The pioneer press. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 1893-190?, 1902-11-13

yourself. The house Is small. II is
very thoughtless of me to ask shelter,
but If you will let me lie on this lounge
until to-morrow-until can get where
can have my arm set"
DO not speak thus" interrupted
Kate, her face flashing as she spoke.
I'VE should be churlish, indeed, to re-
fuse anyone in your position what
comfort we can afford. You are almost
III now. viii you follow me up
stairs?"
The stranger, looking at Kate as she
SPOKE, could not refuse to accede TO
her request. Without saying another
word he rose and followed her.
His head was light and dizzy, and he
was obliged to lean against the wall for
a moment on his way up the stairs.
Dick Burt stood in suTly silence as
the two left the room; he could not
make up his mind to lend his help. He
almost wished he had left the man out
on the beach alone.
But he may have a fever and die"
he thought, with a bitter smile. IT'S
plain II was a surprise to him to see a
girl like Kate in place like this"
He stood silent while he heard Kate
GO into her fathers room and rouse the
old man. Then she came down stairs,
and. without looking at Burt, she
asked:
will you go over to the village for a
doctor. Dick? The gentleman's arm
must be set Immediately; and I'm
afraid he'll have a fever"
Instead of replying. Dick came near
er, and said:
What do you think of him?"
She loked at him In establishment.
What do you mean? What do
think OF him?"
Eyes. Exactly that. Can't you tell
me?" persisted Dick.
II don't think anything of him, save
that he seems like a gentleman" she
said, and, added: xviii you go?"
Something in her manner treasured
Burt. He moved toward the door, say
ing;
Eyes, I'll go; but, If l don't mistake,
he'll want his horse taken care of
first" ,
Father will attend to the horse; do
go. directly" she said, earnestly.
Dick turned back from the door.
Emboldened by her kind manner, he
came near her and took her hand.
Had he possessed a trifle more pene-
tration, he would never have said what
he did.
Before go, Kate, Just give me a
kiss--only one. You always are so
awful hard to me, Kate"
The girl gazed at him in astonish-
ment. She withdrew her hand, but
Lot abruptly. She almost thought he
had been drinking.
mo; why should I kiss your" she
said. you talk strangely; I'm not
hard to you. Will you go now?"
Dick looked at her hungrily for a mo-
ment, then turned away and left the
house without saying anything more.
Meanwhile Purcell had risen, had
listened to his daughters hurried
words Of explanation, and had gone
into the room into which she had
shown the stranger, while she made a
fire and heated blankets and drinks,
knowing well that the man stood in
great danger of fever.
The girl had not been In bed that
night. She had sat up waiting anx-
icusly through the storm for her faith
er's return. She distrusted Richard
Burts influence, but she could not tell
why. She had no idea of the business
that led them out so often in the mid
die of the night.
All these thoughts, mingled with
some curiosity concerning the strang-
er, were in her mind, as she rapidly
prepared a hot drink.
In a few minutes her father came
down stairs after the blankets she had
by the stove.
HAS Dick gone for the doctor?" he
asked.
Yes. Will the gentleman be ill?"
I'm afraid so. Bring up that drink
in a few minutes. Did you say he
knew who he was?"
"No-nothing about him"
Nor where Dick found him?" with
a quick hope in his heart that 1t had
not been near that one spot which was
so in his thoughts.
"No-only that it was on the beach
somewhere"
Purcell went up stairs. When Kate
followed with the steaming herb tea,
the young man was lying in bed
wrapped heavily in blankets. There
was q deep flush on his face and his
eyes were unnaturally brilliant.
He drank the tea without word, and
spoke only to ask about his horse,
whereupon Purcell Immediately left
the room to attend to- the animal,
which he found standing close by the
door.
When Kate turned to leave, also, the
stranger said:
Have you any objection to coming
close to the bedside? / have fancy
that the pain will be easier with you
near me, and my arm aches intoler-
ably"
Kate was surprised at his words, but
she already regarded him as Ill, and
one treats a sick person much as one
does a child.
She approached the bed and bent
over him, saying, softly:
1T wish that, In truth, there was
healing in my presence. You must
suffer much. The doctor will be here
within an hour, and your arm will not
pain you after 1t has set"
While she spoke, he looked at her so
intently that she blushed again.
as this your homer" he asked. abb
ruptly.
'Yes," she replied.
Pardon me, but 1t seems to me that
you must have lived in the" he
smiled, sarcastically-"in what we call
the polite world"
Il have lived here ever since my re-