Dewey County advocate. [volume] (Timber Lake, S.D.) 1910-1913, 1912-08-23

panelcd wall, making an unsubstan'
tial background for the slender form
Of girl gowned in gauzy, black: "A
pink rose nestled in her bosom and
her fair face set in its frame Of
misty dark hair looked like another
rose.
So Martha's story was true! The
fair Rosamond Of the picture had
stepped down from her frame and
come to fcproach him-for what
For buying her old home, Of course
he told himself as he, stared at hel
with fascinated eyes.
All at once he realized that she
was staring back at him in fright.
cncd way. Her hand moved! II
flew up to her white throat with {
gesture Of great fear!
Ills picture was alive!
"Don't be frightened, Miss Rosa.
mond," he heard himself saying
gently.
"Ohw cried the apparition, turn.
ing as if to flee.
~Plcasc stay thought you were
a ghost or something /" he went on
still sitting there. "OId Martha hat
been telling stories to me-"
The girl sighed audibly.
81 apologize most humbly," she
said in a low, sweet voice that thrill
cd him. @You must not blame old
Martha-I begged her to let me
come in for few minutes. There
was no light and we thought you had
gone to bed"
Gladwin arose and wheeled anoth-
CT chair to the fire. He tossed on
some pine splinters and another log
and turned to her with a charming
gesture of hospitality.
81 am sure yon will rest q little
WHILE" he said courteously.
ooh, thank you," she hesitated
and then swept forward and sank
into the chair.
Gladwin saw that she was indeed
fash and blood. He easily guessed
that she must be the daughter Of
that fair Rosamond Dilly, who had
eloped with her lover and displeased
her stern parent.
Il am Rosamond Mallory" sale
the girl with a quick upward look Al
the portrait of her mother now Wis
ihle in-the candle-liglt- Claawin hai
produced. To-day is,my birthday
and I wanted to. come back to thu
old home and look at her pictur,
just once more. Grandmother doe.
now know-she would be Mortified
at such an act. She doesn't under
stand how l feel about it. I'neve1
knew my mother, but I love hel
memory SO dearly"
Gladwin's own eyes dimmed. He,
too, had never known his mother
and he understood the yearning fol-
mother hands and mother heart to
learn upon.
II know" he said hoarsely, and
she glanced at him and knew that
he understood. s'It is very good of
you to tell me all this, and now, if
You will honor me by remaining
here as long as you please, l will
send Martha to you at once"
! She held out her hand, a firm
pink flesh and blood palm that he
covered in his own large grasp.
II thank you sincerely, Mr.. Glad
win," she said simply. II am sure
grandmother will be glad to meet
you; of course, you know it hurt US
to part with the old place, but I feel
differently now that I have met
YOU"
"You are very good" murmured
Gladwin as he bent over her hand.
"Some day when Mrs. Dill is able to
receive visitors I will ride over to
Fairlawn."
When he left the room Rosamond
was looking at the portrait of her
mother with the same. tender gaze
that the painted Rosamond bent
upon her daughter.
He found q badly frightened
Martha lingering outside the door,
but when he treasured her and sent
her into the library with a tray Of
refreshments for the unexpected Wis
itor, she smiled gratefully at him
and thereafter was devoted to him.
In time Gladwin's other dreams
came true. Into his lonely life there
came a.beautiful love story, and the
painted lady in the picture smiled
tenderly down upon Gladwin and his
wife, Rosamond, and their children,