Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1897-05-11

an. And he said aloud II beg your
pardon. Miss Martineau, for not recog-
Mining YOU before"
Did she laugh? or did he only fancy
1t? But she answered, quietly. 1t is
rather an unfayorabIo atmosphere for
rccoenitions OF any sort"
And they drove on faster than ever.
She's an excellent whip" thought
Dr, Dane, and the horse isn't any or
binary village hack or farm screw.
How it snows"' he said, ut last.
.'ut you don't seem TO mind it,
i dent at all. was the reply. I'm
used to wind aud weather"
Then il can't DO Miss Martincau,
after all" cogitated the doctor. ooh,
sec now-~it's rhebc Otway, the viii
iage nurse, whom all the poor people
send for. Bat | can't imagine Daniel
otway's wife with such a sweet, must
caliy modulatcd voice. It's a gift OF
heaven to save people, suppose. Well,
| respect Phcbe for having the energy
ana resolution to face Il storm like
this for the very predetermined pay
mcnt which she has to expect from old
Hannah Hopkins
And then he relapsed into silence
after one or two more remarks, to
which his companion did not seem in
cined to reply, save in monosyllables,
until they stopped in tho midst OF Il
whirling snowdvift. before old Han
nah's cabin. on the edge of thicket of
pines.
Shall / put the horse OUT" Dr..
Dane asked. There is neither man nor
boy here to render such services.
and
Il can put him ont myself" said the
woman. quickly. Il know where the
lantern and the matches are kept IN
the shed, and / have taken Prince
Charles in and out OF the shafts many
time"
Without waiting for an answer. she
led the pony around the corner OF the
house and vanished as it were into
white wilderness, while DR.. Dane
opened the door and went into the
sick room, where he wretched Old oc-
togenarian lay grooming by the light Of
pine wood fire alone.
Well, Hannah" said he, cheerfuily,
how ere you?''
But, instead OF answcrinf, the old
woman screwed up her eyes to peer
past him into the gloom, as if expect
ing yet another figure to appear.
The next instant the back door
opened and small. slight figure came
in, already freed from clumsy cloak
or shcltering fur cap--a girl of per-
haps twenty, with clear. brown eyes.
rosy checks and coils of brown hair
wound around and around her head.
noiseless apparition.
Il knew you would come, pretty
one" she said. You always come
where there is pain or trouble or heavy
hearts. my queen"
so" said DR.. Dane to himself. at
is neither Miss Martireau nor Daniel
Otway's wife. l wonder who it is"
All that wild. tempestuous night tho
two kept vigil at Hannah Hopkins
bedside, and, in his secret heart. the
doctor confessed that he had never
seen Il quicker comprehension. a more
tender heart, a stronger fortitude, than
that Of his unknown companion. And
when, at daybreak, the angel OF death
set the prisoned spirit free, and they
sat alone by the corpse, DR.. Dane spoke
out:
I'VE can do no more for the poor
creature" said he. She's at rest. now.
Let me take you TO your friends"
No" said the girl, quietly. II shall
stay here until some of the village
people come. i will not leave her, pooc
soul.'
Can l send some one?" he asked.
IF you choose" she answered.
But don't like to leave you alone"
'Do not be afraid she said, little
scornfully.
So Halleck Dane left her. Forum
ately he met some one few rods In
the road, and returned with reinforce
ments--a sturdy Old farmer and his
wife.
Miss DuranGe." cried the woman,
the minute her eye fell on the slign,
figure at the bedside. you mover mean
TO say that you have been here all
night! But l don't blieve old Han
nah could have died without you. she
was that fond OF you. Heaven bless
your sweet facet
DR.. Dane started, feeling the color
mount to his face.
"Ah." said he, striving 10 speak
calmly, $50 the mystery is solved! You
are Miss Durandc!'
YES" she said, II am Miss Durande
/ did not reveal my identity before, be-
cause l knew you did not like me, DR..
Dane"
But ] do like YOU" said the doctor,
impulsively. 1T was only my fan
cied ideal OF Miss Durande that l dis
likod.'
Was it just 10 be Judge, jury and
executioner without even allowing the
poor defendant to put in II plea"
asked Dorella.
1T was cowardly and base" ad-
mitted DR.. Dane. IF you can forgive
me, do. But / shall find it impossible
A III