Mexico Missouri message., 1909-08-26


He did not see that the man in the
carriage had turned and was looking
earnestly back at him.
A woman's light laugh foated back;
there was the scent of violet in the
air. Testers thoughts went back to
days which II was his constant en-.
deavor to forget She had had such
a laugh. and she had always about her
a faint odor of violets. 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 viii
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 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
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 live? asked Les
ter. Don't cry. I'll 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 viii
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 l ami"
The young woman screamed anG
ran down to the road.
"oh. Dolly, Dolly. you naughty
child"
Then as Lester drew rein, she saN
, his face You. John!"
Lester had turned white to the lips
, rs this your child?" he asked, his
| NOlSG
He had dismounted and held the
child in his arms. my child" she
= returned, impetuously. mo, John,
4 am not married. No" as Lester
made a movement toward her Mat
n tiers are unchanged but am going
to tell you what | would not before
because | did not want to appear al
trying to influence you to accept you
;, stepmother. She-is my sister. Sht
:, was married to your father while
was at France in school. ! did no
/. know for come time after I met yol
: that you we're her stepson. When /
was known to mel decided not Il
marry you. But now--well. Dolly 4
vour stepsister. She was left witt
i, me this morning while your fathe
u and my sister went for a drive witt
another member OF our party. Sud
denly she was missed-oh, | was s
u frightened-you father adores bel
and If anything had happened to he
8 and, oh, John, to think that 20
- found her!"
y Lester had stood rigid and whit
= during this explanation. his eyes o
the sweet face of the speaker.
3 Now he folded the little girl closel
in his arms and rested his chez
:, against hers.
. Il have been fool" he said, ters'
ly, "Ill tell my father and your SIT
y ter so. Is she as sweet as you, Alice
- Much nicer than |. Oh, John, you
o. father viii be SO happy to have 20
back"
a And you. Alice? WIN you have m
. now"
~ Yes, John"
- Lester laughed happily 81 muI
=, carry Dolly in Her foot must be a
a. tended to- She has hurt IT."
{" Dolly seemed TO thoroughly undo
- stand all that had been said. 81
p put her arms around Testers neck.