The Mellette County pioneer. [volume] (Wood, Mellette County, S.D.) 19??-1971, 1913-01-03

establishing the authenticity, nrst, Oh
the entire second gospel and second
OF the ten doubtful verses in the nj
teenth chapter. Ny work is now &C
compished-for all time. believe
From the inception OF what | con
sidered my life mission. made the re
solve to bequeath TO Agatha Shaw
whatever manuscripts or other mate
I rial OF value my work should lead me
). to accumulate. together with this
! house. in which | have spent all the
later years Of my life. You are Aga
tha Shaw's only child. therefore to
me foster-child.
Another reason. four years ago. led
, mo 10 confirm my former testament
From time 10 time have informed
myself concerning your movements
and fortunes The work You have
chosen my dear Agatha. can but be-
here 70 be fraught with unusual dan
gers 10 a young woman. Therefore
| hope that this home. modest as X
is. may tempt you 10 an early retire
ment from the stage, and lead you to
more private and womanly career
This make only as a request, not as
condition. bid you farewell, and
give you my blessing.
Faithfully yours
HERCULES THAYER"
Agatha Redmond folded the thin
sheets carefully. There was mist in
her gaze as she looked of toward the
distant city lights.
Dear old gentleman His whole
love-story. and my mothers too, per.
haps'" Her quickenCd memory re-
called childish impressions Of visit
"a large country house and OF n
solemn old mamie seemed incredibly
ancient TO her-and OF feeling that In
some way she and her mother were In
q special relationship to the house. IL
was called she old red house" and
was full OF fascinating things The
ancient man had hidden her go about
and play as II IL were her home. and
then had called her 70 him and laid
open book leading her mind 10 re
gard It's mysteries. Greek, II seemed
20 her as IL she had begun II there
and then. Later the mother became
the teacher. She was uursed, as II
were. within sight Of the windy plains
Of Troy and 20 the sound OF Homeric
hymns-and all By reason of this
ancient scholar.
There was n vivid picture In her
mind, gathered al some later visit. Of
a soft hillside. small white church
standing under its balm-of.gilcad tree,
and herself sitting by stone in the
old churchyard listening TO the strains
Of a hymn which ioated ont from the
high. narrow windows. She remem.
berei how from without she had
Joined the hymn, singing with all her
small might; and suddenly the asso-
citation brought hack 70 her more
recent event and more beautiful
strain OF music. Half in reverie. half
in conscious pleasure in the exercise
of facilc organ. che began To sing:
"Frec Of my pain f,ec OF my burden %
sorrow.
~ las; shall sec thee
The song noatod In zone OF 81.
lcnce that lay above the deep,mur.
murinc city The voice was no moro
than the half.voice OF q flute. sweet.
gentle. beg,liling. Il told. as many
songs tell, of little earthly Love in the
grasp Of mighty Fate. Still she sang
on softly.
Suddenly the song ceased. and the
reminiscent smile gave place 10 an
expression OF surprise. as the singer
became conscious OF n deeper shadow
falling directly in front of her. She
Glanced up quickly, and found herself
locking into the face OF man whose
gimlet.like gaze was directed upon
herself
Quickly she rose, she could not
turn into the path before the gentle
man. hat in hand. with deep bow and
clearly enunciated words. arrested her
impulse to flight
Pardon. Mademoiselle. I am n
Granger in the city. | was directed
this way 10 Van Cortlandt Hall, but
find am in error. intrigued-in con-
fusion. Would mademoisele be so
good as TO direct me-
The tones had a foreign accent
There Was something. also. in their
bland impertinencc which put Miss
Redmond on her guard He was a
cccd.sizcd. blond person. carefully
dressed. and at least appeared like
q gentleman.
Miss Redmond looked into. the
smooth. neat countenauce. upon which
no record either Of experience or OF
THOUGHT was engraved. and decided
ceetingly that he was lying. She
Judged him capable OF picking up &C
opaintances on the street. but thought
that more originality might be ex-
pected OF him
Suddenly she wished that she had
returned sooner to her car. for though
she was of an adventurous nature. her
bravery was not Of the physical order: