The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1902-05-09


CHAPTER VII,
To Clarice she vowed a redoubled de-
votion. All! II any care of hers might
help her towards recovery, SO that
when her lover returned from his In
dian campaign she might be we'll
enough to marry! Only in helping to
bring that marriage to a successful is
sue could she hope to e1ace the last
miserable half-hour. She would try,
too, and talk to Doctor Drake some day
by herself. and ask il n possible
change of treatment might hasten
Clardce's recovery. The very thought
brought comfort and hope with it.
Having decided her course OF action,
she proceeded to put it into practice;
smoothed her hair, and tried to wash
the traces of tears from her face. Then
she sat down and wrote a few lines to
her brother, declining to lend him the
money. and giving him her reasons for
the refusal. After that she went to
Clarice's room, who, happily, she found
alone.
II thought you were never coming"
said Clarice fretfully. Come and sit
close by me where / can see you. l
need your soothing presence so badly
to-day. Why, what is the matter with
you, dear? You look as If you needed
soothing yourself. YoA have been cry
Ing and thought you were . woman
who could not cry"
Janetta gave rather a watery smile.
"You we're wrong, you see have been
in trouble about several things, and I
could not see my way clear; but l see
1t now. ] shan't cry any more. / prom
isefyon." And Janetta threw back her
head with something Of her usual frank
reliance.
Clarce glanced at her wistfully.
You are reserved and proud, Janetta;
but II It were a case where money
would help" kty8
With quick alertness Janetta bent
down and kissed one Of Clarice's tiny,
helpless hands. IS
"Ah! how good and dear you IRE
but It ID not Z case Of money. l am
almost glad not to have 1t, because 1
might do harm instead Of good with
a." /; fa51f6& sI sstHfs H 81 sq 3"f
s"Not my hands, my face" said
Clariee simply. And iJanetta bent and
kfssSd her Oh the forehead. oppressed
With 4 sense Of her own unworthiness.
The day paAsed like . dream. She
saw Captain Merivale only at meals,
for hs ana Ciarics spent the evening
alone together.
The next day, when ne came down
after bidding her good-by. he found
Nrs. Mortimer standing alone in the
hall, giving her last directions for the
pac4ing q Ills luggage into the carr
riispl nd looked s~eafchihgly about
~ PlpStt4 M lHlIIIh
i f4i4 hjwarl de4red me to bid you,
Edpdjby Tor her. saAd Mrs. Mortimer,
ansMSrfpg his glance. "Shes vent into
the town Tor something"
.sOh, thank yeu. Tell her ! was sorry
not 70 Z her. You ana she will look
alter Elasics toe ne whilst I'm away.
went you?"
TIA nent instant he was gone. ia
nstta, meanwhile, sought shelter in a
little cove ~ the seashore, and sat
with her hack against the cli6, and
her tseir3oo eyes gasing out seawards.
Her toeth we're clenched u the eff
fort u Keep hack the sohs that roe In
her throet. She would gladly have
uproote6 this strange love that had
grosn ~ = her heart, but abe could
not.
"EIsis zone now" she said, pulling
out her wAtcA and looking at It. 1T
can't ~ Wrong 70 Sc On loving him
when : SHALL never ses him again. It
can neither hurt him nor me- for he
does not know II: and God knows I
have but enc great wish In life LETT to
me-thak hs and Clarice should marry"
Il CHANGED that on. her way home
she came across Doctor Drake walking
quickly down tAs street. He would
have passed her " with ! bow. but
she came to : stop.
There II something / wanted to talk
to yoR shout Could you spare M a
minute?" 8 s sls.l.g
sCerfaindy. Ne said, with q slight
surprise. Ts7f
II never get the chancs OF . word
alone With You. VIII you forgive me
II 4 ask if there 10 nothing that could
be done to hasten Miss Seymour's re-
covsry1"
Doctor brakes fair face flushed. ut
Is = question that Is often before me.
Do you think her worse?" he asked
anxioasly.
.shs = out Of spirits. and losing
hors."
lot what?" inquired the Doctor i'm
patiently. "Of recovery o what?"
"Of everything that makes her life
worth living. Until she - better she
will not marry"
"0r Captain Msrivale will not marry
her!" broke out the Doctor. Which
10 II, do you Think You are speaking
frankly to me. Miss Howard, and I can
but answer you IN the same spirit. No
specialist an do anything for Miss
Seymour. I will toll you briefly my
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