Charlevoix county herald., 1909-09-18


fleeing glance he had of them told
him they were people from a world
unknown to him the last few years.
He did not see that the man In the
carriage had turned and was looking
earnestly back at him.
A woman's light laugh floated back;
there was the scent Of violet In the
air. Testers thoughts went back to
days which 1t was his constant en-
| deavor to forget. She had had such
a laugh, and she had always about her
faint odor of viclets. He gave his
shoulders an impatient shake. and
| quickened his horses movement. He
would not let the memory of those
past days take possession OF his
mind.
When within a half mile Of the vii
! lage he reached road leading direct
| ly to the river. The thought came to
| him that there would be some inter
est in seeing the river at nearer range.
He turned his horse in that direction.
He rode slowly, taking in the breadth
of landscape before him. Suddenly
child's cry awoke the stiffness. Les
ter looked around. At the side of the
road sat child. girl Of four or five
years. She was holding one foot in
, both her small hands.
"Hello!" exclaimed Lester, jumping
from his horse. What is the matter.
little one?"
The little child looked up at him.
'My foot. it hurts" There was fresh
burst of tears. And I'm lost. ! want
to go back"
Lester bent over her. She was
beautiful little creature. She had a
profusion of brown wavy hair and
great gray eyes shaded by thick dark
lashes.
She cried softly as Lester examined
her foot. She had evidently turned
her ankle violently in walking over
the rough stones of the road.
Where do you liver asked Les
ter. Don't cry, III take you home"
Don't live here, we're at the hotel"
She stopped crying, and looked at
Lester with the confidence which the
glance of his eyes and his smile al
ways won for him.
AT the hotel? Well, my horse will
take us there very soon." He lifted
her in his arms, and placing her on
his saddle, sprang up behind her.
"She belongs, no doubt to those peo-
pie that Morris said are staying over
on account of the flood" he thought.
The little girl leaned against him
comfortably. Lester chatted gayly
to her, and soon she was laughing
merrily. Her name was Dolly. she
told him, and she had run away be-
cause she wanted to see the river.
BY the time they reached the vii
lage and were riding up to the hotel,
she seemed to have forgotten the pain
in her foot. The street seemed deserted
and there was no one visible about
the hotel except a young woman stand
ing on the veranda which ran around
the building. Dolly called out as she
say her: Here l am! Here l ami"
The young woman screamed and
ran down to the road.
"oh. Dolly. Dolly. you naughty
child"
|
his face. You, john"
Lester had turned white to the lips
as this your child?" he asked. his
voice sharp.
He had dismounted and held the
child in his arms. my child" she
returned, impetuously. mo, John.
, am not married. No" as Lester
, made a movement toward her. Mat
, tiers are unchanged but l am going
to tell you what l would not before
because ! did not want to appear as
trying to influence you to accept your
}, stepmother. She-is my sister. She
was married to your father while
was at France in school. I did not
know for some time after l met you
; that you were her stepson. When II
was known to mel decided not tC
: marry you. But now-well, Dolly Is
your stepsister. She was left with
!, me this morning while your father
and my sister went for drive with
another member of our party. Sud
denly she was missed-oh, | was sc
frightened-your father adores her
j.. and if anything had happened to hel
? and, oh, John, to think that yor
:: found her!"
: Lester had stood rigid and white
], during this explanation, his eyes OF
the sweet face OF the speaker.
- Now he folded the little girl closely
in his arms and rested his cheel
!. against hers.
II have been a fool" he said, terse
ly. '1'll tell my father and your sis
ter SO. Is she as sweet as you. Alice 2
Much nicer than l. oh, John, your
: father will be so happy to have 20,
back"
= And you, Alice? Will you have m,
: now?"
!, Yes, John"
: Lester laughed happily. Il mus
!, carry Dolly In. Her foot must be ut
!. tended to. She has hurt IT,"
. Dolly seemed to thoroughly under
stopd all TINT had bean coid Oh.