The Red Cloud chief., 1913-03-27


She could not remember, in
years, so weak compromise off cred
her conscience.
But she felt a sense of respite, al.
most relief. once having decided, and
she recovered her composure enough
to go to her chamber and bathe her
eyes. While she was thus engaged
she heard a knock. "lt Is he," she
said quietly; well. the sooner the bet.
ter"
1t was he; he had come earlier than
he expected, he explained; he was
most grateful for Miss Wings kind
message. He looked like his uncle, as
the members of a family will look
alike. He was not so tall; he was not
80 handsome. Perhaps most people
would call him more graceful. And
his English was faultless; he must
have spoken 1t from his childhood. In
the midst Of his first sentences. be-
fore they had permitted him to take a
chair, his eyes travelled paSe Miss
Wings face. She perceived tk<t he
saw the picture; she knew that she
grew pale; but, to her amazenent, o
calm like the calm which had wrapped
her senses on the day Of her finding
the picture. closed about her again.
II beg pardon?" said he.
"Yes, that Ia Count Won Buffers por.
trait" said she, in clear voice. with.
out emotion. He was not so com.
posed. "Then It was you," he said.
Following her example. he took q
chair and looked earnestly at the pic.
tured face. when Miss Raimund
spoke OF you SO warmly. I noticed
that the name was the same, and I
determined to inquire. but It seemed
to me unlikely. Yet it Is. Miss Wing.
I have message to you. from my un-
cle."
II was with him when he died"
That was a strange thing to hear
when the message Of his uncle's death
had come to him in another country:
she hoped that her brain was not go
ing to play her false.
1T was fifteen years ago last July.
you know. never knew how many
details you received, or only the bare
fact in the papers"
Fifteen years! fifteen years! What
was that date he was giving? That
was the day on which she sailed for
America, the day after-what was that
story he was telling Of a visit and q
fire and a child rescued and an &C.
cident? But still she listened with the
same iron composure. Tho next
words she heard distinctly.
1T was like him to lose his life
that way; and he did not grudge 1t.
Yet 1t was hard that should be the
only one Of his blood with him. He
could speak with difficulty when he
told me to take lock Of hair and his
signet ring to you. He dictated the
address. himself. to me. You must be
sure and take it, he said. 1t is to
the lady that hoped would be my be-
trothed; you must tell grandmamma
about it, too. She has my picture and
she knows--but tell her'-and then. I
think his mind must have wandered q
little. for he smiled brightly at me. say.
ing, I'll tell her myself and then tho
doctors came. He said nothing more.
only once, they told me, he murmured
something about his betrothed. But
had the ring; he took 1t of his finger
and kissed 1t and gave 1t to me. Child
as I was. knew that 1t was sacred.
wrapped 1t in the paper. and after
ward I put the lock Of hair beside 1t.
So soon as could. I went to Heidel.
berg, to the pension. You had gone
and there was no address. no trace"
T left my address with the coun-
tess"
"My aunt Is Dead" said the young
German gravely. II would not criti.
cize her. but she had her own choice
Of wife for my uncle; I do not think
one could trust her with addresses"
I'VE all gave ours to her to give to
Frau Muller"
you. My grandmother also tried. But
you were gone. thought Of the
banks, long after. but found moth.
ing. Often 1t has seemed dreadful
that you should learn Of this only
through the papers. But I could not
tell whether-anything. When came
to America. confess 1t was always In
my mind. always carried my un.
cle's little packet with me. I Hill
have It sent to you."
Excuse me-" said Miss Wing gent.
ly. "Will you please bring me the
glass OF water-I-am afraid can't
walk to It,"
But she would not let him pour the
water on his handkerchief to bathe
her head. She slipped the water. and
very pale. but quite herself, brought
him back to his own matters. She
found that 1t was a cousin, miscalled
an uncle. in the German manner. who
had died. It did not seem to her that
Max's nephew could be unworthy OF
any girl; yet she conscientiously ques.
toned him regarding his worldly AT.
fairs, for Florence was an only daugh.
ter whose father had great posses.
sions and q distrust Of adventurers,