The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1920-01-02
A BROKEN LIFE
~
By ALLEN CHAMPNEY.

evening Ill her
she is Miss Naomi Winters, but IN q
casual way the other appelative mas
becOn1e common. You may wonder at
# for she is not only beautiful Dut
rich. Her eccentricities are constant
and numerous, and young as she IS
they say she has a satire and Saf-
caSm at command that would make
star of an old Grecian pessimistic
philosopher. Some deep disapp0lnt1
ment must have ruffied the fair sur
face of her life, for she is consist
ent man hater and her apt ridlcule
Of sham, pretense and affectation has
not made her at all popular"
The speakers stood at window OF
the lobby of the hotel at Walford, re-
garding a queenIy appearing lady who
was just passing by.
They casually discussed her and
turned away, but a man of about thlr-
~ who had stood directly behind them
moved closer to the window. There
was something more than interest Iii
his face-a token of deep emotion
and a thoughtful expression were III
his eyes as he remained staring blank
ly. out on the street. He had become
n guest at the hotel and registered as
Randall Paxton that morning. AT the
end of protracted reverie he turned
away with a deep sigh.
The lady who was the object OF ali
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 it's contour. Her eyes which
at times were scornful or naughty,
when in reposs bore q half-htdden
sadness that told of some secret sor-
row 81
A storm Of censure and disapprova'
greeted her when she. selected Alice
Wade as her maid. A member OF
family poor, obscure, the father OF
which was drunkard, herself de-
serted wife. Alice had been stunned.
despised. With rare human pity
Miss Winters took her up. lifting a
depressed soul from gloom to sunshine
and winning q devotion and love that
was almost pathetic.
It was Alice who knew OF countless
deeds of charity done by her mistress
in secret. Tt was she who knew that
in her dark moody moments Miss
Winters shut herself up in q room
never visited by others. 1t was Alice
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.
It's me, my pretty. your rowing, I'M
fortunate husband | hear you've GOT
a job where there's lots of money and
Jewels. You've got to get me some"
II wouldn't give you penny il you
were starvingH' protested Alice and
broke away The man started after
her Paxton interviewed, knocked him
,Senseless with single blow, and hUr-
ried the girl homewardS.
'There, you are safe" he said. land
If that miscreant troubles you again
just call the police. Why! what is
that?" as thunderous sound emanat-
ID from the house, startling, alarming.
Something has happened. Oh, my
young mistress y 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 it's de-
briS. This was the room where Miss
Winters spent so many hours Of medi-
tatiOn in solitude. Upon table in the
corner was framed photograph, mar
velously resembling the young man,
some trities of jewelry. faded
bouquet, evidently love mementos OF a
far past.
Paxton's face was c0lorlesS. He Quiy
cred like a strong tree shaken by
tempest as he lifted Miss Winters ten
derby, carried her to couch in the next
room and telephoned for a 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 rs
she glanced at the photograph and
then at the stranger.
you are the man." she spoke in
low, intense tone.
You mean, an old friend of Miss
Winters, whom she has remembered?
replied Paxton. Yes. [ was her ar
tianced husband. A Scheming sister
plotted to prove to me that she loved
another. | left home q broken-heart