The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1919-05-16
A BROKEN LIFE
-
BY ALLEN cHAMPNEY.
1919. BY Western Newspaper Union.

"You would know If you spent m
evening in her company! Rightfully
she is Miss Naomi Winters. but in a
casual way the other appelative has
become common. You may wonder at
1t, for she is not only beautiful but
rich. Her eccentricities are constant
and numerous, and young as she Is
they say she has a satire and sar-
casm at command that would make a
star Of an old Grecian pessimistic
philosopher. Some deep disappoint-
ment must have ruffled the fair ur-
face of her life, for she Is a consist
ent man hater and her apt ridicule
Of sham, pretense and affectation has
not made her at all popular"
The speakers stood at a window OF
the lobby of the hotel at Walford, re-
garding a queenly appearing lady who
was just passing by.
They casually discussed her and
turned away, but a man of about thlr-
ty who had stood directly behind them
moved closer to the window. There
was something more than interest In
his face-a token OF deep emotion
and a thoughtful expression were In
his eyes as he remained staring blank
ly out on the street. He had become
a guest at the hotel and registered as
Randall Paxton hat morning. At the
end Of a protracted reverie he turned
away with q deep sigh.
TbD 1oL,, 1,,ho u-oc tho phinpf IF oil
this attention was life in harmony, to
outward seeing, with the designation
that had been awarded her. Her face,
though smileless, almost severe was
perfect in its contour. Her eyes, which
at times were s~cornful or naughty,
when In repose bore q ~half-hidden
sadness that told Of some secret sor-
row
A storm Of censure and disapproval
greeted, her when she selected Alice
Wade as her maid. A member Of a
} family poor, obscure, the father OF
which was a %drunkard, herself a de-
serted wife, Alice had been Stunned,
despised. With rare human. pity
Miss Winters took her up, lifting 4
depressed soul from gloom to sunshine
and winning a devotion and love that
was almost pathetic.
It was Alice who knew OF countless
deeds of charity done by her mistress
In secret. 1t was she who knew that
In her dark moody moments Miss
Winters shut herself up in a room
oryo x}citnd NV nthnNc II xx,o AlirQ
who knew that her young mistress
had loved and lost, embittering her
life In the present.
The stranger at the hotel for three
nights in succession passed some time
In the vicinity Of the house where
Miss Winters lived. He was rather
mysterious In his actions. He evaded
pedestrians and never left his hotel
during daytime. One evening he was
near to the Winters home, when Alice
was hurrying towards the house. AS
she passed a hedge a rough looking
man sprang into view and caught her
arm.
Its me, my pretty, your rowing, un-
fortunate husband. l hear you've got
a Job where there's lots Of money and
jewels. You've got to get me some"
Il wouldn't give you a penny II you
were %starving!" protested Alice and
broke away. The man started after
her. Paxton interviewed, knocked him
senseless with a single blow, and hu--
ried the girl homewards.
There, you are safe" he said. "and
II that miscreant troubles you again
Just call the police. Why! what Is
that?" as a thunderous sound emanat-
ed from the house, startling, alarming.
Something has happened. Oh, my
young mistress !" palpitated Alice, and
she rushed into the house, followed by
Paxton. Into the wing room Alice
dashed. At Its threshold for an in
slant Paxton paused. A part Of the
ceiling had fallen and Miss Winters
lay insensible on the floor amid its de-
bris. This was the room where Miss
Winters spent SO many hours Of medi.
tation In solitude. Upon a table In the
corner was a framed photograph. mar
velously resembling the young man.
some trifles Of jewelry, q faded
bouquet, evidently love mementos of q
far past.
Paxton's face was colorless. He quiv.
cred like 4 strong tree shaken by a
tempest as he lifted Miss Winters ten
derby, carried her to a couch in the next
room and telephoned for q physician.
A great aspiration OF relief swept his
lips as an hour later Alice came to
him and informed him that the doctor
reported Miss Winters only Temporal.
rily stunned. Alice looked agitated as
she glanced at the photograph and
then at the stranger.
"You are the man !" she spoke In a
low. intense tone.
you mean, an old friend OF Miss
Winters, whom she has remembered p
replied Paxton. "Yes. / was her at
flanced husband. A scheming sister
plotted to prove to me that she loved
another. l left home a broken-heart-
ed %wanderer. Only a few months
since learned NJ tho cr1pl nf |