Montpelier examiner. [volume] (Montpelier, Idaho) 1895-1937, 1909-09-03


turned into the other road. but the
heeting glance he had of them told
him they were people from world
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 fioated back;
there was the scent of violet in the
air. Testers thoughts went back to
days which it was his constant en-
deavor to forget. She had had such
q 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 q half mile of the vii
| lage he reached a 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
a"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 ope?"
The little child looked up at him.
MY foot, 1t 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
O her ankle violently in walking over
l the rough stones Of the road.
j where do you liver asked Les
1 ter Don't cry, I'll take you home"
i Don't live here, we're at the hotel"
She stopped crying, and looked at
i Lester with the confidence which the
4 glance of his eyes and his smile al
ways won for him.
d AT the hotel? Well, my horse will
NJ take us there very soon" He lifted
v her in his arms, and placing her on
his saddle, sprang up behind her.
Y She belongs. no doubt, to those peo-
n pie that Morris said are staying over
a on account of the food" he thought.
II 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 we're 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
'h. ing on the veranda which ran around
gu the building Dolly called out as she
say her: Here | am! Here l ami"
so The young woman screamed and
-, ran down to the road.
~ "oh. Dolly, Dolly, you naughty
= child"
Then as Lester drew rein, she saw
Nd his face. you, John!"
~ Lester had turned white to the lips
~ rs this your child?" he asked, his
csc voice sharp.
He had dismounted and held the
child In his arms. MY child" she
,oI, returned, impetuously. mo, John,
"a am not married. No" as Lester
how made movement toward her. Mat
~ ters are unchanged but | am goinf
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. Sh
81. was married to your father while
~ WY was at France in school l did no
after | met YO
and KNOW loi LIN har stenson When i
neI was known to mel decided not t
MS marry YOU. But now-welt, Dolly
ihee vour stepsister. She was left wit
me this morning while your fathe
girl and my sister went for drive wit
another member of our party SUI
It denly she was missed-oh, | was s
year frightened-your father adores he
and II anything had happened to h'
ring and, oh, John, to think that yc
soiu found herr"
e OF Lester had stood rigid and viii
iting a,,n,na this exclamation his eyes {
icy the sweet face of the speaker.
WING Now he folded the little girl close
in his arms and rested his chez
.oU against hers.
say ~ have been a fool" he said, tiers
ly. "Ill tell my father and your s
lowly 1s she az sweet as YOU. Alice
was ..Hs,,ob nicer than oh. John. yo
es of s.4hon NH he an hanpv to have v
grad naa,,a
on a sN,d nou AHca9 Will Won have /
swing -.
was Yes John"
sniall Lester laughed happily. Il mi
gloom Ho,,,, in uer font must he
' fiat -, - che bas hurt II
" na' Dolly seemed to thoroughly und
~ ne stand all that had been said