The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1901-03-08
CHAPTER xX.-(Continued.)

mltted, unW1ll1ngly.
SIS 1t absolutely so or not?" Dorothy
asked again.
We'll, I'm afraid it is," said David,
with a great air of making a clean
breast of the whole matter. "You see,
Dorothy, the old fellow never was
much OF hand at gardening"
He was good enough for U.S." sighed
Dorothy, in heart broken voice.
Eyes; but indeed he really was past
his work. or should never have
thought of displacing him. And If it
hadn't been for you-that he was a
good many years your gardener-'
Nearly forty years." put in Dor
othy.
well, Of course, If it hadn't been
for that l should just have replaced
him without troubling any further
about him. AS it was, made place
for him, and gave him ten shillings
week for what could get better done
by boy for SIX"
"And the cottage?" asked she.
"Oh, well, Of course, the cottage goes
with the situation" answered David,
who was getting rather sulky.
There was a moments silence; then
Dorothy suddenly stopped and turned
to face him. David" she flashed out,
you may be a good farmer, but you
are hard man, hard man. One of
these days you'll come to be-but,
there, what is the good of talking to
you? If long and faithful service
will not touch your heart, what else
will?"
There is one thing which will al
ways have power to touch my heart
he said, eagerly. "shall 1 tell you
what?"
NO" said Dorothy, YEARLY. II prob
ably should not believe it. If forty
years would not do it, nothing else
could"
AS she spoke she turned down the
street which led to Palace Mansions,
for she saw that it was hopeless now
to try to prevent his finding out where
she lived; and, indeed, now that Dick
was safely out OF the country, she did
not think that it mattered much. Da-
vid, for his part, took advantage of the
quiet side street, and spoke out what
was in his mind.
Dorothy he said, come back to
the Hall, and will show you whether
l am hard man or not; only come
back and let us forget the past, nobody
need know anything. l will never
remind you of it. Only come back, my
dear, and everything shall be as you
wish-as you direct. I'll send the new
gardener to Holroyd, and Isaac shall
be head gardener at the Hall, with a
couple of men under him to do the
work. Does that sound like being
hard, Dorothy?"
Eyes" said Dorothy, coldly-"hard-
est of all, because you would not hest
tate to buy me, body and soul, through
my compassion and pity for those poor
unfortunate ones, who can not help
themselves, and can not fight against
the hard power which your money and
your strength give you"
ooh, Dorothy, it is not So" he cried.
II only ask you to come back because I
love you and want you. Besides,
can not bear to see you as you look
now-tired and worn, and ten years
older than when you turned your back
on all your old friends for the sake
OF fellow who has brought you to
this
"To what?" Dorothy cried, her ewes
opening wide. and her tones expressing
such establishment that David fairly
quailed before her look.
ITO ghost of your old self" he an
swered CURLY. But it was all of no
use. Dorothy could be curt, too. on
occasions, and she was so then.
"lt seems to me that you are making
mistakes all round, David" she said.
coldly. II am not very well, and the
heat has tired me-but I am not what
you take me for. have been. thank
God for it, a blessedly happy wife for
many months. will wish YOU good
morning, David" S
She turned away without giving him
time to say word. and went as quick
ly as was possible toward her home.
and went in without turning her head
to see what had become of him. AS
for David Stevenson. he simply stood 4
rooted to the spot where she had left
him. until she disappeared from his !.
sight; then he took a step or two as
II to follow her, but changed his mind,
and retraced his steps. with face like A
q thunder cloud.
N He was 80 occupied with his own
thoughts and his own disappoint ment
that he never noticed q smart victoria
and pair which was drawn up Just
within the corner Of the quiet street,
hut It's occupant. an old, whtte-haired
gentleman. had noticed him. and took
keen stock Of him as ~ passed. David
Stevenson. would have been consider-s
ably surprised Il he could have heard
thu order which the same old gentle
man gave his coachman inst after -
bad SWING past. & Follow thst 80