Hutchinson gazette. [volume] (Hutchinson, Kan.) 1895-1902, 1898-02-10

axis X u u II JWO VI
90 these months they
remained abroad, living in the smaller
towns on the Riviera, seeking no IN
terests beyond themselves, but leading
quiet, peaceful life of love, OF which
neither had become the least weary
when Dicks leave was up and 1t was
time for him to go back to his duty.
Now, as the AID were still duartered
at Colchester, it became a question OF
some Importance for them to DECIDE
where Dorothy should take up her
abode after this. Colchester or Its I'M
mediate nelghborhood was, OF course
an impossibility, as her whereabouts
might at any moment be discovered
and also Dicks real name. Dick sug-
gested that she might go to Chelms-
ford and take rooms there for the
time; but Dorothy had stayed more
than once in that sleepy little town.
and it was therefore almost as I'M
possible as Colchester itself. so hnal-
ly they agreed that there was no place
In the world like London in which to
hide oneself and have a good time all
the same, and therefore they came
back to town during the last week OF
Dicks leave, and they took little fiat
in Kensington, just where Dorothy and
Barbara could get on very comfortably
without any servant, and yet could be
near to good shops and tolerably
lively street.
I'm afraid you'll be awfully dull,
darling" he said to her when they
had taken possession, and his last
evening had come, because, of course,
you won't know any one, and you are
not at all likely to get to know people"
II shall have Barbara" said Doro-
thy, smiling bravely.
Eyes, you'll have Barbara, but Bar
bara won't be much company for you"
he answered. 81 do hate all this con-
cealment. I hate leaving you at ALL
and l hate having to live as 1t were,
on the sly, and I'm afraid always that
some one you know or one Of the fell
lows will be seeing you, and that they
may get hold of a wrong idea alto
gether, and-and-I sometimes feel as
if l should like to kill that old savage
at Aylmer's Field"
But, Dick dear, nobody will see me,
and If they do they will think 1 am
Dorothy Strobe still. Remember, I
don't know many people in all the
world, and none of your officers know
me at all, and if they happened to see
me with you they wouldn't think any
thing Of it. Really, 1 wouldn't worry
about that if l were you, dearest, and
as for my being dull-why, 1 am never
dull. l never have been used to hav-
ing more than one person at a time
Auntie all my life, and now you. 1
shall get on splendidly with Barbara,
and shall always be able to look for
ward to the days when you will be
coming home"
"And 1 shall come like a bird when
ever 1 get the ghost Of chance" he
cried, tendarly.
"And l." cried Dorothy, lam going
to make a study Of gowns. have al
ways been used to making my ordinary
gowns, and shall have lots OF time,
and l am going to begin as soon as
you are gone. 1 am going to make
myself some beautiful tea-gowns; they
will make me look married and dig
nified-they will make you respect
me, sir"
"But you don't want to look married
and dignifed," he cried, half alarmed.
Suppose you meet some one you
know, and"
81 shall not be wearing a tea-gown,
Dick" cried Dorothy, with a gay
laugh.
"Ah! no, no, of course not" he an
swered, relieved. "All the same,
though, did you not tell me the other
day that you had a cousin somewhere
or other?"
ooh, Esther! Yes, but she," care
lessly, "she is in Egypt"
but, my dear child, she won't be
in Egypt always" he rejolned; land
If she comes back to London, which
she is sure to do"
by no means, Dick" interrupted
Dorothy, quietly. Esther is Just as
likely to go of for the summer to New
Zealand or Finland as to come to Lon
don. And she would not specially
hunt me up IL she did come here. She
Is beautiful and rich and very indie
pendent in her mind, but she Is six
years older than l am and thinks very
little Of family ties. In any case, sup
posing that l met her in London to-
morrow, she would certainly not try
to pry into my affairs, and even II ]
had your leave to tell her part Of the
truth she is perfectly safe. assure
you that you need never worry your
self for a single moment about my
cousin Esther"
So Dick was pacifed, and the fol-
lowing day went to Colchester-not In
very happy frame Of mind, all the
same. Il hate leaving you, Dolly" he
said vexedly, Il hate 1t. I've a good
mind TO throw up my commission and
trust to Fate and the old savage"