The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1909-09-18

4 DSeh HcT budll QanQ9.
"Hello!" exclaimed Lester, Jumping
from his horse what ID the matter,
little one?"
The little child looked up at him.
MY foot. it hurts" There was a fresh
burst OF tears. And I'm lost. / want
to go back"
Lester bent over her. She was a
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. Ill 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 food" 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 young woman stand
ing on the veranda which ran around
the building. Dolly called out as she
say her: Here am! Here I ami"
The young woman screamed and
ran down to the road.
"Oh. Dolly. Dolly. you naughty
child"
Then as Lester drew rein, she saw
his face. You. John!"
Lester had turned white to the lips.
els 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 / 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. did not |
know for come time after met you |
that you were her stepson. When II
was known to mel decided not to
marry you. But now-well, Dolly 10
your stepsister. She was left with
me this morning while your father
and my sister went for q drive with
another member Of our party. Sud
denly she was missed-oh, / was so
father adores her,
and IL anything had happened to her
and. oh, John. to think that you
found her!"
Lester had stood rigid and white
during this explanation. his eyes on
the sweet face OF the speaker.
Now he folded the little girl closely
In his arms and rested his cheek
against hers.
Il have been q fool" he said. terse
". '1'1l tell my father and your sis
ter so. Is she as sweet as you, Alice?"
Much nicer than l. oh. John, your
father viii be 30 happy to have you
back"
And you. AIfcsf VIII you have me
,owr
Yes, John"
Lester laughed happily. II must
larry Dolly In. Her foot must b IT.
ended to. She has hurt It."
Dolly seemed to thoroughly under.
Itand all that had been said. She
,ut her arms around Testers neck.
Il am glad that you are my broth
r." she said.