The pioneer press. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 1893-190?, 1895-09-12
CHAPTER v.
R~OsamOnd's Return.

Dawson answered the door, ana MS
face frightened up at the sight of her
"Why, is anything very wrong-is
Mr.. Medlicott seriously ill:' she in,
Quired a~nXiously.
.'Oh, dear, no, miss: he's q little out
of sorts. that's all. Overwork, nothing
else; he's always in the library, dictat,
ing and writing and reading, and l
don't know what
I'm glad to hear it's no worse said
Rosamond. md how is everything
going on in the house?'
.'Oh, l don't know, miss answered
Dawson. sourly, except that nothing
seems to go right since that Mr.. Aoer-
shaw's been here
Then he interferes-"
mo, he don't cried Dawson. eXas-
peratedlv, 'leastways not openly, and
not as anybody can lind out-that's the
worst of it. l wouldn't care ii there
was anything to grasp at, but you feel
1t and you can't lay hold on it, and
that's what makes us all so wild. Ey-
erybody feels uncomfortable. and no.
body can tell why they feels so, but
they do"
"You have all suffered yourselves to
be prejudiced," said Rosamond.
IF we have it's because we couldn't
help ourselves" answered Dawson,
doggedly.
BY the time Rosamond had Invested
herself of her bonnet and cloak, Luke
Abershaw had returned, and she
sought him in the library.
II am so glad you have returned,
miss" and he bowed respectfully.
Your presence is needed"
''Then Mr.. Medlicott is really illT
ooh, no, no; 1t Is not on that ac-
count; but the house is so lonely and
dull to him that he spends too many
hours in work. l hope your presence
will give him a little distraction; you
can play and talk to him-that is
really the reason l wrotS to you"
1T was very kind and considerate of
you to do SO, answered Rosamond,
warmly, rand l thank you very
much"
81 have only done my duty" he
said, shifting his eyes from her bright
straightforward glance. Mr.. Medli-
colt has been so good to mel have
never met 30 good a friend before
that I ought to study his comfort and
happiness In everything"
"HOw cruelty unjust everybody Is
to this poor young man, only because
he has not a pleasant aspect" was
Rosamond's thought at that moment,
and she resolved hencefOrth to be his
friend and champion.
HAS Mr.. Medlicott seen a doctor?"
she inquired.
"Oh. yes" he answered, rather Gag
erly." l SEN for his medical adviser
yesterday unknown to him, and in
CURED his displeasure for SO doing"
"And what did Mr.. Grant say"
"The same as l have said-that 1t
vas nothing but overwOrk, and that
he required rest and relaxation. 1t
was upon that report l wrote off to
you
MY influence is not very great over
him, but l will do what l can" IN
swered the young girl.
Soon afterward Mr.. Medlicott re-
turned.
He looked very much surprised at
seeing his adopted daughter in the
hall, waiting to receive him.
"YOu did not expect me-" she said.
"NC he answered, "'but an glad
you lave returned"
There was no affection and there
was 'ot much feeling in the tone in
which these words were uttered, but
RosalHond was pleased to hear them.
AS hey stood In the hall the light
fell II upon his face, and she saw
at a ance how much he had altered
since she had been away. He looked
worn. and haggard. and pale.
He walked into the dining room and
dropped languidly into a chair.
This was so unlike him that she
could not help remarking upon 1t.
You are not well?" she said.
'Oh. yes, l am very WELL" he an
swered. irritably, and Immediately
Strengthening himself. "The weather
Is oppressive, and perhaps l have been
working q little too hard lately. a
man can't be a little out Of order with
out being i'll and having doctors sent
for"
Like most men who have enjoyed
good health all their lives, Mr.. Medli-
colt was evidently annoyed that any
body should suppose he did not enjoy
perfect immunity from all the ills that
flesh is heir to.
Rosamond said no more, resolving
not again to touch upon that weak
point.
After dinner he seemed better, and
h color once more 10 his
face, owing, perhaps, to the fact that
he took an extra glass of wine; for
Mr.. Medlicott was q man who lived by
rule and regimen in all things, espe-
cially in eating and drinking.
He did o go into the library that
night. but after they had retired TO the
drawing room requested Rosamond to
play to him some Of the favorite music
of his late wife.
She had never remembered to have
seen him in so soft and gentle a mood
before.
Not since her dear benefactrc
death had she passed SO pleasant an
evsAing with hun.