The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1901-04-18

To Clarice she vowed a redoubled de-
votion. All! If any care of hers might
help her towards recovery, so that
when her lover returned from his In
dian campaign she might be we'll
enough to marry! Only in helping to
bring that marriage to a successful is
sue could she hope to efface the last
miserable half-hour. She would try
too, and talk to Doctor Drake some day
by herself, and ask If any possible
change of treatment might hasten
Clarice's recovery. The very thought
brought comfort and hope with 1t.
Having decided her course of action,
she proceeded to put it into practice;
smoothed her hair, and tried 20 wash
the traces of tears from her face. Then
she sat down and wrote few lines to
her brother, declining to lend him the
money, and giving him her reasons for
the refusal. After that she went to
Clarice's room, who, happily, she found
alone.
II thought you were never coming!"
said Clarice fretfully. Come and sit
close by me where can see you.
need your soothing presence so badly
to-day. Why. what is the matter with
you, dear? You look as if you needed
soothing yourself. You have been cry
ing. and thought you were a woman
who could not cry"
Janetta gave rather a watery smile.
"You were wrong, you see. l have been
in trouble about several things, and I
could not see my way clear; but see
it now. shan't cry any more, prom
Use YOU" And Janetta threw back her
head with something of her usual frank
reliance.
Clarice glanced at her wistfully.
You are reserved and proud, Janetta;
but if it were case where money
would help"
With quick alertness Janetta bent
down and kissed one of Clarice's tiny,
helpless hands.
"Ah! how good and dear you are;
but it is not case of money. I am
almost glad not to have it, because l
might do harm instead of good with
it,"
Not my hands, my face" said
Clarice simply. And Janetta bent and
kissed her on the forehead, oppressed
with sense of her own unworthiness.
The day passed like dream. She
saw Captain Merivale only at meals,
for he and Clarice spent the evening
alone together.
The next day, when he came down
after bidding her good-by, he found
Mrs. Mortimer standing alone in the
hall, giving her last directions for the
packing of his luggage into the car
riage. He looked searchingly about
for Janetta.
'sMiss Howard desired me to bid you
good-by for her." said Mrs. Mortimer,
answering his glance. "She went into
)sthe town for something"
(, ooh, thank you. Tell her was sorry
not to see her. You and she will look
after Clarice for me whilst I'm away,
won't your"
The next instant he was gone. ia
META, meanwhile, sought shelter in a
little cove by the seashore, and sat
with her back against the cliff, and
her fearless eyes gazing out Stewards.
Her teeth were clenched in the eff
fort to keep back the sobs that rose in
her throat. She would gladly have
uprooted this strange love that had
grown up in her heart, but she could
not.
"He's gone now" she said, pulling
out her watch and looking at it. at
can't be wrong to go on loving him
when I shall never see him again. 1t
can neither hurt him nor me, for he
does not know it; and God knows ]
have but one great wish in life left to
,me-that he and Clarice should marry
It CHANGED that on her way home
she came across Doctor Drake walking
quickly down the street. He would
have passed her by with a bow, but
she came to a stop.
There is something wanted to talk
to you about. Could you spare me a
minute?"
Certainly" he said, with a slight
surprise.
II never get the chance of a WORD
alone with you. Will you forgive me
If ask If there is nothing that could
be done to hasten Miss Seymour's re-
covery?"
Doctor brakes fair face flushed. "I,
is a question that is often before me
Do you think her worse?" he asked
anxiously.
"she. is out Of spirits, and LOSING
hope"
"Of what?" inquired the Doctor i'm.
patiently. "Of recovery or what?"
"Of everything that makes her life
worth living. Until she is better she
will not marry"
Cor Captain Merivale will not marry
herr" broke out the Doctor. (Which
is it, do you think? You are speaking
I. frankly to me, Miss Howard, and 1 car
but answer you in the same spirit. NJ
specialist can do anything for Mis-:
Seymour. I will tell you briefly my
opinion, which is backed by other me1
In my profession. When Miss Seymour
was thrown from her horse she severe
~ strained the nerves of the spine.
AS far as we can discover, the in
jury is entirely overcome; but hel
whole nervous system is shattered
When that RECEIVERS its tone she will
be we'll. It lies much with herself ant
= those about her. That is why I ad
vised cheerful companionship of cir
nhOlyf ha,. ou,p Tive IT.,