The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1920-03-18
The TWICE AMERICAN
By ELEANOR NJ. INGRAM

he cOuiu not allOtn lne tilHe. ne
called taxicab Before the house,
he bade it wait.
Again he climbed the high steps
and crossed the hall paved with
squares OF black and white. Urged
by a vague impulse. less OF hope than
OF recollection. Noel assembled the
stairs and knocked at the door which
had been that of the Arloffs. He re-
ceiyed no reply TO the summons; had
scarceiS expected 10 receive any. He
turned the knob.
The door drifted open. revealing
the blank vacancy of his last visit;
the visit so firmly ended by Milo Val
Gez There was no change in the
place; no relenting. no return. He
told himself that he had anticipated
nothing else. yet disappointing
gr:pped and SHOOK him. Dis
appointment and something Of awak
ening anger What had he done, after
all to be treated SO hardly What
right had she to these imperial ways?
Had he rot offered her what other
women why deny fact - had
sought without disguise of their
eagerness? Yet nothing, not u word!
His angry gaze turned toward the
mantel shelf with memory Of the
gift rejected. He was not soothed to
see the French doll still there after
these months: still extending it's
bisque arms ;,s if TO display a brace
let of pale blue ribbon around it's left
wrist But now he say that in
the dolls lap lay some white bulk,
half covered by a small handkerchief.
He had not noticed that on his former
visit He walked over TO see an odd
pendant 10 the ribbon bracelet. He
stopped to look.
Suspended from the silk band was
a child's ring a cheap little ring
set with bit of greenish Indian
carved turquoise.
With a sharp exclamation, Noel
wrenched the ribbon free The ring
slipped off the silk into his palm and
lay, most dmnutivc tlifle OF orna-
ment 1t was the ring he had bought
from native at Bahai and given to
the princess.
But how came it hera-here on
Rosalind's doll? Did she then know
Constance? Were they kin to each
other and could their resemblance be
so explained?
What was it that the inscrutable
Anitra had in her Jap? A handksr-
chief, with rose embroidered in one
corner by way Of initial and as
sweetly scented as rose leaf; and
underneath the handkerchief pair
of wee, time yellowed shoes of white
kid as fine, as soft as satin.
The truth blazed upon Noel, blind
ing and merciless light Not the un-
known Constance was the lady of
the royal heart, but Rosalind Rosa
lind!
The long trail of the little shoes
had led him straight back to the
feet of the dancing princess. And
he fool idiot, dumb brute, had not
known her. Had insulted her, pa
tronized her, and condescended to
her--shad lost her!
He covered his eyes and leaned
against the wall, scorched and scared
by the flame of his self contempt.
Tho blue bird Of happiness had
flown to his hand, and he had driven
1t away!
The afternoon was altogether
spent, before Noel emerged from
the house, and descended to the
taxi
Home" he said, and said no more
than that curt monosyllable Of de-
feat.
For long time he had been too
stunned to imagine how the amaz-
Ing situation could have come about.
Little by little, his brain had cleared
as he leaned beside the doll IN the
grey room. AS boy, he had inquired
IN the neighborhood, asking who the
little girl was. He had been told
that that was the old Bruce house
and the little girl was Miss Con.
stance. He never had thought that
there might be moro than one little
girl---a relative. or guest She had
seemed 30 much at home. or wen
established there. Tho gentleman
who brought back tho shoes she had
given away had taken them into that
same house AS that fugitive recol.
lection lifted across his mind. Noel
exclaimed aloud Blind indeed and
doubly blindl For that dark eyed,
smiling gentleman who had given
David Noel tho 80 which lay 81 thu
base OF hish fortune, was \ yasili
sAr1nft-Neaill Assfse z.,,; q
prime. Who ut had time I'd heed i
shivering boy on the street.
Is on, 4 tho great House 81 the Littls
Shoes could have held those Two