The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1919-11-13
CHAPTER VII.

TO write you OF my experiences, ant
what they did to me. Wen, | have
kept my promise. And it has not beer
easy TO tell you. | would have liked
to keep this year hidden from you, o
all people on earth; and from YOU
father. But it would not be honest tc
do Sc. You were always strong FOL
honesty, Rose. | don't mean only be
cause you may not care to write &c
me again. There is something else.
have just TOLD you how Milo Valdez
said it was the duty OF every citizen
Of the republic to repeat the story OF
David Noel's generosity to everyone
who would listen. Rose, / have d queer
feeling-no logic to it-just a feeling
that it would not be honest to Noel
to conceal from you his kindness to
me. / don't know whether any one
else could understand that feeling;
] know you will. | am a worm and
you are a FREELY, but we have some
mental meeting places, maven we?
II have been in this house a month,
now. 1t is three weeks since Noel
came home for the first time after
bringing me here, was at work with
Milo Valdez, in the evening, when I
looked up to see Noel in the doorway
watching US. Since then, he treats
me almost as he does Valdez"
Corey Bruce Strengthened IL his
chair with an unwarranted change of
color and pulled a blotter over the
letter on the desk before him.
Il did not heas you come in, Dom
David" he stap,mered, with that guilty
embarrassment upon him which usu-
ally oyertakes a man when found
speaking OF another, however inoffen-
s;yely.
Noel sank into a chair opposite the
desk, motioning the other nan to keep
his position.
Il am interrupting you," he re-
marked perfunctorily. "You were
writing a letter, l see"
"Yes. A letter home. You see, it
is a year since, SINCE"
"a gear since your family heard of
you?"
Bruce facied he detected disapproval
in the tone. A flush colored his thin
face, he had the transparent com
plexion corresponding with his red
hair, rendered more transparent by his
long confinement. He neryously took
off his glasses and replace them be-
fore replying.
"Oh, really meanth North he ex-
n1utrnd OF II nvnyttWo bo~,, t., tIo ;-t;
mate sense. No parents living. No
brothers or sisters. A cousin and
everyone has relations more or less
distant or Indifferent, | suppose, but
they hardly make a home"
II have no kin at ALL" Noel stated.
He took a cigar from a humidor on the
resk, looking at 1t ~abstractedly. Most
men have, Of course Your first name
is a family name, is it not7"
yes, my mothers family name was
Corey
Noel continued to look at the cigar
he had taken, without lighting 1t.
yes? You are a New Yorker, I
think you said?"
"a Philadelphia, Dom David"
Bruce corrected. But there are
branches Of both sides OF our family
In New York, both Bruces and Coreys."
yes, / thought that pnsaihIe."
Struck by some indefinable signifi-
in his companions tone. Bruce
peered at him, hesitating. Noel lifted
his gray eyes to the inquiring brown
ones for a moment. seeming to scru.
ttniZe his features in a search for some
vague resemblance. II he found what
he sought, he said nothing. He re-
turned his attention to the cigar with
out comment, yet the CLEAN Of a new
idea enlighted Bruee's vision. Noel
was, or had been a New Yorker; he
himself had said SO.
"Did--do you perhaps know some of
my people at homer he wondered.
Perhaps said Noel. II was about
to ask you that question. No doubt
there are q good many people OF that
D9me in the city, yet 1t is possible
that did know--your family. There
was, perhaps still is, a brownstone
house on OF the avenues; d house
that used to have a large aquarium
IN afront window"
followed the lead. "Why, yes. NY.
father VAS born there"
Ahg There was a little girl named
Constance Bruce who lived there
once
MY cousin! Yes. You knew them,
then m