The Bemidji pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Beltrami County, Minn.) 1896-1917, 1901-04-04
cHAPTER -XxYII .-.Ilcontinued

a fered him, he did not dare refuse II
Still, he hated to 60 and leave me
just now especially. What he woul
L say If he knew about Barbara, can
think. don't think ! would tell him
would your
mot till all is over answered Els
Their. 1T would only worry him fo
a nothing. By-the-bye, what is he like?''
oh" and Dorothy looked round fo
Dicks portrait. Oh, here he is, Z hold
| Ing It out to her cousin. ~.
| Esther Brand took 1t and looked al
i It attentively for a long time, sippei
her tea, and looked again and ye
/ again. ~
4 Well, !" said Dorothy, impatiently.
II like him" said Esther, che looks
good and true, and he Is a handsome
man, too-a fine, honest-looking, man.
" man Yes. Il like him you're a
lucky little girl, Dorothy.
so I think answered Dorothy
proudly, "and Dick is just what he
locks honest as the day, and as good
las gold. Il IN.
Esther laughed. Well, you are a
lucky little woman to have won such
q husband. never met man like
that, or should have been tempted TO
give up my liberty long ago. Do you
| know, dearie, I always had horrible
conviction that you would end by mar
rying David Stevenson, and / always
did dislike David Stevenson with all
my heart and soul. Z
$50 did r." answered Dorothy,
promptly.
For moment she was tempted to
tell Esther all about her meeting with
David, then a feeling that 1t would be
scarcely fair to him held her back, and
she kept her own counsel about that
matter
OF course. there is no knowing what
I might or might not have done il
dear Auntie had lived, ]" she said, wish
ing to explain everything as far as pos
sible and yet avoid saying much about
David's feelings for her, and If i had
never seen Dick; but then, you see, j
did meet Dick, and Dick liked me, and
and" ;8ss ss
And David Stevenson went to the
wall, Y Esther said, finishing the SEN
tence for her, and II very proper and
suitable place for him, too, my dear
child, 81 with laugh.
Dorothy laughed, too 'tAll /! you are
all very hard on poor David, she said
softly. "a.
4 Now. how shall we do about din
ner? Hadn't we better wait little.
and see II this woman comes, and then
go into town and dine somewhere ~.
she said. II can't offer to cook din
ner for You. II ! did, it would probably
kill you to eat it,
Just as you like. Then, couldn't we
call at st. Georges and leave a note
to tell Barbara you have Gomez Do
rothy asked. "It will be such load y.
her mind
To be sure" Esther answered; and
then they settled down to their chat
again, and Esther heard great deal
more about Dick, and learned a great
many OF Dorothy's hopes and wishes
about the baby that was to come be-
fore long.
And presently there came some one
to the door who rang gently and
knocked softly.
Il will go; sit STILL cried Esther.
She went to the door, where she
found a handsome, neatly dressed wo-
man. about forty years old. Mrs.
Harris??' she said inquiringly.
No." said Esther. II am not Mrs.
Harris, but this is her house Will you
come in? / suppose Lord Aylmer sent
you?"
Yes, madam, /" said the stranger re-
spectfully.
1t struck Esther as a little odd that
she should use the term madam" but
she put the thought away from her al
most as soon as it had taken shape in
her mind. "Of course, she is a mar
ried woman, and perhaps has never
been a servant at all, she said to her
self; then said aloud: well, come
In and see Mrs. Harris. I am sure she
will be very glad that you have come.
By-the-bye, what is your name9"
My name is Harris, too, madam"
the stranger answered, with a depre-
eating look, as if she had rather taken
a liberty in having married a man of
the name of Harris.
Dear me, how odd! Well, / sup
pose my cousin will like to call you by
your Christian names And that is
-?"
amelia, madam" she answered
quietly
"oh, yes.' Then Esther opened the
door and fade Amelia
Harris follow her.
Dorothy, here is Lord AyImer' s..
Why, my dear child, what is the mat
ter?" for Dorothy was lying back in
the chair with face as white as chalk
and pinched with pain.
Z am so ILL.," she gasped. ooh, Es-
Their! Estheri"
Esther took firm ground at once.
Nov, don't give way, my dear: all
= u i