Palatka daily news. [volume] (Palatka, Fla.) 1919-1994, 1922-01-05
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Niece.
By DOROTHY WHITCOMB.
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"What a handsome young lady!"
l turned at the words and glanced
at carriage passing in the street
and lost my peace of mind thereby.
What was l, to view and send my
heart out to lady of evident wealth
| and fashion,, Norman Earle, out at
elbows, out of work and very nearly
out of money!
"WhO is she" / heard one of the
two men near me ask
Miss Stella Virden-the niece of
the big mine owner"
And the man with herr"
"Blackleg, gambler-Rodney Beale."
The man who held the reins of the
spirited steeds attached to the light
elegant spired trap looked 1t. And
then changing bell rang out, shouts,
the clicking of iron hoofs and fire
engine crossed the intersection, and,
alarmed by it and driven to wild
flight, the melted horses came dash
ing into view again.
pened-one line had snapped at the
bride ring. In furious flight the team
swept the frail trap across the cobble
stones like whip lash. The man
showed his teeth in vicious rage for
a moment. Craven that he was, he
leaped from the vehicle, leaving his
charge helpless and in peril. In the
nick of time | was swaying from the
carriage pole.
Twice my head had struck the shaft,
| was dizzy, the damp of blood where
the contact had come, but l held to
the trembling Steeds. family heard
a little cry of joy and thankfulness
from the lips of the imperiled girl
huzzas from the crowd on the side
walk.
Then the man Beale, who had played
the coward, came rushing up. He
seized the bride from my hand.
Il am Rodney Beale," he said. Call
at my Office for check"
| could have struck him, but just
then l noted the girl in the seat
You grand hero" she spoke. "How
may l thank you"
She wore rose at her breast. l
pointed to it.
Give me that" l said, simply.
She handed it to me with smile
1nd blush. | never went near Beals
for that check. l stole many glance
ut his fiancee, however, at a distance.
When my little store of money gave
out / found work in the Desaba mine.
Meantime l had learned all about
Miss Virden. Desaba was a rough
town and her uncle, an unprincipled
money maker, Jacob Virden, practical
ly owned it. She was an orphan, he
her guardian; the man Beale a part
ner of Virden, running the gambling
hells about the place, where he took
away from the miners the money Vir-
den paid them.
l knew nothing about practical
mining, but knew enough to do patrol
service as a night Waterman inside
the digglngs. Every night l was let
down In the cage.
l was resting from my routine
rounds one midnight and had sat down
to my lunch. A shadow fitted across
the lanterns rays. 1 looked up to
view a dusky figure CARRIED in the con-
ventional miners costume and wearing
the usual eye and mouth mask. 1t was
removed. Miss Virden stood before
me.
She had stolen from the house
where they were bound to marry her
to the man Beale the day previous.
She had hidden in the mine, disguised.
She must get far away from Desaba.
Would 1 help her?
l made the poor, hungry girl partake
of my lunch.
1t was the Canadian border and the
home of a married sister that we made
for, and then the law invoked, and
Stella safe.
Because she needed my protection
l fingered near her new home. A good
position offered, and when the legal
end of her trouble was settled could
not go away, nor did Stella wish to
have me do so.
1t was when, one starlit night,
spoke out Of my soul into her willing
ear that | said:
81 have something to give you, and
to keep, love-"
h. hn,.
enhancing way.
For answer l placed on her finger
an engagement ring. Then l pressed |
to my lips-a faded rose.