Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1898-03-19
CHAPTER XIII.

But Harvey did not go cast as ne had
planned.
The very vehemence of his desire to
escape an environment he had come Ia
loathe, whipped to frenzy by the sud
den, unrcasoning jealousy aroused by
the doctors statement that Dorothy
had written to him, defeated itself by
its own impetuosity. Thinking 1t best
to humor the sick mans within, II only
to convince him of his weakness, Mrs.
Bowen had allowed him to be dressed
and to sit up for little while that even"
ing, with the result that her argument
carried beyond her expectations, Tie
over-exertion bringing about relapse.
when, Us is usual in such cases, the con-
ditions were far more grave than in the
first illness.
Now he was delirious, babbling OF his
worlds fair lady, his Dorothy, his
sweetheart. until his voice had grown
to be but husky whisper rs he sank
down into the very shadows of death,
while the doctor, listening, understood,
comprehending what mischief he had
inadvertently wrought by his half-truth
about Dorothy's letter.
It was an amazing revelation to him,
revelation that left him very grave.
lie had not been man IL he had not
perceived that Dorothy Meredith was
q rarely beautiful girl, II he had not
felt the winning sweetness of her per
sonality. He had enjoyed but bare
speaking acquaintance with her during
most of her stay at Windy Gulch; but
he had fallen into habit then Of watch
ing to see her come and go MS he idled
away the hours before his Office door.
his thoughts lingering about her more
than he had perhaps quite realized AT
the time, and he had eagerly seized
upon the opportunity TO be of service
to her ut the time OF her fathers death.
They had parted on the footing OF
friends as q result Of the small favors
he had been permitted to render then;
and afterward, when Of her own sweet
will she wrote to him first little note
Of thanks and later letter OF in
quiry in respect to n work Of charity
which had occurred to her, only he
could ever know what vista Of hope
had opened before his dazzlcd imagino-
ton. The doctor was man enough to
feel that she was woman whom for
herself he might love with all his heart;
while he wns moreover sufficiently prac-
teal not to overlook altogether the
wealth which by her fathers death had
become hers, n consideration delight
fully rcstful TO contemplate after the
long years Of struggle against poverty
and disappointment which had been
his. And so he had builded his fair dir
castle but to see II fall like house Of
cards before the sick mans unconscious
bombs OF truth. But the doctor was a
good fellow, and, better still, q good
friend; and SO he only called himself q
fool for his dreams and thanked heaven
he Ind excuse to write a certain letter
which he hoped might bear good fruit.
And soon after this Harvey began
TO dream OF seeing Dorothy standing
now and then by his bedside, dream
which seemed to fill him with peace
more potent for good than all the doc
tors medicines-thc fancy SO possess
ing his imagination that when Que day
ie awoke, his great, hollow eyes. eager
ly searching the room, came back to the
doctors face with look Of helpless
disappointment IL thought she was
here" he whispered. weakly. II have
been dreaming"
"0h, It's nll right, old fellow" his
friend returned, swallowing something
In his throat as be clasped the poor thin
fingers In q tremulous grasp OF graft
ulation. II was rs by a miracle that
poor Neil had been saved. ''It's all
right. Go to sleep and dreamthat she
b coming by and by" And. family
smiling. a. though be accepted the
promise with the simple credulity Of
4 child, Nell closed his eyes obediently
AID slept again.
Hn did not speak Of The fancy when
uezt he nWol,e. seeming lillle1sly 70 ac-
npl lhe copd|tlqnl e b iogHi ihep-