Golden Valley chronicle. (Beach, Billings County, N.D.) 1905-1916, 1910-11-04
re. There was no trace Of her


The police Informed Baxter that
some distance back Of Frascati there
Is Il village consisting Of 500 people.
$50 Of whom had been in Jail for one
ottense or another. When persons are
seen on the hill. especially foreigners,
the italian mounted police. riding two
together usually keep them in view.
that they may not be attacked by some
Of these jailbrds. The police assumed
that since Helen White had been up
there alone and had either been MUIR
dcred for what valuabcs she had
ahou, her or had been captured for
ransom NO ransom having been de-
! handed. there could he no doubt that
she had been murdered.
Indeed. there WAS no other altcrna-
tive 1t is seldom that the mystery Of
a disappearance is so satisfactorily
solved Baxter was obliged to be con-
tent With it. and the iIGXanlers. who
hid como to take Il strong sympathct-
ic interest i'll him. persuaded him to
divert his mind by making a brief tour
with them This. under the circum-
stances, was the best thing he could
do. Together they visited Florence.
Venice aud the lakes Of northern Italy.
These localities. new to Baxter. We're
admirably calculated to withdraw his
mind from the horror under which he
suffered. The quaint, medieval town
on the Arno. With it's treasures Of art;
the city Of water streets on the Adri-
atic where under the moonlight hun
dreds of gondolas filled with pleasure
seeking people congregate i'll sight of
the doge's palace and the lion Of st.
Marks to listen to music, were surely
calculated to draw the poison Of sor-
row and restore a normal condition.
Usually man who has lost mate
feels that something has been taken
away which he is eager to replace. To
supply this need Baxter turned to
Alice Alexander. Drawn to him
through sympathy. a girl of a kind
heart and high principle. she felt con-
strained hy both to do all in her power
to cause him to- forget the tragedy Of
his lost love.
Later one evening While seated in q
boat on Lake Alaggiori Baxter asked
Miss Alexander TO fill the void that
wife. She accepted. and their be
trothal was approved by the girls par
cnts Then after fortnight's ocean
trip together the couple reached home
and again took up the thread of or
binary life.
Just three months after Helen White
had sailed for Europe Baxter, who
had but recently returned. received a
letter from her saying that she would
be duo to arrive on the day he would
receive her letter
1t would be impossible to describe
the sensation of Il man in his position.
After taking time to right himself
from the effect of the squall that had
struck him he resolved to hear Helen's
story. then he guided by it in his fu-
turc course
When Helen White reached port and
did not find Joe Baxter on the deck to
receive her. her heart sank. She re-
membcred that when she had accused
him in case of her loss of replacing
her within six months he had respond
ed bantcringly. better make it three"
She. too. remembered that it was just
three months since her departure.
On the evening of her arrival Joe
called. He did not exhibit the relief
to be expected in one who had lost
and regained IL love: he did not take
her in his arms. bestowing caresscs in
place Of words checked by emotion.
He stood looking at her as if she had
returned from he spirit world
oh. Joe." she exclaimed.
'Explain
'1lavc YOU stood tho test 9"
What tcst:''
Joe, dear, what ! went away fol
WAS to test yon. You know l always
liked TO be certain of everything and
wished especially to be certain Of thu
man ] would marry. intended t.
disappear that you might show youl
constancy o, Joe. do tell me that yor
have been true"
Baxter continued to gaze at her, bu
there was nothing in his expression
from which she could derive any com
fort. Presently he said:
What became Of you after you were
, last seen ut Frascati?'
81 had a disguise with me which
put on, and. returning to Rome. took ;
train northward. have since been il
a small village in Switzerland
Suddenly the hard look he wore dis
appeared and was replaced by one o
sympathy.
You have made au awful nistakc.
She whitcncd and waited for him t,
go on.
You remember told you that Will
waiting to find a secure place OF
, which to step some one would sc
= ahead of you:"
. She sank in Il chair and covered he
;, face with her hands. Then suddenl.
: starting up and facing him. she said:
: Tell me all"