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

f l
But the next moment would have a
reyulsion of feelings. | would fall to
plying and sympathizing with both
my master and Miss Stetson. Her
love for him was genuine, and 1t must
be terrific blow to receive such INTEL
Hgence. Was she not TO be pitied more
I, than Mr.. Goddard? On the other hand
he was conscious of the terrible doom
that awaited him and was buoyed up
only by the thought that possibly DR..
Squires could cure him. But now he
could never gain his prize. Would
she marry him even though pronounced
cured?
What would be the result? Mr.. Cod
dard would go away to some foreign
country. and after grieving over him
for time Miss Stetson would yield
to the opportunities of DR.. Squires
and marry him. l saw the climax of
the tragedy, which, after all, would
Z prove tragedy only to my master,
ana 1t made me more faithful in my de-
Vouon to the unfortunate man. This
decided me to stay by him until the
ume should come when my expecta-
lions would be fulfilled. Then would
return to my old ways. Meanwhile
was leading an honest life and making
the money which spent.
had become quite efficient in nv
duties, and was trusted in many ways
that never fell to the lot of my pred
ecesSor. l was more than butler-I
was my masters confidential secretary
In many respects. But there were some
secrets that he would not reveal to me,
ana one was the dread disease which
Drought him SO much care and sorrow.
After hearing the truth from DR..
Squires' own lips my attention was
drawn more closely to Mr.. Goddard's
appearance. watched his languid
manners, his pale face and all the
symptoms Of disease that he showed
during his periodical fits of sickness.
More than this, l read up all the med
ical books about leprosy and then
watched for the signs. To an excited
imagination these were readily visi-
BILE.
About this time Miss Stetson and
the doctor took lunch at the house
again, and my attention was called to
the matter by an incident that greatly
&ted all of us. l had not. seen Miss
ION since that Afternoon when I
.tched her from my hiding place at
the wayside brook. She was paler
than usual, and her manner was nerv-
Z GUS and excited, especially when
Charles was near her.
During the progress of the lunch I
caught her studying the hands and
face of her host on every occasion
when hfs-eyes We're turned away from
her. l could not at first understand
the reason for this secret scrutiny, but
1t suddenly dawned upon me that she.
too, had been reading on the subject
and was looking for symptoms Of the
disease.
The dA16f, as usual, was the life of
the party and kept the conversation
flowing freely from one to the other,
never being at loss for words. New
ertheless there was an uneasiness in
ais manner which seemed very unnat-
ural. My master alone appeared to be
perfectly at his ease and normal.
When the conversation Jagged mo-
ment, he suddenly rubbed the back of
one of his hands with the palm of the
other and said:
doctor, l think must have run up
against some poison ivy or sumac in
the woods, for Pm sure that my hands
md face are poisoned
Very likely. very likely" the doc
tor replied quickly, but with little
tremor in his voice. "There is great
deal of 1t around, and one Of your ma
ture would be very susceptible to It"
"My hands and face itch terribly,
and blotches are breaking out on my
face and forehead" Mr.. Goddard con-
tinued.
looked at Miss Stetson. She was
staring at my master with horror writ
ten all over her face. The hand that
held her fork trembled so that she had
to put it down.
My master displayed his hands and
Sdded:
''See these red spots on the back OF
my hand. Are they not the result OF
poison? And over my eyes and fore
head. They seem to be breaking Out
all over"
Probably, Charles. will tnvesti
ate utter lunch" the doctor said hur
+ riedly, glancing toward Miss Stetson.
For the first time Mr.. Goddard turned
his eyes toward her. Feeling that she
WIS attracting attention. her over
wrought nerves could stand the strair
no longer. She had been thinking as
1 habitat the brown spots were the
first and earliest symptoms of leprosy
We both knew just enough to be car
ried away by any symptoms that re
sembled those which indicate the be
ginning of the dread disease.
"Belle, what is the matter? Are yor
illT
Mr.. Goddard had hardly spoken these
words before she dropped her hands
and tainted. She would have falleI
10 the floor had not caught her II
time.
They deposited her on a couch ant
bbed her hands and moistened hel
row with water. She slowly recov
red consciousness.
fOu sGs0ld not have mentioned be
ng poisoned to her." the doctor sait
ldmonlshingly to my master. ITO ont
# her sensitive disposition the mere
mention of thing like that nigh
.auSe her to faint"
"How careless and brutal of me-
y master said in tones of repentance
Then-as she opened her eyes he knel
Town by her side and, drawing one O.
r hands into his, said:
did I brighten you? was brut
to do 1t. Look at me, Belle, and tel
ne that you forgive me-"
For reply she turned her head ava,
from him with a shudder and with
drew her hand from his clasp.
What is 1t, dearY he continued
"Do not draw away so. Tell me wha