Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1918-07-18
The
Better Way
tcopyright. 1915. western Newspaper Unson.l
BY JESSIE ETHEL sHERWlN

lily rooted on the rubbish neap, an
ethereal being nurtured among people
Of the coarsest mold, with an environ
ment distinctly of the slums and all
the misery, want and ignorance. that
there unto appertained.
Claribel, they named her, and she
had called old Jacob Roche "grandfa-
ther' as far back as she could remem-
Der. He allowed her to grow up like a
weed.
To the children of the city grouped
about the wretched settlement she had
become champion, guide and leader.
Somehow she had learned to read. and
for doing some errands for an old book
store proprietor she had been given
dozen tattered picture volumes and
fairy stories, and after that she was
educator and entertainer for her little
ragged friends.
1t was q matter of marvel and myS-
terry for Claribel when, one day, her
grandfather announced to her that they
were about to part, and pointing to the
little den of a closet where she slept,
informed her there were some new
clothes for her.
''Why have we got to part, grand
father, and am | to leave here for
good?" she asked.
"And forever, and forget you ever
knew me, or Cassidy Corners, or that
you were ever called Claribel. 1t isn't
your name, it never was, and it will all
be explained to you little further on"
Never in her life had Claribel owned
a pretty gown until now. Some femi
nine taste had selected gown shoes.
hat, ribbons, gloves, tasteful and apprO~
pirate. Even the eyes of old Jacob
sparkled at her transformation as he
placed about her neck chain and
locket
you must never lose that" he told
her. II found it on you when l picked
you up on a doorstep"
"But why was | put on a doorstep,
and why don't you tell me more about
myself?" asked Claribel, but old ia
cob simply added that she was going
to a lady who would do all that when
the right time came.
There ensued for Claribel year of
wonder and rare comfort. Old Jacob
had taken her to a widow named Mrs.
Dover. There Claribel found Dan
Chesley, who claimed to be her broth
er, and whom she had often seen i'll
close secret confab with old Jacob.
The man was sinister looking, the
woman Claribel disliked intuitively,
but she was away at school most of
the time.
1t. was when Claribel had learned
to write that she sent a letter to a
person she had known in her days of
poverty This was Stanley Dorr, a
poor musician, young man who had
more than once played his violin for
the little group Claribel had fostered.
She had never forgotten him. He was
poor like herself and she had grown
to like him, She directed the letter to
his old lodgings, telling him of her new
life but did not receive any answer
Then one day through her presence
in an adjoining room, unsupported by
Mrs Dover and CheSley she was en-
lightened as to the reason for her be-
ing with them He whom she had
called grandfather had died. When
she left him he seemed to have mystic
riously obtained large funds from some
source and made life continuous
feast until it overcame him.
And now Claribel learned that her
supposed grandfather knew no more Of
/ thon hnpealf (thnc1au
had formed scheme to adapt Clari-
bel to an imposture that would make
her an heireSS. \ very wealthy man
named Robert Dorr had quarreled with
both of his children. The eldest,
daughter, had married against his will
and he had banished her. She and
her husband had died in the South,
their child later In an orphan asylum,
it was supposed.
The two specious schemers had
hoped to foist Claribel on the old man
as his granddaughter. They had Sc
cured certain belongings Of the dead
child had framed up plausible evil
dence. They intended first to obtain
rich reward for the recovery Of the
child from Robert Dorr and later use
Claribel to eXtOrt money from.
The moment Claribel had overheard
all this she knew that Robert Dorr
was the father Of her musician friend.
Into her quick mind came a decision
to cater to the fraud, and later-she
had her plan, clever little counter plot
| fer that she was!
The old man accepted her with eager
ness and affection. Within q month
she was his hearts delight. Gradual
" Claribel learned Of the details Of
his senseless quarrel with his banished
son. Through an agent she had STAN
lev Dorr hunted up. His father was
stupefed one day to enter the library,
to find his son and Claribel awaiting
him.
In maze he listened to her con-
fession, with a softening heart he
realized his injustice to his son, Clar-
ibel had outwitted the human ghouls