The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1900-09-07
THEBEAUTIFJJI1 i
WHITE DE VII
Bx
GUY BooTHBY
Author Of "A Bid for Fortune "Dr. Nikola"
The Marriage Of Esther" Etc. Copyright 1898 by D.
Appleton & Company. &c &c
CHAPTER VI.
A TRIP INTO THE COUNTRY.

cases CreaGeu 100 udU recovered. Inc
rest lay in the little graveyard on the
hillside to the eastward of the town. 1t
had been a weary, harassing time from
to end, and the strain and re-
sponsibility had had more severe effect
upon me than should have anticipated
Allie alone, of all the workers, seemed
untouched. Her indomitable will would
not permit her body to know such
thing as fatigue, and for this reason the
last day of our work found her powers
as keen and her energy as undated as
they had been on the first.
On the afternoon Of the day following
the discharge Of my last patient she
me into the surgery, and seating her.
self in my armchair looked about her
with that interest my medical affairs
always seemed to inspire in her.
"Dr. De Normanville, she began,
clasping her little white hands together
on the arm of the chair, II have been
watching you lately, and I have come
to the conclusion that you are thorough
~ tired out. There is but one cure for
that-rest and complete change of air
and scene. +"
"And pray what makes you suppose
I am worn out?" asked, wiping pair
Of forceps that had been using OIL a
native boy five minutes before and put
ting them back into their case.
"The color Of your face for one
thing" she answered, land the way
you move about for another. Your APP
petite, have also noticed, has been
gradually falling off of late No, it
won't do. My friend, you have been SO
good to us that we should be worse than
ungrateful if we allowed you to get i'll.
So, without consulting you, have ar
ranged little holiday for you.
"That is very kind of you,'' l said.
"And pray what is it to be-"
81 will tell you. You are an enthu-
siastic botanist and entomologist, are
you not? Very we'll, then. This island
abounds with unclassifed fora and
fauna. Twill have an expedition fitted
out today, and tomorrow morning we
will leave the settlement and plunge
into the interior. expect a weeks alb
sence from worry will work a wonder
full change in you. At any rate, we'll.
try it. What have you to say to my
propositions"
81 should like it above all things, !"
answered eagerly. And, indeed, apart
from the scientific chances it would
afford me, a trip anywhere in her com
pany could not be anything else than
delightful.
Having gained her point, she rose to
CO.
81 may consider it settled, / sup.
pose?" she said. At daybreak tomor-
row morning we are to mount our po-
MES in the square down yonder and set
off. You need not bother about rifles or
any impedimenta Of that kind. will
see that you are well provided. .
So saying, she withdrew, and I saw
no more of her that day. The rest of the
afternoon spent in preparing my speci-
men boxes for the trip, and when l
sought my couch at night it was to
dream Of birds and beetles of the most
glorious coloring, size and variety.
True to our arrangement aybreak
next morning found me, booted and
spurred, striding toward the village
square. Early as was at the rendez-
vous, Allie was there before me, mount
ed on neat bay pony, and evidently
| awaiting my coming. She wished me
good morning. and then pointed to
the group of pack horses standing at a
little distance in charge of half dozen
men.
I'VE shall not want for provisions
during our travels 4" she said, with a
happy laugh, and as she did SO she sign
ed to one OF her attendants to lead up
pony she had reserved for my use.
THE cook and his staff, !" she contin-
ued. have gone Oh ahead of us to pre-
pare our breakfast, SO now if you are
ready Well start -
I The order to march was thereupor
given and we Immediately set off up
the mountain track
| When the first half dozen miles were
overcome. the aspect of the country be-
| gan to change. It became more open
and we continually emerged from tim.
Der on to highly grassed plains, where
| pig and deer of many kinds were to be
seen feeding placidly. Toward O'Clock
the trend Of the country lay upward an6
continued SO until we had mounted to a
considerable elevation, when an extern.
sive panorama was unfolded before us
The island must indeed have been a
large one if it could be judged by the
extensive views we had presented to us
of it. Only on the settlement side could
l see the sea, while on the other the
forest rolled away as far as the eye coult
reach.
A little before shutdown Allie inform
ed me that we were close upon our DIES
tination. And surely enough, Just a.
the orb Of day disappeared behind the
tree tops, we saw before us, on a small
plateau, four or five large and exceed
ingly comfortable huts,, which the mer
who had preceded us that morning hat
erected for our accommodation. They
faced toward the east, and the view
from the little terrace on which they
stood was beautiful in the extreme
Across it and for short distance be-