The Ordway new era., 1912-12-27

"You know, father, it worried me
told me much about yourself aha
mother. before ! could remember.
thought maybe,-perhaps it was my
home. long time ago; the man 1908
ed so much like you. and the Little
girl wore ring just like mine. Was
it all dream, or was part of>u
faint memory of our home before we
came here? You said once that you
had not always lived in lu"ber
camps"
Her father smiled wanely and said:
mo, dear, ! have not. but that was
only a dream, just a fancy. SO run
along now and don't worry any more.
If | had ever had home like that.
do you think we would ever have left
it," He kissed her and put her off
his knee.
An right. daddy. | am almos, glad
it was just a dream: it has worried
me lot"
After she had gone to her room
he st aaolnmgcit bouctaoin caoin
he sat a lone time thinking:
Eyes. it is better she does not
know. unless it is all cleared up some
day; then | can tell her. Yet how
strange it is. that she has retained.
so distinctly. the memory OF that last
Christmas. spent in her once happy
home
The mex, morning was clear and
cold. The snow was so deep that
upon his trip for days. and perhaps
weeks. Neither Vivian nor Norris
objected to this enforced delay. for
they were beginning to enjoy each
Others company very much. She
seemed to possess most powerful
attraction for him. and he seemed to
draw her to him by a strange instinct.
she knew not what.
Days and weeks PASSED. then
month and nearly two. Norris had
learned to love the dark eyed. dusky
haired girl of the cabin. with her
fragile beauty and natural refinement.
He felt he could well be proud of
her in his beautiful home: his mother
had she livcd-would have loved her
he knew: and certain young lady
would be sorry she had been SO care
less. To his intense happiness. and
almost unbelicf. he found that his
love was returned. But Vivian re-
fused definite answer. until he had
asked her fathers consent. This
Young Norris did manfully. saying
that he meant to take his wife back
to his home in the states" where
she would have every comfort and
luxury that money could buy.
eff it will make my daughter hap
pier. although it will break my heart
to give her up. | have no objection"
the father answered. but he seemed to
grow older by years at the very
thought.
"Why need you give her up. why not
go with u.s." The young man held
out his hand to the broken father.
81 should be more than glad to
have you both" he continued. But
the father remained silent, then sud
denly he spoke:
young man. want to tell you
an old, old story. and you may believe
it or not. My daughter was born in
a home of wealth and position: her
mother was OF on, or ;he be,t l" mt
| have a long. and lonorcd line OF an
ccstors behind me. | had large bus
cessful, but when our little Vivian was
about three years old. large sum
of money was gotten away with.
knew where it went. but hoping that
it would be cleared up. did not he
tray my friend. Then. like bolt
from clear sky. the guilt was liked
on me. They told me they would
keep it out of the courts. If would
leave the city. Knowing that trial
would bring to light the real default
CIR, and my wife were willing to bear
the shame, as long as we had each
other and our child. We came here
to the hills, but shock and change OF
climate was too much Tor my wife:
who was always rather delicate. and
she died in few months. Heartbro-
ken. Vivian and | came down mere to
the lumber camps and ! soon entered
this partnership. My name is not
Dan Ransom but it does quite as we'll
here" He was silent without further
comment. The young man thought
deeply for few moments, then he
said:
II believe your story from beginning
to end, but may ask what your real
name is, and in what city such sad
misfortune befell your The old man
drew himself up proudly:
81 have told you my story; you say
Won believe it. then you know you
will not we'd dcfaultcr's daughter.
MY identity have kept a secret. even
from her; are you not satishcd:
81 have a reason, and an honorable
one, for asking, what appears to you
10 be an impudcnt question. and that
reason l will give you. and then you
may do as you like. A very similar
case occurred about seventeen years
ago, in my home city. Two years ago
the real dcfaulter died. leaving a con-
ics sion and request that, il posi-
bic, the innocent man be found. Since
then every effort has been made to
locate him; but it SENS he has disap-
pcarcd from the face of the earth.
\fter hearing your story. ! thought
it possible that had found the lost