Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1900-01-31
1 that il i ,s.y few moments mis- head
was quite FIR, and he was able to

apsak
All he use lie ionie of this privilege,
howevrc, was L. utter "Tllank YOU
once o. ts-''r n weak. faint voice.
She hent down over him, gazing into
his face with anxiety and distress,
which touchrn - heart. Then, seeing
him ahle to I'll * to her, she uttered
two words. ~ hfnk God!" and without
an instant'a delay set herself to unite
the cords with which he had been skill
fully bound. Her hands, which were
large and strong and deft fulfilled
their task in an Incredibly short time,
untying knots and liberating each limb
in turn with steady dextesity, which
left no time for hysterical outburst or
even for kindly word.
Once, however. she glanced from her
work to his face. and the half shy, half
bold look In her passionate eyes carried
q secret Of hers swiftly into his mind.
And again, when she bent her head to
unfasten one Of the knots with her
strong. white teeth. while her long,
ioosened black hair flowed over his
arms and breast, he falt her warn. lips
trembling as they touched his Mnd,
and the knowledge the action gave
him thrilled him through and through.
At last he was free, and with a low
cry Of satisfaction she sprang back and
stood up, Offering him one hand to help
him to rise.
But be found himself for the B1pmsnt
20 much benumbed By the preSs{re of
the cords which had 80 lately bound
him that he had some difficulty In get
ting on his feet. When he succea1eA
the girl gave him one glance Of pas
sionate thankfulness and pride and
Joy. Chsping her hands tightly5Rbpt
with look which was stu shy hid
modest, she whispered: I'm SO glad, so
thankful You are safe, quite safe,
now"
And then. having ascertained that
he was indeed, as sshe said, safe for
the time at least, the remembrance
that she was In her nightdrass, that
her feet were bare, that her hair was
hanging In disorder about her shout
ders, came suddenly to her mind. Cast
ing down her eyes hastily and biting
her lip, she seized one Of the shawls
which her grandmother had left In her
chair, and, drawing 1t quickly round
her SO that 1t wrapped her from neck
to foot, yet still with the modest af-
fectation Of being only cold, not shy,
she seated herself in the empty chair
by the fire, and with an assumption Of
acting mechanically and from no mere
self consciousness she put her hands
up to her bead and hastily twisted her
long hair into thick coil, which she
tucked into the shawl at the back Of
her neck.
In the meantime she tried to speak
In matter Of fact tone.
"You must think. doctor, that you
are in a den Of thieves, murderersw
said she. But am going to show
you that you are mistaken"
Mason made no reply. After the
e1perishce he had Just gone through.
how could he give her even q conven-
tional assurance that he had no such
thoughts as she suggeste64
"You do think SO, don't youf" she
asked, her voice breaking little on
this second question.
When at last he found his voice, II
was very subdued. very earnest
Il know" said he gently, that am
In house which is honored by the
presence Of noble. heroic woman"
At these words long shivering sigh
went through her frame and seemed to
oonvulse her. He glanced anxiously at
her and saw that her face was radiant
with u strange JOY. that two tears were
| g1istening In her eyes.
thank you." said she simply In q
low voice. Thank YOU for your kind
ness. But what you are good enough
to think Of mo does not alter what you
think of-of'-
She stopped. her voice shaking, her
lips trembling. Mason then spoke In
the same low voice as before and In
the same deeply respectful manner.
II am ready to hear whatever you
may have to tell me about any one, J"
said he. .In the meantime you must
remember that you are not strong yet
that you must-must get some rest"
She sprang to her feet.
But your said she. what Will
you do4 Where will you go? IT
She stopped. drew long breath and
went on in tone which she triedriu
vain to make composed and indiffer.
emit. ''Of course you will be Qlha
safer-
But when she got as far as these
words she broke down, sank agMn into
the chair and, burying her face In her
hands. broke into a passion OF hys
terioal sobbing. he put his hand firm
~ on her shoulder.
"Come," said he in tone which he
made determined and almost stern
"Now must speak to you as the doc
tor. You must go back to bed, yor
must try to sleep, and you may rest
quite sure that shall look after my
self very carefully till morning" She
was shaking her head, clinging with
one hand to his sleeve. Come" he
went ON in gentler. more persuasive
tone. Guardian angels, you know
must take care Of themselves, II only
for the sake Of the persons whom theJ
guard"
Yes, yes" said she, II understand
And-and will. will rest. will BIZ
careful. Only. only tell me this: Wha'
will you do? Where will you go til
morningT
II shall go down stairs into the
Kitchen. 1t is 8 o'clock. l shall mo-
have long to wait before some one Ii
about. And will be as prudent ant
as cautious as If my life were as val
liable as my best friends seem to sup
pose"
She listened eagerly. solemnly. WheI
he had finished speaking, he took hel
hand in his. She was still sitting II
the armchair and trembling violently
but the firm grasp Of his fingers seem
ed to exercise upon her calming In
fluence, and after couple Of seconds
the clasp Of her own hand was as firm
and as steady US that Of his.
"Good night" said she III n low voic.
at last. II won't say. .goodby. Take
care. And-and tomorrow I will ex