The Red Cloud chief., 1893-08-25
CHAPTER XIv.-CoSrrSurp.
N~aNoN&rN Ss, .sr sow2uMSyN 1oA

CIiAITI!T. XIV -CoSTINurp.
"But you will let mo know what IL al
means, Norric? 1t IL so hard to crcdi,
Johns being n brute to you, when your
leaving him as You did has just knocked
all the go and the grit out of him"
Nora's thin lips curlci incrcdulouslv.
and she fumblcd restlcssly with the
contents OF her portfolio.
Dick closed his eyes with Il groan of
despair.
Docs the leg hurt very much? Let
mo wet The baudagcs."
II had forgotten all about the pcslSv
thing. 1t is you who hurt very much.
"oh. Lord, II people only wouldn't be
SO mysterious! There Is some mistake at
the bottom of all this misery. and that's
what ! SAID to Lorr,c when ltafc and |
left home. | said: 'Lorric. 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 gone there | said;
'Lorrie, You needn't blurt it all out to
John, but when we get to New Orleans
iiafe can hunt Dennisup, and I'll ferret
cut Johns wife. When | find her, I'll
Kill her but what I'll get to the bottom
Of this nonsense
And now here you arc"
where is liafc? Why is he not here
With your Nurse Hamilton asked. in "a
dry, harsh voice.
"lic got off yesterday with Dennis I
missed the boat. you know. l 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 Lorimcr mess"
The portfolio slid from Nurse Uamil-
tons lap upon the polished bare floor
and lay there UNDECIDED. Dicl; was in n
private apartment. There were no
other patients to see the gentle. white
capped ministrant kneel 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 n
voice over which she had lost all con-
troll:
NO, ] never so much ns knew there
was 4 Dennis Lorimcr. Dear, dear
boy, tell me about Dennis and Ida
Fairbanks"
Then Dick told her-somewhat fan
tnstica!'y, perhaps, for he was young,
and the romance Of it grew with the
tclling-all that he knew of Dennis
unfortunate wooing of the Glcnburnie
maiden.
And, You see, Of all us boys" he add
ed, John Is The only one who would
ever consent To be II go-bctwecn. 1t
looked like playing Il trick on mother.
but Dennis and John were ALWAYS par
ticular c~ronics, and the last time he
same up he coaXcd John over, and John
coaNcd her over. SL.c went with John
one night tn see Dennis ut old Isham's
house. They patched it up some way
them. Then when mother rot
III, she began to worry so over Dennis
that Rafc and started out in search of
n brother, and found him. But Won
were the long-lost sister | was hunting
for. | got dishcartencd, though, and
agreed to go home with the boys"
Dick. oh, Dick, | have been such an
awful fool' John will never forgive
mc-ncvcr! lie ought not to-"
Johns wife was sobbing, there on her
knees by the boys bedside. He laid his
hand carcssingly on her bowed head.
won't YOU please tell me all about
It, sister Nora? ! know I'm nothing
but alubbcrly boy, but we Lorimcr BOYS
don't go back on our womcnkind for "A
triile. ! told the boys Norric was all
right Thank God, you have not made
me take u word Of it back. Won't you
let ME send word TO John, Norric? Just
telegraph this II word: Come"
mot yet Wait. Go to slccp now.
dear. ! must think, alone"
She stood up, kissed him tcndcrlv on
the forehead, and then stole quietly
away to her own room.
The Gay was nearly gone when she
came back to him. Her face, thinner
md whittier 10y many degrees, Dick
thought, than when John had first
brought her To White Cliffs, wore n look
OF such absolute serenity that it had
gained an angelic touch of beauty.
"Norric, you are divine! You look as
If you had been closcted with an
ANGER
II have becn," she said, with sweet
gravity.-"the angel Of peace. have
written TO john myself, Dick"
"llurrah! Won't somebody please
throw up my hat for mc?--that is, if |
own such n piece of furniture"
And oh, Dick, are the Lorimors for
giving?'
THE Loriaer forgiveness is not in
volved here. Oh, 10y the way, this came
while You were gone" He put nm I'M
sealed note IN her hand. "l'hat must
have been n monstrous long letter, Nor
ne You've been gore three hours"