The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1900-11-23


mo, Dorothy. Did you think !
would ask any woman 10 tie herself 10
such as / am now, helpless cripple?
No, child. ! wanted TO tell you. as /
told your aunt that you can remain In
safety now at your home. for the
dreadful bear Is going away, not 10
hibernate, as my prototype does,
though / wish / could; but since that
cannot be. am going 20 try 10 get well
for some one love OF die
And she will go with you?"
Il cannot ask her that. II get well,
| will ask her 20 be my wife; II die,
she shall be my heiress."
Then" said the girl. with a sober.
downcast look, ~ she loves you, and !
am sure you would not want her 70
marry you IL she did not, you are do
ing her as well as yourself an inius-
tice."
How so?"
"You think you know all about
women, Mr.. Holbroke but you know
very little unless you do know that
true woman would love you all the bet
ter because you suffer. and be- all the
gladder to go with YOU because you
need her.
She did not wayer, though she felt
like one who builds a block whereon
her own hearts blood was 20 flow.
"Do you really think that Dorothy.
or is Il only because you are thinking
OF another's bearing the burden any
woman might naturally wish 10
shrink?"
"You are so cynical Mr.. Holhroke
that you believe In the goodness and
loyalty Of no one II You disbelleys
me, have no way 20 convince YOU that
spoke from my heart
There is a way, did YOU think !,
was for Miss Eastman | intend 20 get
well? II Is some one else love aal
for whose sake | want 20 be myself
again. so that | shall have the righ, 20
tell her OF my love, and ask hers IN
return"
Il never thought Of any one else;
Miss Eastman is so beautiful And
she looked AZ him wonderiugly.
This other is more beautiful 20 me,
and 1t Is almost more than | can en-
dure 10 leave her without telling her
OF my love, or asking her 70 wait for
me a while at least
He was looking at her with an al
most panied intentness.
"You are causing yourself needless
sorrow, and yet you do not tell me how
can prove that this is my honest
opinion"
"Oh. Dorothy, you have yourself 10
blame If you have overcome my firm
resolve That kiss you gave me when
you went away awoke a love which |
thought could never more exist for me.
Come to me, Dorothy. as | cannot come
to you, and say you forgive me FOR
saying this much 70 you, Just this
meagre bit OF all that is in my heart
You surely cannot joke about any
thing so sacred, Mr.. Holbroke?'
Dorothy physician does not like
to take his own medicine"
The girl turned away and low sob
smote his heart,
"Oh child child, you make me tell
! you all that | thought to repress, !
love you better than my life, and want
YOU to wait for me little while, and
forgive me for asking such thing OF
you
Forgive you for making me happy
she cried. turning n face where tears
and smiles were blended toward him.
Going to him, she tenderly caressed
the hand he had held out to her, but
which had failed at his side.
Can you learn to love me, Dor
othy?"
IL love YOU now, but my love Is
worthless If you cannot rely on ii for
help and comfort when you most need
IT,"
why, Dorothy, ono would almost
think YOU were willing to go with me
to Hot Springs"
Am ! forward If say that to &C
with you would make me very, very
hppy?"
God bless you. Dorothy" He drew
, her to him and kissed her, Il think
: Mrs. Grauthen should be told righ
away: she has been troubled for me.
She went with him to those won
drous waters which make the lam'
| walk. the leper TO be Cleansed; Doroth.
e could almost see their subtle powe
, stealing through her husbands veins
| and note day by day his Improvement
! the easier movement and slight gloy
in his face.
4 At last he walked to her across tn
| room.
Il can come to you now. Dorothy,
Il he said proudly. IL wonder If you wer
- ever half as glad to come to me?'
{ Il was very, very glad she an
n swered. loves light shining in he
S eyes. then fading swiftly.
Il what is the trouble. dear?'
A 40 you think IL you had known yo
e would get we'll again you would haN
is married me instead Of
l. He took her face between his hant
n and looked into her eyes, his own fu
Q. ct laughter.
t, II married you, came here, am abo,
4 well. and the hapiest man alive-ju
for spite. Does that sound reasoi
n ahle?"
IN "%o-o"
Id Then don't even let me see tn
shadow in your eyes again. We will
10 home soon and let Mrs. Granthen s.
en for whom | was fretting in those bitt
er past days-the little alchemist who h
SIS turned all this darkness into the gold,
ne sunshine Of happiness. '-Waverl
Magazine.
10 The king of Thieves.