Kingsbury County independent. (DeSmet, Kingsbury County, S.D.) 1894-1929, 1909-10-08
The Finding
of Adelia
BY ALBERT BIGELOW PAINE
Copyright, BY J. b. Lippincott Coz

VIC ONE HiOlH iHS that we
must replace our household assistance,
and that we had but a brief time in
which to readiust matters. Fortunate
ly, Sunday was at hand, and securing
first editions and an early train-the
latter by a scratch-l set out for New
York to pick up any desirable domes-
tim worm that might not already be
caught, and that would agree not to
turn under the pink-heeled tyranny of
childhood.
On the way in | read feverishly
any columns that seemed promising
and arranged a sequence Of investi,
cations.
| rode ten blocks and climbed four
flights Of very gloomy, smelly stairs
into Sweden. | had been hopeful of
Sweden. | had heard that Swedish
girls were good girls. and even when
a square-built, muscular maiden came
out into the hall, closing the door
firmly behind her, | was only vaguely
alarmed. Through the odorous dark
| babbled to her of green fields and
1 NSOCu = Will plO4AlHSo VA al
dollars per week and Sunday out. She
listened until | was quite empty,
then
You Law in country"
Well, yes, it is called country. 1t is
really part of the city, you know, with
trains every few minutes-nearer in
fact, than many points of Harlem.
We
Il tank ! not go to country"
But what's the matter with the
country" | asked.
She reflected on the matter before
replying.
Il tank | get sack dere."
Sick? Why, the country's the place
to get we'll IN, How do you get
sick?"
This required still more reflection.
She had 10 think up something-some.
thing good and hard that would close
the interview.
Il tank | have palms," she an
nounceG, at last, and there was a note
in her accent that caused me to edge
a bit closer to the head of the
stairs.
"Ah, pains. AnG-eh, would you-
would you mind telling me where you
have these pains? have some med
ical knowledge-I-"
Il tank ! have Pains in my lags. |
tank | know | have ny rains. tank
know what | do, | tank l not go to
country"
But | was halfway down the top
flight by this time. acquiring speed
as | descended irto the mystery of
blackness below.
Maid Of Sweden. when we part,
Give me, please, a running start.
| murmured as / touched the bottom
and escaped into the soiied misery of
the iangl!ng street. That these be-
nighted creatures should prefer the
wretched, soulIess found and w~rangle
OF their present existence to the clean
bed and outlook offered them was
not easy to understand. But | was
in no mood to philosophize. made
my way to West Forty-third street
for an expedition into the Congo u
try.
~Pickaninnies with twisted bobbets of
hair infested the entrance to the
kraa's, and round black eyes shone
and lnred me along dark passages and
up winding stairs, Ring Rev. Med.
ders' bell was the instruction on n
advertisement at was presently
ushered into the geddars parlor. Then
the lady | had called to see entered.
and | gasped. SIZE was of the gold.
spectacle. chocolate variety, and
stylish no name. l could not at
once state my errand for admiring her
clothes. When did so she regarded
me with compassion, but with no sign
of favor. She spoke with a drawl.
"Oh, no. sab! couldn't go to tn
country, sah!"
"Ah. | see. You prefer the city
life"
Yes. sah-a,ways wuk in town.
'ceptin' when | goes to the country to
boahd, sab"
Vacation. | surnose?'
Yes, sab. When it's wahm, sab,
goes to the seasheah then. sah."
You wculdn't-eh-care to board
with us awhile now. | suppose?"
"Oh. no, sab. Too cold, sab. Much
too cold this time D. yeah, sah."
My wish was to tell her that there
was n place where 1t a warm
enough in all seasons, and that she
might go there. She, volunteered pres
emily to introduce me to some friends
belowstairs who might be willing to
consider my needs.
There was a sound of revelry as we
drew near the dim doorway below. 1t
ceased at our knock, and a moment
later the door opened to such an as
sortment of colofed society as ID had
been never my privilege to enter. My
expedition had reached darkest Africa
at a step. When she of the gold spec.
tacles announced my mission they
crowded about to listen and To re.
gard curiously the stranger from so
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