The Bemidji pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Beltrami County, Minn.) 1896-1917, 1901-02-07
CHAPTER AylI Continued

4 !. tray, spirit lamp anQskGtLie, anu VIII
this apparatus she always made the
tea herself with much pride, and some
help from Dick II 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 little
TO have the water boiling.
There" she said after about fTe
! minutes, and handing him q cup Of
= tea. Now tell me ALL everything.
Well" said Dick finding himself
thus fairly up In q corner, and unable
; to put off the evil moment any longer,
II went" al
esq? eagerly.
M "And saw her ladyship.'
aOh! and is she up
up! My dear child, Lady Aylmer
Is as well as i am, I he answered
Dorothy looked at him In wonder
E5"Oh! Dick. she cried, but what
wicked old man ~ n. s. ..,s4
...Ahl i fancy lit runs III the blood"
said Dick, easily. One man couldn't
have SO much original sin OF his own
as the old savage has; it must be he
redity.''
Then do you think you Will tell
horribly wicked stories when yon are
Lord Aylmer. D!ck? n she asked. ro-3
guishly &.
Perhaps who knows |? All the same
I there is one story ! shall never tell
YOU. drawing her tenderly toward
him. - shall always be true as the
Gospels when ! tell you that love
you better than any other woman Ia
all the world. I
Something In his voice touched the
tenderest chords Of her heart. and set
throbbing and beating with a sicken-3
ing sensation Of fear. . Dick she
said in a whisper, is It very bad news
that you are trying to break to me-
does 1t mean India. after all
Dick looked straight into ner clear
eyes. my dear little love. z he said,
Il am afraid 1t does mean India, after
all; but II it does, 1t shall rseasl India
for us both. E
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 tie old say
age had received him, and what end
their interview had come to- But, Of
course" he wound up, although Z
took time to consider 1t, my mind was
made up In q moment. I shall refuse
the appointment
There was q moment 5 silence.
'.Dick, dearest Is !. said Dorothy II In II 4
duivering voice, III II d very good
thing to be d military secretary to "a
governor-general r.
oh, we'll yes-7it il, dear, he adj.
mitted.
II mean, would you have refused IT,
II you had not been married, II you
had never seen me ~
"No, ] don't suppose ! should ] dare
say should never have bothered TO
| get such an appointment, because, as
you know, hate the very idea of go
ing to India, but, at the same time.
to be quite honest, don't suppose ]
should have refused. don't suppose
| any man In his senses would"
Dorothy drew her breath Sharply,
| and for minute or two did not speak.
Dick, darling she said at length, 1T
is true that you are married. but
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,
| I should like to be Mrs. Aylmer instead
of Mrs. Harris, and to live with the
| regiment rather than in Palace Man.
sions; but but, at the same time. since
there is so much to be gained by it,
I would just as soon, be Mrs. Harris in
4 one place as In another, IL / must be
4 Mrs. Harris at ALL 4.
\ Dick caught her close to him. DO
/ rothy, you mean = he began.
II mean" she ended firmly, that
I would sooner go TO INDIA as Mrs. Har-.
1 ris than drag you down In your pro-.
fession, and put you at loggerheads
with your uncle; because he is your
uncle, and the head Of your family,
1 even though he is such an old savage
as he is"
but, my dear, my dear, do you
4 know that in that case | should have
4 to 60 at once" he cried.
sYes. | know that. Dick" she an
i swered.
1 sBut j can't leave you alone, just
now-I can't, Dorothy" he exclaimed.
4 "Itfs impossible; 1t would be inhuman.
i why, | should be out of my mind with
anxiety and distress. :
"No, no--you would know that was
proud and happy to be able to do
something to help you, she replied.
81 would rather that you were here;
but, then, would always rather that
you were here. That is not new feel
ing for me. And shall not be alone.
1 shall have Barbara, you know. Bar
/ 80 ipt Won