The Delta independent., 1895-10-02
copxN\eMA ySYa gS S.s.Ng9g\e0yN. 60.
10 be contiuusI in our ae.rt issue,

Oliver was thinking of her one night
two weeks after his strange visit. He
was alone by the fire, for DIR. John had
gone to SEQ the sick wife of u ranch
man. The doctor said he felt the err
rand hopeless, as the man had told the
wife's condition, but if they thought he
might help he would go.
''He is good old chap" Oliver said,
aloud. The shepherd dog, thinking the
compliment intended for him, gently
thumped his tail on the floor. There's
his gown and cap; he'll make guy of
himself because his old landlady made
them for him. / wish / had told him
more about the girl at that ranch; he
might have suggested something. Per-
haps she can't get letters to her old
aunt. If half the stories l hear are
true, she ought never to stay there.
The man is crazy"
Mac whined uneasily, and went to
the door, standing listening, his head
dovr.
watching for the doctor, MacP He
won't be back for hoursyet. Hark!'
The dog growled, then barl1ed loud
ly. There was the sound OF hurrying
footsteps on the hard ground, and the
door was opened without ceremony. In
her yellow gown, barehe AIDED and dust
stained, her little dog held to her
breast, De Restaud's wife staggered
into the room, her face ghastly in its
pallor, her eyes red with weeping, even
the dog covering with fright and pain.
''My. God!" cried Oliver, leaping to
his feet. SIS he out there?"
NO, no; / am alone"
''Child, how could you come here?
how could you Gomez" he cried, vexed-
ly. why, he would murder you if he
knew"
Don't send me away!" she screamed;
''oh! please, Mr.. Oliver! / thought all
the way you were kind and would help
me. Look at the marks on my throat;
he cholxed me; and there are welts on
my arms, paining me dreadfully; and
he-he kicked my dog. l think its leg is
broken. Don't mind me. Look at
Skye; is he badly hurt?"
Oliver took the shivering little beast
in his arms.
only bruised" he said, gently; 'sbut
you" He was sick with the horror of
it! to strike that child! "You look SO
ill. Sit down in the big chair. Indeed
you shall not go back; DIR. John and
will take care of that; and if he comes,
you KNOW" with that sweet smile of
his, your husband is little man"
81 don't know what did," she said,
dazedly. maybe because / rode my
pony down past here, and Louis told
him, or Annette. He was drunk and
ugly when he struck me and kicked
Skye out Of the way. Skye tried to
I'M
think tainted, for woke on my bed
all hurt and bewildered. Annette
came creeping in, sort of scared, and
said he was sorry and had gone off to
the village, but l pushed her out and
locked the door. When he came back
and they were playing cards climbed
down over the roof and ran here across
the fields, not in the read-a long,
dreadful way. Now you seem as if
you were sorry I camel" She reached
down, lifted her dog to her lap, and
hid her face in it's coat.
II only cared for your sake" he an
swered, softly. When she bent her
head he could see the cruel marks on
her throat, and she still sobbed as she
spoke. Was ever man SO placed? He
almost wished the coward who had
struck her would come, that he could
meet him; then reason told him he
had no right to settle this woman's
quarrel. He wished she were his sis
ter; but did he in his heart? How girl
ish and fair she was in the firelit room!
For moment fierce desire to keep
her there, to defend her, swept over
him. Then he said, almost coldly:
"Will they not miss you, Mrs. de
Restaud?"
''Not thatw she cried, piteously.
''Call me Minny. don't want to hear
his name! He never comes to my
room when he has them there, you
know, and he has told me never to
open my door; SO am safe until morn
ing. prayed all the way you'd be
here and alone. l knew you could tell
me how to get to the railroad. / saw
away across the hills your light, and
how I ran then! knew your dog
would not hurt me, but was afraid Of
cows; there were some lying down,
and they got up as ran past, and
screamed right out, i was SO scared |
watched you sitting here through the |
window, your dog at your feet. You
looked SO good and kind. felt could |
go right in and tell you; perhaps you
had sister who died, or some ore you |
loved; you would hate to think they |
should go back to that dreadful place,
and you would think of me alone and |
friendless, and help me-"
She went to him and clung to his !
arm. trembling and sobbing. "You will |
AoO SEND me back? you will not SEND
me back?"
you know / will not; but what |
shall do. II anyone should see you
hcre3 Don't cry like that; can't think
what to do. Try to be brave"
She lifted her tear-wet face. ST
you knew my life for two years, Mr..
Oliver, you would think / had been
brave. 1t is not fear that makes me
cry now, only that you are kind and
there is some one in the wide world |
who will helm me-