Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1900-01-03
CHAPTER TX.
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| ana still by the bedside Of the Eicl
girl for some moments after she had
uttered her strange warning.
The moment the words had left hel
lips she had transferred her gaze back
from his face to that of her grand.
mother, who, with eyes still closed
and breath drawn as If In sleep, was
sitting huddled up in her armchair
while the Pickering freight played
upon her features and caused odd
shadows to cross them. SO that they
seemed to be twisted into a series OF
weird and hideous grimaces.
Then he turned to the girl and spoke
In very low voice, with soothing,
grave looks and gestures
You must not talk, and you must
not worry yourself. There is no need.
believe me-"
But the girls face darkened with a
look of great fear.
Il know better than you," whispered
she. with glance of warning. "You
must believe me, trust me and do as I
say"
She was SO much In earnest, so much
excited. that there was nothing for 1t
but to appear to fall in with her
wishes.
Every WELL" said he. "since yon
wish 1t will 60"
LIE had not the slightest intention of
keeping his word Immediately, al
though this was the impression he
wished to convey to her. But the sick
girl was too shrewd and too deeply
interested In the matter to be put off
SO easily.
She frowned and, looking once more
at his face, though only for moment,
said in stronger voice:
Don't play with me. I understand.
You are trying to deceive me. You
will not CO.,
Alarmed for the effect this excite
ment must have upon her, Mason saw
at once that the girl was no fool to be
Gained by a few vague words and an
swered her straightforwardly and hon.
estly.
Il promise you that will go as soon
as you are WE'LL" said he In the same
low voice as before, instinctively glanc-
Ing, as he spoke, at the old woman,
upon whom the young girls keen eyes
were once more fixed. "And that will
take every possible precaution in the
meantime. And you must keep quiet.
Remember, no one will dare to lay q
finger on me while am looking after
you. Your father would take care Of
that"
A look of intense relief ard delight
lit up her face at these words. She
smiled and gently moved her head in
assent.
yes. yes, that is quite true. had
forgotten-I hadn't thought
She stopped and, even as her lips
ceased to move, an expression Of fear
crossed her face again. She turned
her eyes toward the door and seemed
to wait for something. Her ears were
sharper than the doctors, for in an
other moment her fathers anxious face
appeared from behind the screen which
bad been roughly improvlsed with
some shawls and clothes horse.
How is she? Is she any worse7
Didn't l hear her talking?" asked he
as he came quickly across the room to-
ward the doctor with that look Of hun.
Cry love in his eyes us he looked at his
daughter which had touched Mason
on his every mention Of the sick girls
name.
"She is no worse" said the doctor; "a
little better if anything. The poulttce
I ordered has relieved the pain"
Then the girl herself spoke, looking
up affectionately In her fathers face.
II am better, father" she said.
'Thanks to him."
And she glanced at Mason. The IA
Their trembled from head to foot. His
little brown, eagle face twitched with
the force Of the emotion he felt as he
stretched out his small, hard, rough,
sinewy hand toward Mason across
the narrow bed.
"God bless you, sir" said he In a
husky voice. "Those are the sweetest
words / have heard for many a day.
God bless your
It was he whom the doctor now had
to calm. for his emotion was so strong
that 1t threatened to break out into
violent expression, disturbing to the
invalid. He began to run alternately
toward the bed AID to the doctor with
impetuous relief and gratitude which
would have been ludicrous but for the
deep feeling which led to the childlike
action. Mason laid a restraining hand
on his arm, which he found to be trem-
bling conyulsively.
"Come," said he gently, control
yourself, Mr.. Tregaron. This excite
ment is good neither for you nor her.
She must be kept quiet, very quiet,
STILL"
The farmer glanced up at him with
tears in his eyes, shook him once more
by tne hand and went quietly out Of
the room.
When Mason repassed the bed on
his way to his chair In the corner, he
saw that the sick girl was lying with
her eyes closed, as if trying to sleep.
but he knew instinctively that this
was only blind, that her brain was
working rapidly and that she did not
wish to be disturbed.
He retreated to his corner, closed his
eyes and pretended to sleep In his turn
And after time he had the satisfac.
ton Of seeing that his patient had real
~ fallen into light slumber. He
from his dark corner. was able to
watch SO well that he knew the mo
ment when this sleep Of his patient
became sound, and he was able also te
note the curious circumstance that
that was the exact time when the old
woman by the fire opened her black
eyes again.
From between his half closed eye
lids he watched her curiously.
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