Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1902-09-17
CHAPTER XII.

CHAPTER XII.
ls5Ez~ WAs probably as much
NAA ~ troubled as my master
LII: 4s 8. over this sad state of
Y.X..::' affairs. Miss Stetson's
NNrS LUZ treatment hurt him
ESS-r...-. more than lie cared to
confess. He seemed so
perplexed and worried over the matter
that l was several times on the point
OF telling him the reason for her sud-
den aversion for him.
There was but little doubt that he
had noticed her dislike for him, but he
was too proud and sensitive to men,
ton the matter to any one. He was
not kind to speak of such personal
questions even to DIR. Squires. For
several days he remained away from
the Stetson mansion. sending me over
twice day to inquire after Miss Stet-
sons health. l never saw her myself
In any of these visits except the last.
Then. instead Of sending the message
down to me by one Of the servants, she
called me up to her library.
The first thing noticed about her
was peculiar careworn, suffering ex-
preston on her face. Under the dark
eyes and around the lips there were
delicate lines and tints which revealed
more than words. She had suffered
and was doomed to suffer more. Pa-
thetic acceptance of her lot was up.
parent on every lineament of her face
She had evidently battled successfully
with herself and had become resigned
to her fate.
The room in which she ushered me
was an old fashioned library where
her father, the doctor, had gathered
together many rare books and curios.
The heavy woodwork, the dark paper
and furnishings of the library cast
gloomy aspect over the sole occupant,
and her white face cleaned out of the
darkness like an old fashioned picture
In somber setting. In spite of her
surroundings she was still beautiful
more beautiful 1t seemed to me than
when fully exposed to broad daylight.
Hers was beauty that did not fade
in light or shade.
"You come from Mr.. Goddard with
a message for me?" she said interroga-
lively as entered the room.
yes. ma'am. He sent to inquire
after your health" I replied, bowling
respectfully.
"And he trusts you without a writ
ten messenger she continued.
''In this matter he does, for he con-
sidered you too i'll to write, and he did
not wish to put you to any unneces-
sary trouble"
THAT is the true reason" she said
quietly. HE is always very consider
ute to me-"
HE is to every one" added, wish
Ing to show my devotion to him.
Eyes. yes; he is kind to all. He is
good man."
II have never met better, ma'am,
If you will permit me to say 1t, and
I've seen many kinds of men in the
world. He is always thinking of other
people, and II he does wrong believe
he has some good reason for it."
i She looked at me us If she liked to
hear me praise him. and when stop
ped her expression seemed to say, go
on, go on; it's music to me-" But I
knew my position and would say no
i more.
IS Mr.. Goddard well himself?" she
asked when she found that 1 was
| mute.
Yes. Except for an attack Of poison,
which has now gone away entirely,
!! he has been very WELL"
She turned shade paler and then
flushed little us she remembered that
had been present on the day when
she tainted.
ooh, yes; remember he spoke Of the
poison the last time l saw him." she
said in moment, recovering her men
tai poise. "Have the spots or eruption
entirely Disappeared"
Entirely, ma'am. There are no
signs Of any left"
II suppose DR.. Squlres gave him
something to cure them"
1 knew that she was thinking Of the
Doctors cure for leprosy and that she
imagined he had given my master
something which would drive away
the first symptoms of the disease, at
least temporarily. But knew differ
emily, and l courted the opportunity to
disabuse her mind of the mistake.
mo, ma'am; the doctor did nothing
for my MASTER" answered. II gave
him something which cured the erup-
ton"
you? What did you know about the
matter?"
mot very much, ma'am, except that
l had been poisoned once, and / re.
membered what helped me. asked
my master to let me get him BOTTLE"
"a bottle of what?"
"Witch hazel. 1t was one of my
mothers cures for poison from ivy OF
sumac.'
"And that cured him?"
Her face frightened wonderfully
She began to realize that she had beer
a victim of her Imagination.
Completely" I answered.
"Then 1t was not-nothing more seri
GUS than ordinary poison" she added
with a sigh of relief.
Nothing, ma'am."
She gave expression to her relieved
feelings in short laugh. The sweet
ness of it made me turn my head tt
look at her. The beautiful face hat
suddenly lighted up SO that it seemed
almost divine in Its expression. Here
I thought, was true love, and 1 willing
ly adored her for 1t.
Pardon me-" she said after a mo
ment of silence. II was thinking o.
something else which amused me
You must take message to your mas
ter"
J She walked toward the library tabl'