The Bemidji pioneer., 1900-12-13
whlch set DICK WONDERING what

which set DICK wondering WHAT ~
could mean.
Well, after this It very soon became
an established custom that Dick should
find his way over to Graveleigh at
least twice In every week, and some
times Miss Dimsdale asked him 70
stay to share their dinner, for she
was a woman OF very hospitable ma
ture, though she was quiet and some
what stiff In manner, and little oid-
fashioned In her ideas. And althougn
David Stevenson had all her wishes On
his side, she really grew to Ike l)icK
the better OF the two, for DICK was
gentle and kind in his manner %
each and ali alike, content 10 lei MS
wcoing do itself if the truth between
you and me be told, happy I'D the
present, and a little inclined to leave
the future to be as long the future az
might be because OF the terrible old
uncle In the background. Then, too,
there was always present In MS mind
the knowledge that, sooner Or later, ne
would have to make clean breast OF
his identity to Miss Dimsdale and to
Dorothy, and to cast himself upon
their mercy as regards the deception
which had really been no fault OF his,
and to persuade them TO consent 70
secret marriage And whenever poor
Dick reached this point in his refiec-
lions, he invariably gave groan 81
utter despair, for he had q dreadful
foreboding that never, never would
Dorothy's aunt give even the most re-
luctant consent TO anything Of the
kind
| So the sweet autumn days skipped
over September died and October was
born, lived It's allotted time, and IN turn
passed away, and Wintry November
came In. The last tinted leaves fell
from the trees of the great oaks and
horse chestnuts, and the tall poplars
which shrouded the hall were now but
gaunt and shiyering skeletons, only q
| memory of their old luxuriance and
glory. But to Dorothy Strobe the bare
| and Ieafiess trees were more beautiful
| than they were either in their summer
| gowns Of green or in all the many
4 hued loveliness Of their autumn frocks,
for to Dorothy all the world was light
| ed and beautified by the warmth and
i fire Of radiant love-better to her the
/ leafess branches OF November with
1 love than the fairest blooms Of spring
time into which love had not yet come.
During this autumn she had seen
! but little of her old admirer, David
Stevenson. He had gone to the Hall
once or twice after he knew that the
i man from Colchester had become a
i frequent visitor there gone with
savage assertion OF his rights as an
/ old friend and lifelong intimate OF
the house. But when he found that
4 Miss Dimsdale had, as he put it, gone
j over to the enemy" he gave up even
i that much intercourse, and gave all
/ his energies to his farming. content,
as he told himself, to bide his time.
AT last about the middle Of Novem-
i Der when half the officers of the regir
ment were on leave, and soldering
4 and Colchester alike were as fiat and
dull as ditch water, Dick Aylmer got
| into his dog-cart and turned the
horses head toward the big gates.
"Hullo, Dick" called out q brother
officer to him, where are you going r
"Oh, drive returned Dick prompt
| ".
"oh, "a drive" repeated the other
noting the evasion instantly-trust a
soldier for that Got any room for g
! fellow?" &
take you as far as the town i
you like said Dick good naturedly
i mo, never mind" answered the 9TH
4 tr. .I'll walk down with Shocks pres
emily"
..Didn't want a lift, you know he
explained to Shocks, who in polite so
ciety was known as Lord William
d veryl, ''but did want to find ou'
where old Dick was going. But Dici
was ready for me, and as close ass
wax.
.eYes, know tried 1t on myself
with him the other day." said Shook:
refiectively. Dick informed me ht
7 was making careful study OF mares
nests for the benefit Of the British AS
ISOLATION"
Ito be continued.)