Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1902-05-16
CHAPTER VIZ.

1t was Jennie! The knowledge came
to me with delicious sense of ease
and JOY. Jennie!
Even when became sure that was
not dreaming, that it was really the
voice of the girl loved that was speak
ng close to my ears. | did not at once
open my eyes, or If | did. it was with
out. full consciousness of what they
rested on.
He's better now. really better,
don't you thinl?" said the sweet girl
Ish voice again.
Then I heard Dick Mullion's voice,
which came with shock upon my
pleasant sensations.
"Oh, he'll do right enough He took
a turn for the better early this MORN
ing. It's only a matter of care now
l was fully aware by this time that
Dick Mullion and Jennie Atkinson
We're holding a conversation together,
as they sat one on each side of my bed.
And | was conscious at the same time
that that same bed had undergone a
distinct change for the better since I
last remembered myself as lying on it.
I knew that linen sheets, cool and
clean. had taken the place of the rugs
which had previously been my bed
clothes. and that the pillow upon
which my head rested was real pill
low, and not an improvised, affair with
a knack of coming to pieces at unex-
pected times and in unexpected places.
The pleasant sense Of well-being,
mental and physical which even Dick
Mullion's presence failed to disturb to
any great extent, induced me to keep
my eyes closed and to let these two
talk on; was hardly conscious at first
of anything beyond the fact that they
We're talking.
at was good Of you to comet"
1t was Dick who said this, and
was instantly conscious that his
speech might be interpreted in two
ways, and also that the interpreta-
tion which was the most likely to be
correct was one not fattering to me.
For there was more gratitude in Dicks
voice for favor to himself than for a
favor to me.
Jennie's reply was modestly given,
and was still less pleasing TO my van
ity:
"Oh it was papa who would come.
He seems to have taken a fancy to Mr..
Blair"
And that beast. young Mullion,
laughed.
yes, I know why. And you. do VOL,
like him."
"Well, really in sort of a way. I do
said Jennie.
The words, qualified as they were,
caused me pleasure enough to make
me open my eyes and get look at the
pretty girls sweet face.
1t looked prettier than ever, l
thought, seen against the dingy back
ground of the bare farmhouse wall
The room was not so dark as it had
been when | last remembered it, and a
ray of bright light illumined her face
and her soft hair. She did not see
me, for although she was sitting on
one side of my bed, she was SO taken
up with Mullion on the other side, that
/ might have been in Jericho.
And it was the same with Mullion
himself. He looked at her, with dark
eyes aglow with feeling. 1t was plain,
horribly plain to me that these two
were wrapped up in each other. I
stared at them without speaking, con.
scioug that | was nothing to them,
that my presence gave them an eX-
cuse TO be with each other, and that
was all. "In a sort of way you dol
What does that mean?"
We'll, l know he's rather mean, and
rather INSCRIPTIONS, and not at all
the sort of person one is supposed to
like But he's such a good-natured
fellow, and so generous, that can't
help feeling he's not the little horror
| thought him when met him first"
Pleasant for me, this! / couldn't
stand any more. 1 moved, and they
both started, and became aware that
was more than bundle of clothes.
Obj cried Jennie.
There was no absorbing delight in
her tone. She smiled kindly and nod.
ded at me, but said nothing. Young
Mullion got up.
You'd better go away" said he tc
Jennie.
He mustn't talk yet, you know"
| felt hurt. l would much rather
have been left to converse with Jen
ME than with him. And she went with
ont protest, almost without another
look at me.
Then l heard old Atkinson's voice il
the next room. From the sort of snor,
he gave first, I think his daughter haG
woke him from little nap in his
chair.
"Eh? What? What? Awake, is he
And conscious? Bless me, must ge
and see him.
You mustn't make him talk yet,
eXpostulated Jennie.
Old Atiinaon's genial, commonplace
face was already beaming at me from
the doorway.
No, no, I'll do the talking" said h,
as he came in.
Ii l had had cause to complain O.
any iack OF enthusiasm on the par
of Jennie and Mullion, the old, gen
tleman was most anxious to make II,
for it, He assured me that, the mo
ment she had got my note, Jennie ha
insisted on starting northward for tn
karroo. and upon bringing whateve
| might be useful for The care of an in
valid in an out-of-the-way place.
Dick Mullion tried TO stop the flo,
| of the old gentleman's words, but
encouraged him to go on. What I de