The Dark Star

My poor little protégée is prostrated--talks wildly of going back at

once. But to what purpose now, mon ami? Her loved ones will have

been in their graves for days before Ruhannah could arrive.

No; I shall keep her here. She is young; she shall be kept busy every

instant of the day. That is the only antidote for grief; youth and

time its only cure.

Please write to the Baptist minister at Gayfield, James, and find out

what is to be done; and have it done. Judge Gary, at Orangeville, had

charge of the Reverend Mr. Carew's affairs. Let him send the necessary

papers to Ruhannah here. I enclose a paper which she has executed,

conferring power of attorney. If a guardian is to be appointed, I

shall take steps to qualify through the good offices of Lejeune

Brothers, the international lawyers whom I have put into communication

with Judge Gary through the New York representatives of the firm.

There are bound to be complications, I fear, in regard to this mock

marriage of hers. I have consulted my attorneys here and they are not

very certain that the ceremony was not genuine enough to require

further legal steps to free her entirely. A suit for annulment is

possible.

Please have the house at Brookhollow locked up and keep the keys in

your possession for the present. Judge Gary will have the keys sent to

you.

James, dear, I am very deeply indebted to you for giving to me my

little friend, Ruhannah Carew. Now, I wish to make her entirely mine

by law until the inevitable day arrives when some man shall take her

from me.

Write to her, James; don't be selfish.

Yours always,

Naïa.

* * * * *

The line enclosed from Ruhannah touched him deeply:

* * * * *

I cannot speak of it yet. Please, when you go to Brookhollow, have

flowers planted. You know where our plot is. Have it made pretty for

them.

Rue.

* * * * *

He wrote at once exactly the sort of letter that an impulsive,

warm-hearted young man might take time to write to a bereaved friend.

He was genuinely grieved and sorry for her, but he was glad when his

letter was finished and mailed, and he could turn his thoughts into

other and gayer channels.

To this letter she replied, thanking him for what he had written and

for what he had done to make the plot in the local cemetery "pretty."

She asked him to keep the keys to the house in Brookhollow. Then

followed a simple report of her quiet and studious daily life in the

home of the Princess Mistchenka; of her progress in her studies; of

her hopes that in due time she might become sufficiently educated to

take care of herself.