Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1901-04-19
A PRETTY - ~
~ ~ COMPA. MON

BY Louise bedford.
CHAPTER VII.

o,,rice she vowed redoubled de-
~ .,on All! il any care Of hers might
o,n her towards recovery, so tna'
, wy, her lover returned from his IN
,nu campaign she might be well
ils. oh to marry! Only in helping to
nina that marriage to successful Is
40 could she hope to elface the last
si.or,he half-hour.s She would try
a - onl talk to Doctor Drake some DAY
" horeo}s, and ask if any possible
sonro e treatment might hasten
r,a ..;ca,, recovery. The very thought
,rnuebt comfort and hope with 1t.
Wv Wing decided her course of action,
i. r,,ccedcd to put it into practice;
.mootbed her hair, and tried to wash
~ Traces of tears from her face. Then
y, sat down and wrote few lines to
,or brother, declining to lend him the
.orev and giving him her reasons for
M refusal, After that she went to
nIarice $ room, who, happily, she 1ound
alone
aid c1crice fretfully. Come and sit
,,osc nv me where l can see you. !
rop1 your soothing presence SO badly
to-day. Why, what is the matter with
you dear? You look as if you needed
soothjng yourself. You have been cry
sng, and thought you were woman
mho could not cry"
1anetta gave rather a watery smile.
nyou were wrong, you see. have been
IN trouble about several things, and l
could not see my way clear; but l see
n now. | shan't cry any more, prom
tco vou" And Janetta threw back her
haad with something of her usual frank
reliance
clarice glanced at her wistfully.
nyou are reserved and proud, Janetta;
INT II it were a 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;
hut Il is not case of money. l am
almost glad not to have 1t, because
might do harm instead Of good with
It."
"Not my hands, my face said
Clarice simply. And Janetta bent ami
kissed her on the forehead, oppressed
with sense of Mr. own unworthiness.
The day passed like a dream. She
Raw 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
Backing of his luggage into the car
{riage. He looked searchingly about
for Janetta.
Miss Howard desired me to bid you
rood-by for her." said Mrs. Mortimer,
answering his glance. "She went into
the town for something"
J. "Oh, thank you. Tell her I was sorry
not to see her. You and she will look
after Clarice for me whilst I'm away,
won't you?"
The next instant he YVES gone. ia
netta 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
tort 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
Hes gone now" she said, pulling
out her watch and looking at it. 1T
cant be wrong to go on loving him
when shall never see him again. It
can neither hurt him nor me, for he
does not know it; and God knows l
have but one great wish in life left to
me-that he and Clarice should marry"
1t 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 stop.
There is something wanted to talk
to you about. Could you spare me a
minute?"
Certainly" he said, with a slight
surprise.
Il 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?"
p Doctor brakes fair face flushed. "It
Is 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?"
or everything that makes her life
worth living. Until she is better she
will not marry"
Or Captain Merivale will not marry
ner!' broke out the Doctor. (Which
As 1t, do you think? You are speaking
frankly to me, Miss Howard, and can
out answer you in the same spirit. No
specialist can do anything for Miss
seymour. I will tell you briefly my
opinion, which is backed by other men
al my profession. When Miss Seymour