American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1914-12-24
Loopyright, I0IA. by HArold M.ooraihl

chhtsSs we're In bed, where the ruler
OF the school confined them after 900
1t was at his m that she heard
the t~hunderous knocking at the door
The old maid felt her heart stor
beating for a moment. Who could II
be. at this time OF night? Then tn,
thought came swiftly that perhaps the
parent OF some one OF her charges was
Ill and this was the Still,
Ing her fears. she went resolutely to
the door and opened 1t.
Who is it," she called.
No one answered. She cupped her
hand to her ear She could hear he
clatter OF horses dimly.
Well" she exclaimed; rather an
grily, too.
She was In the act OF closing the
door when the light from the hall dis.
covered to her the bundle on the
steps. She stopped and touched II.
Good heavens, it's a child"
She picked the bundle up. A whim,
per came from It, a tired little wbim.
per OF protest. She ran back to the
reception room. A founding. And
on her doorstep!. II was incredible.
What In the world should she do? IL
would create a scandal and hurt the
prestige of the school. Some one had
mistaken her select private school
for a farmhouse. 1t was frightful.
Then she u%nwrapped the child. II
was about a year old. dimpied and
golden haired. A thumb was in It's
rosebud mouth and It's blue eyes
looked up trustfully into her own.
why. you cherub!" cried the old
maid, a strange turmoil In her heart.
She caught the child TO her breast, and
then for the first time noticed the
thick envelope pinned TO the child's
cloak. She put the baby into a chair
and broke open the envelope.
Name this child Florence Gray.
VIII send annually "a liberal sum for
her support and reclaim her on her
eighteenth birthday. The other half
oil the Enclosed bracelet will identify
me. Treat the girl well. for | shall
watch over her In secret"
Into the fixed routine of her hum.
drum life had come a mystery. a tan.
taiizing. fascinating mystery. She had
read or f%oundlings left on doorsteps
from paper covered novels conis.
Gated from her pupIls-but that one
should be placed upon her own re-
spectacle doorstep! Suddenly she
smiled down Mt the child and the
child smiled back. And there was
nothing more to be done except to
bow before the DEGREES of fate. Like
all prim old maids. her heart was full
OF unrequlted romance. and here was
something she might spend its floods
upon without let or hindrance. Al.
ready she was hoping that the man or
woman who had left II might never
back.
The child grew. Regularly each
year. upon a certain date. Miss Farlow
a registered letter with
money. These letters came from all
parts OF the world; always the same
always the same line-"I am !
watching"
Thus seventeen years passed; and
% Susan Farlow each year seemed
shorter than the n before. For she
the child with all her heart. She
lad no trained young girls all these ,
ears without becoming adept In the
- w a''N'hb ~ tiut clEHb vi DTttu- -
There was no ordinary blood In y
florence; the fact was emphasized =.
" her exquisite face. her small hands
ma feet, her spirit and g~entleness. =
md now. at any day. some one with a d,
'roken bracelet might come for her. :
- the days went on the heart OF Su- !
In Farlow grew heavy.
Never mind. aunty." said Florence; i,
I shall always come back to see you" :.
She meant It, poor child: but how :
as she "a know the terrors which lay :,
eyond the horizonY -
The house OF Stanley Hargreave. :,
Rverdale, was tho house OF nc or. -
mary rich man. Outside II was sim. ~
enough, but within you learned :
hat kind of a nan Hargreave was.
we're rare Ispahans and Saruks >,
A the floors and tapestries on the y
alls. and here and there n fine paint -
4. The library itself represented . VI
rtune. Money had been laid out !,
vlshiy but never wastefully. II vas y
% home of \ scholar. \ dreamer. . !.
traveller, .,
In the library stood the master of the G
ouse. idly lingering some papers :
hich lay on the study table. He =
at some unpleasant thought !.
ettied his overcoat about his shout =
era, took up his hat. n walked from !.
10 room, frowning slightly. The but .
,r. who also acted In h capacity or !.
alet. always within cali when HIS '
,aster was about, stepped swiftly to :
ne hall door and opened II. '
IL may be out late. JONES'" said :
iargreave. =.
Yes. sir" .
Hargreavs stared into his face keen :
y. AZ II trying to pierce the grave '
ace to learn what was going on be-
lind Il. i' r :