The Bemidji pioneer., 1900-12-20
you 80 Ia without asking Miss Doro-

you 80 ia without asking Msss Doro-
| thy--I"
! "Do You know asked David, with
exasperating calmness. that am
Miss Dilnsdale's sole executor? No,
thought not. Then you will understand
now, perhaps, that 1t 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 TOR an
other;;" and then, poor Barbara hav-
| ing shrtink 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. motioning her back TO her chair,
don't be afraid; I shall not hurt you," 7.
and then he got himself a chair and
set It q little way from hers.
II 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 am that / have to
come like this. ] have known Miss
Dimsda1e all my life, and loved her all
ways
Dorothy had softened a little ait this.
and before he had ended his sentence
began to cry piteously. David Steven
son went on: .5s
II don't want to speak about the
reason why she left me In charge of
everything he said at least, not
just now or 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; 1
will either simply hear your wishes
about the funeral and the mourning
and al that, and tell you how your af-
fairs stand by-and-by, or willHtelI
you now, whichever you like.
81 would rather know the worst
now said Dorothy, in a very low
voice. She knew from his manner that
he had no comforting news to tell
/ her. PES
.Then will tel you" said he, in
strained tone; "and first must ask
you, did Miss Dimsdale ever tell you
that she had great losses during the
past two years?
'Losses.' cried Dorothy, with open
eyes. mo; I don't know what you
mean. Z 4
III feared not Well, she had several
terrible losses OF money. and--and, to
cut a long story short, Dorothy, n adj
yanced her several large sums on On
the security Of this property.
Then tlis--go on. ( said Dorothy.
TAT that time Miss Dimsdale and /
both thought that everything would
be different between you and me, and,
in fact, that ! was but advancing
money to you.- We thought. that the
world our little world here, I mean
would never know anything about II,
and she was obliged to sell the Hall
to somebody. ! gave her more for it
than anybody else in the world would
have done, because we'll, because i
s,.,i chad ~, 0h1ipa her and IA hpln 9haf.
over this difficulty. On no account
would I have disturbed her here Or
have taken farthing of rent from her,
IL she had lived to be ninety
Then this is your house?' Dorothy
asked.
1T is" he answered, quietly.
4sBut Auntie had a very large an.
nuity," he exclaimed.
ITO be continued.)