The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1881-09-24

take care of himself. 1t is like a
cook allowing himself to starve. You
would almost persuade my patients,
Miss Dora, to lose faith in me, which
reminds me that am losing precious
time, and must be off. A thousand
thanks for receiving this child. l
shall see you as often as possible, and
shall now have a double inducement
in coming"
Was it all fancy that his voice was
lower as he uttered thisslast sen taHce,
and was it all unconscious the pres
sure of the little hand of his hostess
as it lay for moment within his
own? @
However that might be, Dora's
heart felt strangely light as she lis
tened to the echo Of the retreating
wheels of Doctor Rays carriage.
Cara had been her guest fort.
night, during which time the doctor
had fulfilled his promise of devoting
to them all of his spare moments;
but these were very few. The fever
was increasing rather than abating.
Miss Deane babe fair to have her
guest for long visit.
"But you're not tired of me, are
you?' Cara asked, when her guar
dian limited something of this.
mo, indeed" she answered, with a
bright smile. "The question is
what shall ! do without your
The three were standing together
when she thus spoke, but as she fin
ished, Ronald Ray leaned over, and
in low tone said, so that only her
ear caught the words:
ITO morrow when / come want ia
see YOU alone. ! have something to
say to you"
Why-why could she not hide the
tell-tale blood which so deeply dyed
her cheek as she bowed her ASSENT
In all these years he had never spoke
quite thus before Was it that Ca
ra's bright presence had renewed hel
own youth, until in his eyes she had
recovered it? Surely she might
dwell moment on the sweet hope OF
which his wish might form the TIRES
hold
The next day she awaited him in
her own little morning-room. She
had given orders to the servants that
he should be admitted there. Cara
she had sent for drive.
Her heart beat fast to suffocation as
at length she heard his step. liz
crossed the room with his firm tread
to where she stood, and took both hel
hands in his.
"Dora," he began, 81 have come t.
you to confide to you the secret o
my life. / know that you are frank
and true. Tell me, then, and tell me
honestly-am ! too old to love and t.
be loved?"
"Be still, glad heart--be still! How
long had her secret been unacknowl
edged, even to herself? 1t broke it:
bonds now, and burst upon her in ;
glad, rapturous vision, which SHOWED
the past gray and sombrc, the future
in a brilliance which blinded her.
"Too old?" she said, in tones tina
trembled, spite of her efforts to con
troll them. "No-a thousand times
nor
He raised her hands to his lips
and kissed them. 1t was the frs
time his kiss had touched them.
my friend" he whispered, low
"you have guessed my secret, have
you not? You have seen it? How
could / hope to hide it except from
her? She suspects nothing. Tel
me how ! shall approach her that
may not startle her. She is as yet
but child. You are woman, Do
ra. Help me-"
Was she still standing upright
About her were the crushed ruins o.
her castle, which scarcely sixty sec
onds before had lowered to the clouds
The noise Of the falling fragments
had stunned her. Had he not heard
The dust which had arisen there
from blinded her. Could he not
see?
"You are woman, Dora. He'll
mer'
Those were the words ringing in
her ears. Oh, God! Had she nc
greater need for help?
"You love Cara?"
How calm and quiet her voice
sounded, even to herself?
"Love her? All, Dora, you who
have never loved can little guess how
much.
She laughed then. Something in
the words amused her; something
chat showed her how well she had
kept her secret-an old maids Sc
| cret.
"Talk to her," he went on, "tell me
if she feels, if she ever will feel fol
me that for which long"
"Nay, speak to her yourself" she
answered. "She can scarcely deny
you, pleading your own cause"
"You think so? then will come
tomorrow. Goodbye! God bless
your
At last she was alone The knowl
edge came with long sigh of relief
as some hours later the "Good
/ nights" had been said and Dora
could face the misery the morning
had brought her. How long-how
very long ago it seemed! She drew q
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