The Red Cloud chief., 1898-04-08
CHAPTER XX.-(Continued.)

was beginning to- get rather uncom-
Portable under the fire of her truthful
yes and the terrible dircctness of her
questions.
I'm fact, you have made Isaac under
ling. laborer, slavey to your grand
new gardener, is that it," she cried.
ooh, come now" he began. but Dor
othy stood still in the rOad and con
fronted him angrily.
rs 1t SO or not?" she asked.
We'll. something like that" he ad'
mitted. unwillingly.
rs 1t absolutely so or not? Dorothy
asked again.
We'll. I'm afraid 1t u.s." said David.
with a great air of making Il clean
breast of the whole matter. You see,
Dorothy, the old fellow never was
much OF u hand at gardening-"
He was good enough for us" sighed
Dorothy. In heart broken voice.
Yes; but indeed he really was past
his work. or l should never have
thought of displacing him. And il it
hadn't been for %you-that he was Il
good many years your gardener-
Nearly forty years. put In Dor
othy.
We'll, Of course, II 1t hadn't been
for that l should just have replaced
him without troubling any further
about him. AS 1t was. I made a place
for him. and I gave him ten shillings
~ week for what I could get better done
by q boy for six"
And the c%ottage?" asked she.
"Oh. well. Of course. the cottage goes
with the situation answered David,
who was getting rather sulky.
There was n moments silence: then
Dorothy suddenly stopped and turned
TO face him. David" she flashed out,
you may be q good farmer, but YOU
are a hard man. n hard man. One of
these days you'll come to be-but.
there, what Is the good of talking TO
you? If long and faithful service
will not touch YOU heart, what else
will?"
There is one thing which will al
ways have power to touch my heart"
he said, eagerly. Shall l tell you
WHAT"
NO." said Dorothy. YEARLY. 81 prob
ably should not believe 1t. If forty
years would not do 1t. nothing else
could"
AS she spoke she turned down the
street which led to Palace Mansions.
for she saw that 1t was hopeless now
to try to prevent his finding out where
she lived: and, indeed. now that Dick
was safely out of the country, she did
not think that 1t mattered much. Da-
vid, for his part. took advantage Of the
quiet side street. and spoke out what
was In his mind.
Dorothy he said. come back to
the Hall, and | will show you whether
l am a hard man or not: only come
back and let us forget the past. nobody
need know anything. will never
remind you of 1t. Only come back, my
dear, and everything shall be as you
wish-as you direct. I'll send the new
gardener to Holroyd, and Isaac shall
be head gardener at the Hall. with a
couple of men under him TO do the
work. Does hat sound like being
hard, Dorothy"
iOs, Siiu boiotuy, fOluIy- ItTu-
est Of all. because you would not hesi-
tate to buy me-, body and soul. through
my compassion and pity for those poor
unfortunate mes. who can not help
themselves. and can not fight against
the hard power which your money and
your strength give you"
ooh, Dorothy, 1t Is not So" he cried.
81 only ask you to come back because |
love you and want you. Besides,
can not bear to see you as you look
now-tired and worn. and ten years
older than when you turned your back
on all. your old friends for the sake
Of a fellow who has brought you 10
this"
"To what?" Dorothy cried. her eyes
opening wide, and her tones expressing
such astonishment that David fairly
quailed before her look.
"To a ghost Of your old SELF" he an
swered CURLY. But it was all of nc
use. Dorothy could be curt, too. on
occasions. and she was so then.
1T seems to me that you are making
mistakes all round, David" she said
coldly. 81 am not very well, and the
heat has tired me-but ] am not wha,
you take me for. have been, thank
God for 1t. n blessedly happy wife fol
many months. | will wish you gooc
morning, David"
She turned away without giving hin
time to say a word, and went as quick,
ly as was possible toward her home
and went In without turning her head
to see what had become OF him. A!
for David Stevenson. he simply STOOD
rooted to the spot where she had lief
him. until she disappeared from hi'
sight; then he took a step or two n
II to follow her. but changed his mind
and retraced his steps, with a face lik'
a thunder cloud.
lie was so occupied with his owl
thoughts and his own disappointment
that he never noticed q smart yictorii