The central record. (Lancaster, Ky.) 18??-current, 1920-01-29
Erstwhile
Estcllc
o0
ny T. d. ANDERSON

/
Vile regarding one another with So
robustness. More than once the elder
Of the two. Rhoda willis. broke out
into sobbing Her sympathlzlng friend.
Estelle Rawdon. spoke to console
her. Il wired YOU To meet me here
on my way to Brocton." spoke the
former suddenl. because ] felt 20
hrartbruken aud tonged % hnd some
one to whom could tell my trou-
bles"
"And will you marry this Wendell
Baird II he asks your"
is II not my duty-did I not 50
promise my dying mothcr1 n Il Is a
terrible sacrifice. II IL a sacred one"
"and what of Vincent SearlesT
Il dare no, see him. but must con.
vey the story ~ our broken lives to
him In some way. His sister will
understand and pity. She lives
across country some fifty miles. 1hav.
telephoned Mr.. oliver Baird that ]
shall rest over here for few days In
the meantime twin see Miss searlcs.
You will stay here In my place. may
be gone two days"
Suppose the elder Mr.. Baird. or
his son. Wendell. should come down
here 20 view the bride expectantr
suggested Estelle. but Rhoda passed
the query OF gravely. being In no
mood 20 Jest.
Estelle Proceeded TO enact the role
Of her friend. The ladies' parlor. a
stroll among the brilliant stores.
stree; View from the windows % her
room-full appreciation OF those en-
Titles was cloudei only when Estelle
reflected upon the forlcrn situation Of
Rhoda.
They had corrsponded regularly,
but had not met for over year when
Rhoda sent for her at Baysyille. II
was TO recite wocful tale. A month
previous the mother Of Rhoda had
died. In her last moments she had
10 wed Wendell Baird II he sought her
n his wife.
"oliver Baird was your fathers
closest friend" she told Rhoda. 1T
was our thought that II you were ever
left alone. Mr.. Baird should - your
guardian. hoping that you might Ind
ns a husband his son
Thea there had come a letter from
Oliver Baird. II was all arranged that
Rhoda was 10 become his ward. Rhoda
had impaired 60 Estelle the fact that
she was engaged 10 one Vincent
Searles. She had given her promise
TO her mother. fearing the conse
quences on the failing invalid II she
told that u could not be- that she was
pllghted TO another.
As Estelle entered the dining room
OF the hotel that evening she tripped
over a rug askew and was fairly res
cued from a fall by n handsome. alert
young man. who received her thanks
with apparent pleasure. He bowed as
he passed her in the hotel parfor the
next day. and Estelle remembered and
recalled his face as she went up TO
her room a little later. As she reached
its door she uttered q sharp scream. IL
was burst open anu suahser f'eu 70
pass her' oearing 10 nus manu- he' s"'u
mesh Dag.
As IL by magic there spang In 'front.'
OF the room thief me young man OF
the dining room episode ne Nres.eu
the piunder from the marauuer' Out
the latter maze good ms eschpe.
Il seem TO have protector when
ever i get into trouble" said Este'ie,
and TO regain her composure returned
TO the parior. the young man accom-
panying her. There was an hour OF
enjoyable converse. during which Es-
telle learned that he was Mr.. faui
Harris.
There seemed To be bond OF ac@
cepted confidence. liking and compan-
ionship established between THEM after
that. The third day passed and Rhoda
did not return. A telegram arrived
the next morning. however. from Miss
Senries. IL Informed Estelle That
khoda was III ana asked her 10 come
on TO Alton.
Estelle was loath 10 acknowledge to
herself that she would regret losing