The Kinsley graphic. [volume] (Kinsley, Kan.) 1890-1940, 1893-08-18
Esas / WcAHmNrsa.ss 81 s.sxNvS.Sy1 COZ
CHAPTER xIy.-Cosr,srrn

leaving him as yon did has Just knocked
all the go and the grit out of him."
Nora's thin lips curled increlulously,
and she fumblcd restlessly with the
contents Of her portfolio.
Dick closed his eyes with groan of
despair.
Does the leg hurt very much? Let
me wet the bandagcs.
II had forgotten all about the peslxy
thing. 1t is you who hurt very much.
'Oh, Lord, if people only wouldn't be
SO mysterious! There is some mistake ut
the bottom of all this misery, and that's
what said to LORE when Rafe and
left homo. I said, 'Lorrie, everybody
goes to the city when they get miscra-
bic and want TO hide. Sib Fairbanks
went there, Dennis went thee, and
Johns wife has gore there | said:
Lorric, you needn't blurt it all out to
John, but when we get to New Orleans
Rafc can hunt Dcnnisup, and I'll ferret
ont Johns wife. When find her, I'll
kill her but what III get to the bottom
of this nonsense.
And now here you arc
Where is Rafc? Why is he not here
with you?" Nurse Hamilton asked, in a
dry, harsh voice.
''tc got of yesterday with Dennis.
missed the boat, you know. i meant to
have gone, too"
And who is Dcnnis?'
"Who is Dennis? Didn't John ever
tell you about Dennis and Ida Fair
banks? That's another Lorimer mess. ~
The portfolio slid from Nurse Hamil-
tons lap upon the polished bare floor
and lay there unheedcd. Dick was in Il
private apartment. There were no
other patients to see the gentle. white
capped ministrant knccl beside his
narrow iron cot, clasp his hands in both
of hers, and, with her soft eyes glued
ravenous'y to his face, whisper, in a
voice over which she had lost all con-
troll:
no. I never so much as knew there
was a Denais Lorimer. Dear, dear
boy, tell me about Dennis and Ida
Fairbanks.
Then Dick told her-somewhat fan
tastically, perhaps, for he was young,
and the romance of it grew with the
Jclling-all that he knew of Dennis
unfortunate wooing of the Glenburnie
maiden.
And, you see, of all us boys" he add
cd, ''John is the only one who would
ever consent to be go-betwcen. 1t
looked like playing trick on mother.
But Dennis and John were always par
ticular cronies, and the last time he
came up he coaxed John over, and John
coaxed her over. She went with John
one night to see Dennis at old Isham's
house. They patched it up some way
between them. Then when mother got
i'll, she began to worry so over Dennis
that Rafe and started out in search of
brother, and found him. But you
were the long-lost sister was hunting
for. I got disheartcned, though, and
agreed to 60 home with the boys"
"Dick, oh, Dick, have been such an
awful fool! John will never forgive
me-nevcr! He ought not to-
Johns wife was sobbing. there on her
knees by the boys bedside. He laid his
hand caressingly on her bowed head.
Wont you please tell me all about
it, sister Nora? l know I'm nothing
but a lubberly boy, but we Lorimer boys
don't go back on our womenkind for d
trifle. l told the boys Norrie was all
right. Thank God. you have not made
me take a word of it back. Won't you
let me send word to John. Norrie? Jus,
telegraph the one word: Come"
Not yet. Wait. Go to sleep now
dear. must think. alone"
She stood up, kissed him tenderly or
the forehead, and then stole quietly
away to her own room.
The day was nearly gone when she
came back to him. Her face. thinner
and whittier by many degrees, Dick
thought. than when John had first
brought her TO White Cliffs, wore a look
of such absolute serenity that 1t had
gained an angelic touch of beauty.
''Norrie, you are divine! You look as
If you had been closeted with an
angel!'
. II have BEEN" she said, with sweet
gravity-"thc angel of peace. have
written to John myself, Dick"
''Hurrah! Won't somebody please
throw up my hat for me?-that is, if
own such piece of furniture"
And oh, Dick, are the Lorimers for.
% giving?"
. 'sThe Lorimcr forgiveness is not in.
volved here. Oh, by the way. this came
while you were gone" He put an un.
sealed note in her hand. ''That must
have been a monstrous long letter, Nor
rie. You've been gone three hours"
She did not answer him. She was
reading the note. Feminine instinct
made her look at the signature first.
"Siblcy Fairbanks" She started, and
with wildly beating heart read on.
What she read was this:
my DEAR Mr.. LoRINER: have just heard
by the mcrcst chance Cyour surgeon being a
personal friend of mine) Of your inconvenient
accident He tells me that there is not a
shadow OF danger attendant upon 1t. / should
have called In person to inquire, but am making
forced and hurried preparations to leave fer
Glcnburnie, having Just been wired that my
father is dead Permit me to express my re-
grcts at your pain and detention Your friend
and ncighbor, SHELLEY FAIRBANKS"
Siblcy Fairbanks. Poor Amelia's
first husband! The man who had de-
serted her SO heartlessly. She hadnever
% seen him. Nellie married him while
she, Nora, was teaching in school in
Arkansas. But Mellie's child would
know its father Mt last. Would it be fol
Ninettes happiness?
She folded the letter and slipped il
back in the envelope. Dick had opened
it impulsively by running his forefingel
under the flap. The unbroken wax i'm
preston of martlet confronted her.
She stared at it with horror in hel
eyes and confused buzzing in her ears
Was that, then, the solution to the Nor
cross tragedy? Had this brute, after
flipging her poor Nellie aside like q