Part 32 (2/2)

”A gift? and from you? Surely you do not mean to offer, and I cannot accept it.”

Regnar arose, and addressing the agitated girl, ended the painful interview.

”You were the daughter of Paul Hubel, of Schleswig--were you not?”

”Yes, sir. I was adopted by the brother of Mr. Randall, who was the friend of my father.”

”Then, I a.s.sure you that my friend speaks truth. He has fulfilled a prediction, and gives you a fortune, and the brother who shares it with you.”

The next few moments were spent in mutual explanations, and the young girl, deprived of a mother's love in early life, sent away to learn life's duties of strangers, and yearning during all her brief existence for the affection she had never known, received the brother she had never seen with an outburst of welcome which revealed what she might have been, had her life been spent under happier auspices.

At last La Salle interrupted their mutual joy.

”I have finished my task, and the prophecy of Krasippe is accomplished.”

”Yes,” said Regnar, ”last summer I met with an old Esquimaux who served our father well for many years, and who now claims some power of insight into the future. He heard the story of my futile efforts to find you, but uttered this prophecy which we to-day accomplish. He said, 'You will meet in a desert of ice the man who will lead you to your heart's dearest wish. He will lose, and you will gain.'”

”And yet, Regnie, although the coincidence of events may bring me within the purview of the Esquimaux oracle, I have a misgiving that we have, perhaps, overlooked the claims of one whom we met but once in a desert of ice, and who still voyages, in silence unbroken, ADRIFT IN THE ICE-FIELDS.”

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