The pioneer press. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 1893-190?, 1900-12-20

ment between us?-1 want to have a
long talk to you before any one else
knows a single word"
And Dorothy, of course, promised,
and Barbara promised too, believing
quite that Mr.. Harris wished to say
nothing about marrying and giving In
marriage while the dear mistress OF
the house lay cold and still within 1t.
1t was a sad and wretched day. The
news spread quickly through the
neighborhood, and every few minute
inquirers came to the door to heal the
details from Barbara and ask kindly
for Dorothy. And about noon, by the
time Dorothy had dragged herself out
of bed and was sitting m~iserably be-
side the d~rawing-room fire, David
Stevenson rode along the avenue anu
told Barbara that he wanted to see
Miss Dorothy.
Miss Dorothy is very poorly and
upset, SIR" said Barbara, who had a
sort of instinct that Dorothy would
rather not see this particular visitor.
Yes, but ] must see her all the
same" said David, CURLY. Where is
she?"
I'm the drawing-room, sir" said
Barbara. But l don't think l can let
you go in without asking Miss Doro-
thy-I-"
"Do you know" asked David, with
exasperating calmness, 'sthat l am
Miss Dimsdale's sole executor? No, l
thought not. Then you will understand
now, perhaps, that it is necessary that
| should see her-to find out her
wishes with regard to the funeral for
one thing. and to give her authority to
have her black frocks made for an
other" and then, poor Barbara hav-
ing shrunk away scared and trembling
from this new and strange David
Stevenson, whom she did not seem to
know at all, he went straight to the
drawing-room, going in and shutting
the door behind him.
Dorothy jumped up with a cry. al
most of alarm when she saw who had
thus entered. There" said he, cold
ly,. motionipg her back to her chair,
don't be afraid; ! shall not hurt you,"
and then he got himself a chair and
set it a little way. from hers.
Il was Obliged to come and see you
at once, Dorothy" he said, in a cold
and formal way, because your poor
aunt made me the sole executor under
her will. But first let me say how
very, very sorry l am that I,have to
come like this. / have known Miss
Dimsdale all my life, and loved her al
ways"
Dorothy had softened a little at this,
and before he had ended his sentence
began to cry piteously. David Steven
o went on:
II don't want to speak about the
reason why she left me in charge of
everything" he said-"at least, not
just now. OF course, she thought that
everything would be very different
with us. And then, too, she was a
good deal mixed up with me in BUSH
ness matters, and / believe she wished
that the outside world should know as
little Of her affairs as possible. Now,
Dorothy, it shall be as you wish; L
will either simply hear your wishes
about the funeral and the mourning
and all that, and tell you how your af-
fairs stand by-and-by. or I will tell
you now, whichever you like"
sJ unC,,ld rothar Euouy &1x 1r~l
now" said Dorothy, in a very low
voice. She knew from his manner that
he had no comforting news to tell
her.
Then ! will tea you," said he, in a
strained tone; "and first / must ask
you, did Miss Dimsdade we tell you
that she had great losses during the
past two years."
"Losses!" cried Dorothy, with open
eyes. mo; / don't know what you
mean"
II feared not. Well, she had several
terrible losses Of money, and-and, to
cut a long story short, Dorothy, l ad-
vanced her several large sums on-on
the security of this property"
Then this-go on" said Dorothy.
AT hat time Miss Dimsdale and |
10th thought that everything would
be different between you and me, and,
in fact, that I was but advancing
money to you. We thought that the
world-our little world here, I mean
would never know anything about 1t,
and she was obliged to sell the Hall
to somebody. I gave her more for il
than anybody else in the world would
have done, because-well, because |
wished to oblige her, and to help her
over this difficulty. On no account