Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1900-05-15
RA U l|EG>
ny w1nn1Am T. NICHOLS.

| some city, or even of n partnership with
Banks. So long as was In the hermt's
employ I must be free to follow him
II need arose. It was my duty, strive
rs might to disguise the fact
Dorothy and did not continue quite
| the old friendship. There was subtle
| difference in our relations. We were
together often, though she seldom drove
with me and there were no more boat
ing excursions, but there was some
thing of our former comradeship lack
ing. She was graver, quieter, more ab-
stracted. The mourning she wore was
no meaningless badge of sorrow She
was grieving over her nuut's loss, and,
feared, causelessly reproaching herself
| for the accident. 1t was not time for
| me to speak; it was better to wait until
her thoughts should be less with the
decd ind more with the living. l had
determined, when my opportunity
came, to lay my doubts and difficulties
fairly before her, and to ask her aid In
seeking q way out of them.
But many days wore away before the
opportunity was mine. had asked her
toaccompany me to BASKERVILLE, and we
were riding homeward from that town,
with the horse fallen into his LATEST
ljog.trot. For some little time neither of
MS had spoken She was prcoccupied,
thought, but II did not occur to me to
suspect that any unusual cause existed
for her abstraction. AS for myself
well. innsmuch as she was by my side,
I was fairly content.
MAY ask your advice" she said, at
last, breaking the silence.
Surely. in anything" I answered.
1T seems to be best, but am not
quite satisfied with my own judgment"
This she said us if more in explanation
to herself thon to her nearer. II am 90
ing away"
"Why?" ! demanded. why, and
when. and whither?"
ut must be soon; I've realized it ever
since my cunts DEATH" she said, with a
| brave effort at composure. II am poor
Il think you know that must find a
WY TO support myself. I have thought
that perhaps could be most useful as
Il nurse, and that you could tell me
where the best training-schools were.
Tho people here have been very, very
kind, but must leave them.
III you heed my advice You will not
go away" said ]. and us to becoming
q nurse, don't dream of such thing
Have you any idea of the long hours
of duty, the responsibility, the strain
on mind and body?"
"Yes, think I understand. But
whit else is there for me to do? Be
licve me, this is no hasty decision"
'But it is one you will never cease to
regret"
Regret? l hardly think that-un-
less should find myself incapable"
"Nonsen=e! Pardon me for speak
Ing SO plainly, but that isn't the point
at issue. The question you have to de-
| eide is this: DO yoI wish to devote Your
best years to labors arluous, cxacting,
often rewarded poorly in money ard
even less in gratitude, only to find your
self at the end Of them broken in health
a1id spiTit2 tell you plainly you were
not sent into this world to lead such an
existence"
please don't discourage me-" she
! said, almost entreatingly. you don't
understand. / want to do some good
in my life, and the way | have chosen
seems to me the best. cannot teach,
/ am not musician, should starvc as
n scamstrrSs. Bat as a nurse"
you're the best girl in the world,
and the best place for you is right here"
My rehcmence seemed 10 startlc her,
and she sh1nnll little from NC.
Dorothy, you must not CO." blum
dered on. "You speak of making your
life useful. Can you not make mine
happy? You are more to INC than all
the rest of the world. Without you L
| l."
Then words failed INC. tried to take
her hand, but she drew it from nv
clasp.
"Dr. Morris, you are very kind, but
but"
1t was her turn 10 lose command of
her voice, but she rcgained it quickly.
please forget what you have sail,'
she went on. at will lie better So
But | don't want TO forget it. /
want to rcpeatsit. Dorothy, can't you
give me hope?"
please don't ask me. Why should
you?"
You may consider me ungencro,s,
tut l must have an answer. What
shnll it bc?"
mo"
The word was spoken low, but too
distinctly TO be miStakcu | looked nj
her i'll the vain hope of finding some en-
enlargement in her face. Her eyes
were averted, and she was very pale,
but she was clearly mistress OF herself.
In desperation l pulled the horse down
to q walk, ! was determined to tell
my tale through to the bitter end, now
that it had been begun, and desired
plenty of time for the recital,
Dorothy" said !, finding my only
grain of comfort in the fact that she
suffered me to address her thus, "Dor-
othy, I-I-love You. | should have
revealed my secret long ago, had felt
free to do so. But SO many obstacles
were in the way. In the first place, l
believed you to be rich Had come
to you then and made my plea, itwould
have been with the feeling that l was
playing the fortune hunter saw you
daily, and daily the longing to speak
grew, but l could not yield to 1t. Not
only was poor. but my prospects We're
uncertain. I was held by contract
which might cnll upon me to leave you,
10 go ! knew not whittier. If l broke