Evening Republican, Volume 59, Number 70, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 13 April 1917 — The Recompense [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

The Recompense

By Walter Joseph Delaney

(Copyright. 1917, by W. G. Chapman.) “Why, what are you Staring at, Margaret?” The child retreated shyly, put her finger in her mouth and swung sheepishly from side to side. “Please, Miss Ryford, I did not mean to, for ma Says that is rude.” “Then why—” “rfease, Miss Ryford, I was looking for the wings.” “Bless me! the wings? Child, what is this nonsense?” But tender-hearted* little Margaret began to cry and Miss Esther Ryford took her in her arms to solace her. When she had calmed down her little visitor, she resumed her interrogatories, but more gently now. "Tell me what you mean, child,” she said. “You don’t offend me; you only puzzle me.” “Well, I heard that, stranger in town, who is talking of building a factory—” “You mean the man they call Boyden?” “Yes’m. Well, I heard him tell Mr. Pearsons that you was an angel.” “You naughty child! I mean- £ -the impudent fellow* But, here Mrs. Ryford paused, for she was blushing furiously. Besides that, the eompMment had overwhelmed her. She dismissed her juvenile visitor with a nickel for candy, sat musing on the garden bench for an hour, roved restlessly over the house, fluttered, flushed and acted altogether ridiculous. Miss Esther Ryford was twenty-six, fair, neat and the possessor of quite a little fortune. She was, however, very sentimental and easily Impressed. She had met this stranger, Mr. Boyden, and had not liked him—until now. She was all but engaged to another man, but flattery was very sweet to her fancy. The other man was Neil Taylor. She had not seen him for ten years, but he was returning to Acton the next month. “I left Acton because, being poor, people might call me a fortune-hunter, if I married you,” the letter from the far West, which she had received that morning, told her. “Now I am coming to claim you, with lots of money and lots of love." It was in the perversity of Mlss'Ryford’s nature to play with her happiness, for that was just what she did.

Later she excused herself on the? ground of loneliness, on the willful and unnecessary delay of Taylor ip conjing to her. She met Boyden the next day. He talked as big as ever about what he was going to do for the town in the way of industrial expansion. He talked, too, interestedly of Miss Taylor’s affairs. He got permission to call upon her, which'he did twice. All but telling Miss Ryford that he loved her did the specions knave pursue the brief acquaintanceship. He' was showy in his attire and flashy in his ways. He had cultivated the art of flattery to its most refulgent point. It was all a passing, pleasant variation to Miss Ryford. She was not a coquette, but sometimes there was a certain spice of novelty and excitement in fringing the edge of flirtation. “My sister will be glad to know you. Miss Ryford,” the bold schemer told his new acquaintance. “You see, after ■ I get a plant or two established, we shall make our home here.” “Then you Intend to nettle in Acton?” inquired Ether. “Oh, surely. My sister is a widow, and, as you probable are aware, I am an old bachelor, so we quite harmonize in the way of companionship. Adelia is a refined lidy, and she Will hail with pleasure an opportunity to •become a member of the charmed social circle of which I have noted you are the center.” At the end of a week Boyden left Acton. He made * final call upon Be-

ther. If ever a man indicated suppressed admiration —more, a dawning affection —Jt was this practical scoundrel, for of that type he was in thefullest sense of the word. “I declare, it has been a pleasing variation to the dull monotony of everyday life!" sighed Esther, when he was gone. She had not ceased to think of Taylor; she did so now. She experienced a secret resentment, however, at his continued absence. Taylor was slowgoing, methodical. He took the time it required and deserved to closeup his business in the West ■ _ . . ' “Ah, what a contrast to Boyden, with' his quick, dashing ways! Then, too, the modest social ambitions of Taylor, his care only for practical things. Whereas, Boyden had always some animating details to discuss on those subjects that attract and interest womankind. Hfe had dazzled Esther with a description of the dresses and diamonds belonging to his sister. According to him, the life of this relative was in accord with the keenest social enjoyments; she was an ideal devotee at the shrine of fashion, and Esther was really eager to meet her. There came a letter from the widow that put Esther all a-flutter. It was written on the daintiest of stationery, the chtrography was faultless. It was signed with the name of Boyden’s sister. In It Mrs. Walters referred to the deep impression Esther had made upon her brother. She thanked her for asqpaging his loneliness at Acton. She felt warranted, she expressed it, in aiming to cherish the acquaintanceship , Would Miss Ryford feel it strange if she asked her to come down to Rossmore, their country home, just outside of Waybum, and spend a few days with her .during the business absence of her brother?

“How delightful!” exclaimed Esther, upon the receiipt of this missive. “What a pleasant change from this dreary existence It will be,” and at once replied to the letter, receiving in return directions as to time of her arrival at Wayburn, where the auto would meet her. Esther arrived at Wayburn the next afternoon. There was the automobile. To her surprise, Boyden was at the wheel. No sister was in view. He was greeting Esther with profuse and lying explanations, when two men came up behind him. Each seized an arm. “Got you, my hearty!” observed one bfUia-fiKSLand a pair of handcuffs was clasped upon his wrists. The other approached Esther and drew her into conversation. Shamefacedly, falterlngly Esther stammered forth her story. “He’s a bad one, ma’am,” said the officer, “and you’ve had a lucky escape. He has no sister. His scheme was to lure you here, hold you a prisoner in the home of some pal and force you to pay a .big ransom.” “Can —can my foolishness be shielded?” pleaded Esther. “Don’t worry, ma’am,” assured the officer. “You’re not the first victim of his schemes. We’ll keep mum—he don’t dare to do anything else.” And so the episode ended, and when Nell Taylor came home he received the eager—devotion of a fiancee who had learned her lesson well.

It Was Signed With the Name of Boyden's Sister.