you "ouiu COME my uar
''hs' l Nne" ! 'ou'u no' ~ "i'hou'
Seel"s you oh'e nno'o'
HeartoroAeh soos CONFUSING 'he
shsh' Souns 'o'nh "lohe W
MN, tiI a 'ast came tne cry,
On iather' no not 'e"'e me! iou
VIII not uie ana ieaVe me all alone!
Inc piteouS appear seemed sudden
~ 10 disturb tha' rapture Oh peace
"hich the Imminent OF his ceaseiess
prayer nae proush'' ana over the dy
ing lace crep' a visible shade
heipiessiy ne saZeu upon the mead
with mute supplication he raised his
were, full on Leonard's plying face.
In a mompnt tho lattar stnnd hasids