The enterprise-recorder. (Madison, Fla.) 1908-1933, 1910-09-15

sure. though she, herself could tel
him nothing of her early life, that
the nail girl had been stolen from
her home in hope Of rich reward
Yet, she was happy here, rejoicing
IN the flowers and the sunlight,
The boy, lying beside big, swarthy
Joe. the cneftains oldest son, night
after night, stared at the stars
through a rift within the tent, dream
ing OF this child,
After many months Of Joyous COM
radeship Of care-frce life in sun ana
wind, the great terror came. They
were riding along through the valley
ND hill and down dale, thinking no
harm imagining no evil, when the
! deep fear burst full force upon them
/ The Rose and Carl were lettering be-
| hind the vans, singing, when sudden
] ly the girl raised her nower-crowned
I head, and the boys gaze followed
/ hers.
4 gentleman on horseback, having
! ridden for some time unobserVed, was
I close upon them now 1t was up INTO
his eyes that the girl was staring
with that startled apprehension. Inc
boy saw, in n fash, the clue to her
strange lovelincss, the Rnship was
past question. It was self evident the
man had likewise seen It, lie sat,
rigid. thunderstruck, his hands
clutching the pommel Of his saddle,
his keen eyes wild,
Help, he gasped, "help," and Carl
caught him as he fell.
Little Rose brought water from a
noighboring spring and restored him.
lie said nothing, offered no e&plana'
titn, did this distinguished gentle
man, but when he handed Carl tiny
gold case, the boy, with the opening
Of the tiny clasp knew all. The eyes
Of little Rose gazed out from a tangle
Of golden curls, even ii the low cut
velvet gown and the twisted strings
Of pearls seemed far remote from
what be knew of her
1T was her mother" said the gen
tleman. 1T seems she's come again"
Her mother! The boys heart
leaped with sudden buoyant gladness
and then went black within. Her
mother! 1t was like the wondrous
fairy tales, the romance Of the folk
lore, this uniting Of the lost and
wronged But, o, it meant the sever.
ing Of the friendship! Her mother!
Yes, and her father too!
But even now, the band would
reach them in a minute, threatening,
aggressive and at war. In a moment
they would claim their own and van
ish, lost in the circling ma2es Of the
hills, He had but to call, and Little
Rose and old freedom and old dreams
were his again.
But Joe, the big Indian, stealing
on their path, had witnessed all the
scene and guessed at once its full
and striking purport
He spoke with all the conviction Of
a king, You go at once" he said.
You go unframed, But IL you follow
or make cry OF this, the worst will
come, You know US and our ways"
o, tho bitter nights the boy lay
tossing on his bed, arguing with him
self, endeavOring to forget. To for
get that it was his inability, his in
difference, his callous selhshness
that had cheated this brave father Of
his right But, thanks to the stern
Teuton Of his character the best in
him prevailed, and, traitor to the
camp, he restored the girl to her own.
1t was while travelling through the
ReisenGal that above an entrance to
vast estate he associated the en-.
craven coat-of.arms with perfect sure.
ty with the delicate tracery Of the
miniature, Baron Won Stroben's
lands" one said, and now the way
was clear.
The professors eyes, still soft with
old day dreams, came back from the
still deepening Of the dusk, and he
fingered thoughtfully the manuscript
Yes; he had proved loyal to his trust
had given up the Little Rose and
bowed his head to right. The conflict
had been fierce and long, but he had
S won!
There was a rustlng Of the cur.
tains at the door, but still the man
dreamed on. 1t was only when two
hands closed over his eyes that sud,
denly he raised his hands to silver
. curls above him and smiled in new
content, Dear Little Rose-my wife
), I've been thinking Of you"