Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1902-01-31

as he made an attempt TO get up. light
a candle and go down for it.
But he found the effort quite appal-
ingly severe, and gave it up.
He dozed deliriously, played with
Mary in boy-and-girl ia ashton, danced
with her, had her all to himself in the
Brackshaw woods, wooed and won her
ali over again. Off and on he woke, to
gasp and groan and utter eXclama-
tions.
For the second time the girl knocked
at his door.
Your hot water, sir!" she cried. and
set her ear to listen.
She did not listen long, but hurried
downstairs, with word for the master
that the gentleman in No. was shout
ing III the queerest way.
Il think he's i'll, SIR" she said. He
looked bad last night
The landlord made no bones about
entering Dicks room when he, too, had
raped to no purpose. He gazed at
Dick for a few moments, and felt his
blood chill a little at Dicks furious
cry: Il tell-you you are dead. Mary, so
don't deny it," touched Dicks burning
forehead, and left him.
IlS Ill d IoNeF-tHdt ) what Unc
matter with him. he said. You just
go for Mr.. Barker, Jane, right away"
Poor young fellow!" said Jane,
eagerly. THAT 1 will, sir"
Moreover, being in love herself, she
determined to kill two birds with one
stone.
Its maybe present for Miss Dud-
ley" she said to herself, and, putting
on her hat, carried off Dicks little
packet for No. 2 Devonshire road.
'Nurse!'
The darkness had passed from Dicks
brain. and having opened his eyes and
seen things as they were, though with
an imperfect grasp of the facts, he
whispered the monosyllable.
The quick rustic of dress answered
him, and the words:
eyes, my dear boy!"
you, mother?" said Dick, looking
up at the face that was the best and
truest object in life for him.
She clasped his hand-a bony shape,
loosely laced with skin.
Suddenly the cloud fell from him.
1t all came back-wound, fever, the
long weeks in hospital, the voyage
home in weakness and anxiety as well
as hope, the news of Mary's fortune
and Sir Tarver Brown, his rebuff in ST.
| Paul's churchyard and his journey to
! Nellerton.
He groaned in spite of himself, and
turned his face to the wall.
''Now, then, dear, let me raise your
| head
"What's the use?' he murmured.
1t was his one and only flash of
peevishness. The next instant he
obeyed orders with smile. 1t was a
dreary smile, yet smile.
How / must have worried you,
mother!" he said quietly, as he settled
after the tonic. Il suppose this is Mel
lerton?"
She kissed him as mothers do kiss
their grown sons of whom they are
very proud.
"Try and sleep again. DEAR she said,
rather TREMENDOUSLY.
But Mary Dudley and her infidelity-
her excusable infidelity-were vivid in
his mind How could he sleep amid
such realizations?
''All right" he said, Shutting his
eyes.
Then sunny gray mist settled upon
his brain, and his surroundings We're
to him as if they were not. 1t was not
so much sleep translation of spirit
80, Mary. Mary, what shall do with.
out you?" his lips cried aloud, even
while his mind was active. in some
remoter atmosphere.
Nothing, dear Dick; you shall not
do without me as long as we live, fol-
we will be always together" A hand
was laid his forehead-a little
satiny hand, with love warm in all its
pores. And instantly Dick opened his
eyes.
Mary" he gasped.
This time Mary Dudley laid her fac,
by his on the pillow, smiling, and wills
pered, with her mouth close to hi.
mouth:
''Of course. Dick, who else SHOULD
it be?''
But it was not until the evening tina
she was allowed to give him in full
measure the only tonic that could bt
warranted able to make him hims
again in spirit and IN truth. Then sh,
| did not spare him.
: Il ought to feel ashamed of you
: Dick" she eXplained: for, supposing
, if only for one second. that / could car
anything for my money apart from
you? Sir Tarver Brown, indeed, Why
| / was just waiting for sign from
< you. And l got tiny own ring! g
Q | ck."-London Answers
: A Burst of Generosity.
> man from Dunedin once visite,