The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1916-02-17

ing the latter.
''Miss-Miss Burdenott," unused
Henry Clifford. IF Mrs. Rexford had
said Mrs. B~urdenott, / should say she
wa the nee Alice Thornton"
Miss Burdenott took Mr.. Clifford's
arm.
miss Burdenott," said the latter, by
way of opening the conversation, you
remind me of a friend l had some
years ago, and, were it not for your
name, | should believe you were the
same, allowing for changes wrought by
time"
He felt a slight quivering of the hand
resting on his arm, but did not attri-
butte its origin to what he said. With
out waiting a reply, he continued.
"Howcver, in features the likeness is
completes; but in the expression l can
see ome difference"
He ceased speaking, and receiving
no answer, he cast his eyes towards
her countenance, and noticed that it
was pale. Surprised, he changed the
subject. Soon after he surrendered
her arm to an acquaintance; but his
eye still wandered in her direction, and
his mind REQUIRED to the effect OF his
observations. Once or twice her ewes
met his, but she would instantly drop
them, or turn some other way.
be retired from Mrs. Rexford's
house, b%ewildered. During all of his
years OF absence he had not heard from
Alice Thornton, and he supposed that
she had long since become the wife of
another. Miss Burdenott's resem-
blance to his early love recalled the
past, and, but for the name, he would
have addressed her as his vet loved
Alice.
Moved by conflicting thoughts, he
entered his W room and threw him.
self in a chair.
"What if Alice repented of the course
she was pursuing when left? What if
she has waited all these years, hoping
for my return? But no, it cannot be.
len years is a long time. The thought
Is a chimera, and | will dismiss it as
such" were the reflections that coursed
through his brain.
The next day snow was falling. Ac-
customed to exposure and tired of his
confinement, after dinner he sauntered
forth. Everywhere enterprise had pro-
duced change. Dwellings had been
changed INTO huge warehouses.
He was thinking of the change when
a little hand was put before him and a
childish voice said: please give me
something to buy some Goals and some
thing to eat. Ma hasn't had anything
to eat since yesterday"
Casting down his eyes he beheld a
slight, frail figure scantily clothed.
Having a taste for adventure he in
CURED: where does ma livepn
Being informed, he told the little one
he would accompany her. Pleased with
his readiness. she moved off briskly.
He was conducted to a narrow street,
through a short alley, up two flights
Of stairs, and ushered into a room.
Scanning it hastily he saw that the
meagre furniture was tidy, and that a
woman, wasted by disease, was living
on q bed in one r No fire was
burning, and the room was cold and
cherries.
Taking out a piece of money, he
asked his little guide if she could go to
the nearest shop and order some wood
and coal, and something to eat, and
have them sent in Immediately. Wait
ing a few moments, the needed articles
arrived. and taking the wood. with his
own hands, he soon had a cheerful fire
blazing in the CRATE. He was on the
point of starting out in quest of a
physician when the door opened, and
another girl, evidently acouple of years
older than the one with him, entered,
accompanied by a muf1ed lady bear
ing a basket. The lady on beholding
a man bending in front of the CRATE, at
first drew back; but as he rose, she
recognized him, moved forward, and,
throwing off the hood of her cloak, ex-
claimed, "Mr. Clifford"
Miss Burdenott!" was the response.
A few words sufficed to explain that
the sick was one with whose
circumstances Miss Burdenott had be-
familiar, and had employed as a
seamstress. Miss Burdenott having
been away from the town some time,
and having returned only the day be-
fore, had not learned until that morn
ing of the woman's helpless condition.
Mr.. Clifford, with alacrity, procured
a physician, and when he returned the
sick woman was drinking a cup of tea.
After the departure of the physician,
and when the woman was comforta-
BILE, they took two of the four rickety
chairs, sat down by the fire and talked