The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-11-03

L
/ less body of the woman miser.
Ill
When the contents of the will were made
known Nurse Dora appeared thunder
struck. She had fully expected to inherit
everything in return for her services vol
UNFAIRLY offered to Nine. Pollette. Instead
she found herself merely entitled to small
! legacy, sufficient to keep her from actual
poverty for the rest of her life.
That DR.. Hupgerford should be the IA
vored one cut her deeply, seeing she had
| introduced him. Yet, after reflection, she
came to the conclusion things might have
been worse.
Surely" she argued to herself, 1.-The
least he could do under the circumstances
would be to offer me his name" Did he
not owe her this marvellous good fortune?
And were they not now such intimate
| terms Of friendliness as frequently deep
| ened into sentiment and love? She had
/ been attracted by his handsome face and
/ pleasant manners from the first, and it was
chiefly with the idea of conquering the
young doctor and winning his affections
| that she asked him to accompany her to
Madame Polette's lonely dwelling. She
was also anxious for him to be present as
witness when Madame Pollette died.
A morbid terror had filled her mind lest
she should be suspected of Fastening the
death by which she hoped to benefit
Now everything had turned out different.
| ~ to her desires. Sydney Hungerford was
unresponsive and apparently blind to her
charms, but what proved still more vexing
the fortune had also fitted to him.
Il suppose" she said, you have no OBJ
| lection to escorting me to England? We
may as well travel together"
He bowed politely. His manner towards
her had stiffened of late. He avoided her,
and talked little when they met.
With the thought of home came the thrill
ing delight of meeting Veronica. the girl
he had loved always, the girl he could now
afford to marry and keep in luxury.
1T strikes me-" said Sister Dora's gruff
voice. that you owe a good deal to a
chance meeting in a train"
yes. indeed. L hope you do not think
am ungrateful either &c the Fates or to
yourself"
The woman's dark eyes cleaned, her hard
face somewhat relaxed.
cit isn't exactly gratitude we women
! want" she said, from the men we have
helped. l knew from your face you were
ambitious the first moment 1 set eyes on
you. 1 thought If Madame Pollette could
see him she would make him her heir
| guessed you wanted riches more than any,
thing in the world. Quite young doctors
are not generally miIlionaires, especially
travelling second-class. So 1 said inwardly:
I will be the stepping-stone upon which he
shall rise I OWNED 1t all. I am clair
voyante and see into the future. The first
move was to get you to the house, the next
to work upon Madame Pollettes feelings
L suggested she should leave you money: 1
pointed out your talents; 1, who but for the
unselfsh devotion lavished on your cause
might myself have come into my old
friends possessions!'
| Sydney listened amazed to the long string
OF lies. Did the woman take him for a
fool? Had she not plainly shown her dis
gust at the reading of the will? Was it
possible now she expected him TO believe
in her disinterested motives? He realized
her aim at once. AS he turned his eyes on
the tall, defiant figure he knew she was all
but asking him to make her his wife.
But since there are none so blind as
those who will not see. Syndey Hungerford
merely answered with a conventional smile
Il thank you sincerely for your kind
| thought or me. L have been favored far be-
yond my deserts. But on one point you
must allow me to undeceive you. Madame
| Pollette told me herself she had always
wished to leave her fortune to a man. She
had small faith in the thriftiness of the
fairer sex"
'Oh, so you discussed the matter with
herr broke in Nurse Dora, sharply.
why did you never tell me? l do not feel
have been treated fairly. You gained an
undue influence over your patient. and in
my opinion there is but one reparation that
you can offer, one way OF proving your
gratitude 10 me. one reward 10 repay what
l have done for YOU"
Really he said. 1T would be interest
ing 10 hear your views on the subject"
From his tone it was difficult to Judge
whether he spoke seriously or sarcasticaIly.
Very handsome he looked as he turned
his eyes calmly upon her with an expression
OF scrutiny She tried TO read his thoughts.
but found the task impossible: her self
control was slowly slipping away AT last.
after pause in which she felt he must
hear the beating OF her heart she burst
out passionately:
''Oh. how short-sighted you arei Do you
want everything spelt? You might have
seen from the first. You must guess now
| what / mean but cannot say And yet, why