The pioneer press. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 1893-190?, 1901-02-07
CHAPTER xvII.-(Continued.)

help from Dick. 1t generally fell to
Dicks lot to light the lamp, but to-
day she was all ready for him, and
had but to turn up the light a little
to have the water boiling.
There" she said, after about FIVE
minutes" and handing him a cup of
tea. Now tell me all-everything."
We'll" said Dick, finding himself
thus fairly up in a corner, and unable
to put off the evil m any longer,
II went"
"Yes?" eagerly.
And | saw her ladyship.'
"Oh! and is she up?"
up! My dear child, Lady Aylmer
rs as well as / am he answered.
Dorothy looked at him in wonder.
oh! Dick" she cried, "but what a
wicked old man?'
All! | fancy il runs In the blood"
said Dick, easily. zone man couldn't
have SO much original sin of his own
as the old savage has; it must be he
fedity."
Then do you think you will tell
horribly wicked stories when you are
Lord Aylmer, Dick?' she asked, ro-
guishly.
"Perhaps-who knows? All the same
there is one story l shall never tell
you" drawing her tenderly toward
him. IL shall always be true as the
Gospels when l tell you that l love
you better than any other woman In
all the world"
Something in his voice touched the
tenderest chords of her heart, and set
throbbing and beating with a sicken-
ing sensation of fear. Dick" she
said In a whisper, lis II very bad news
that you are trying to break to me-
does 1t mean India, after all?"
Dick looked straight into her clear
eyes. my dear little love- he said,
II am afraid 1t does mean India, after
all; but IL 1t does, 1t shall mean India
for us both"
He told her everything then-how
Lady Aylmer had received him, how
She had openly declared that her hus-
band had some scheme of his own to
get rid OF them both, how the old saw
age had received him, and what end
their interview had come to. But, of
course" he wound up, although /
took time to consider it, my mind was
made up in a moment. | shall refuse
the appointment"
There was a moments silence.
Dick, dearest" said Dorothy, in a
quiyering voice. lis it a very good
thing to be a military secretary to a
goyernor-general?"
"Oh. well-yes-it is, dear" he adj
mitted.
Il mean. would you have refused Ii
IL you had not been married, il you
had never seen me-"
mo, l don't suppose | should. I dare
say should never have bothered to
get such an appointment, because, as
you know. l hate the very idea of GO
Ing to India, but, at the same time,
TO be quite honest, / don't suppose l
should have refused. | don't suppose
any man in his senses would"
Dorothy drew her breath sharply,
and for a minute or two did not speak.
Dick, darling" she said at length, lit
Is true that you are married, but l
don't see that that is any reason why
you should not be in your senses, too"
What do you mean, Dorothy?" he
asked quickly.
Well. just this. Surprising that
Lord Aylmer had let you refuse this
appointment, and had not made himself
) disagreeable about your allowance, we
should have to go on just as we are
doing now. And, of course, Dick dear,
should like to be Mrs. Aylmer instead
of Mrs. Harris, and to live with the
regiment rather thar in Palace Man
sions; but-but, at the same time, since
there is so much to be gained by it.
l would just as soon be Mrs. Harris in
one place as in another, If | must be
Mrs. Harris at ALL"
Dick caught her close to him. DO
rothy, you mean" he began.
Il mean" she ended firmly, that I
would sooner go to India as Mrs. Har-
ris than drag you down in your pro-
f~ession. and put you at log~gerheads
with you uncle; because he is your
uncle, and the head of your family,
even though he is such an old savage
as he is
But, my dear, my dear, do you
know that in that case l should have
to go at once" he cried,
yes. ! know that, Dick" she an
swered.
But | can't leave you alone. just
now--I can't, Dorothy" he exclaimed.
its impossible; 1t would be inhuman.
Why. l should be out Of my mind with
anxiety and Distress