Hutchinson gazette. [volume] (Hutchinson, Kan.) 1895-1902, 1898-03-17

the vide W@rl6 whom Dorothy would
rather not have seen just then, that
person was David Stevenson. think
She looked all the dismay witch she
felt, and that she felt all and perhaps
more than the dismay which she look
ed
ooh! Is that you?" she gasped.
David let his hands, with their glad
welcome, drop instantly.
You're not very glad to see me, Do
rothy," he said, in quiet, but bitter re-
proach.
"I-that is, you startled me-" she re-
piled, in wild endeavor to put off any
questions he might think proper to
ask her.
Evidently" he said, dryly, land you
want to get rid of me, eh?"
ooh, not at ALL" biting her lip and
wishing that she could sink into the
ground, or dissolve into thin air, any
where out Of the way of his hard and
steely-blue eyes, which seemed to look
her through, and to know in moment
all the secrets of her life.
mo? All, that is better. Then,
since you don't want to get rid Of me
all in hurry, perhaps you will let me
walk little way with you. May r."
"Oh, yes, certainly" said Dorothy,
giving herself up for lost at once.
DO you live near here?" he asked,
At that moment there was slight
block on the pavement of the always
busy street, and just as David spoke
Dorothy perceived that the sweet
faced lady who lived on the floor above
her was also blocked, and stood for a
moment or so face to face with her.
Undoubtedly she had heard David's
question just as Dorothy had done,
and undoubtedly Dorothy had never
seen her eyes so cold or her lips so
austerely shut before. In her distress
and annoyance at being thus appar-
emily caught, Dorothy blushed vivid,
guilty crimson-a fact upon which the
sweet-faced lady put the usual con-
struction to which all highly moral per-
sons seem to jump at once in a mo-
ment of doubt-that is, the very worst
possible one.
Can you give me no news from
home, them" Dorothy asked in 4 des-
perate voice, raised far above her usu-
al tones.
David looked down at her in sur
prise--an involuntary action which
was not lost upon the lady, who was
still unable to pass on.
"News?" he repeated. why Of
course can. have so much news to
tell you that hardly know where to
begin. Let me see-Lady Jane is
back, of course"
Dorothy turned her head in time to
see that the lady had passed on and
was out of ear shot before David had
begun his news.
There, just like Dayid's stupidity, to
be too late. Why, she wondered, ir-
ritably, could he not have happened to
say something which would have let
that woman upstairs know that they
had known each other all their lives?
But no, David had always Numbered
whenever and wherever she was con-
cerned, and she supposed that he al
ways would. Her interest in the home
news was gone, lost in the depths Of
her annoyance, but she listened pa
tiently till he had exhausted that topic,
till she had heard who was married
and who was dead, of fire in such a
ones rick-yard, and of a barn belong
ing to another which had been struck
by lightning.
Then he told her how he had inn
proved the Hall-her perfect old home,
which in her mind needed improve
ment of no kind-how he had put a
smart, capable gardener in to bring
the place into real good condition
"And old Isaac?" said Dorothy fierce
ly.
ooh, he is still about shouldn't
turn any old servant of yours off, you
know. There are plenty Of odd jobs
for him about the place"
what sort of odd jobs?" demanded
Dorothy.
ITO be Continued)