Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1902-10-01

II ing OF DOLn my MASTER
M WI and DR.. Squires, I
Nl MA;.j found myself sympa-
G:.SSI thizing with Miss Stet-
sssktEa S.:::./ son and almost uncon-
sciously planning to save her from
either one. 1t may seem little strange
that one of my character should find
fault with anybody following the same
line Of business that had occupied my
attention for half lifetime and that
should begin to criticise my master
for crimes that had many times COM
mitted. l doubt very much If should
have troubled myself in this way had
not Miss Stetson commanded my re-
spect and confidence. She was too
pure and good to fall a victim to such
villains, There was a sacredness about
her love for Mr.. Goddard, even though
1t could never be consummated in mar
rage, which made her ten times more
beautiful and lovely in my eyes. If
such love had been mine in early life,
] should never have drifted away from
an upright and honorable life.
She was not to marry him. That she
had settled in her own mind, but she
was consecrating her young life to him.
The dread of the leper in him was I'm
effectual barrier to their union, but she
loved him none the less. Her pale face
Ind sad, lustrous eyes revealed this
even to me, and I blessed her for it.
Her love was Of nobler type than
tho ordinary, but the pity of 1t was
that my master was not worthy of 1t.
My feelings did not exactly undergo
n transformation. Apart from his re-
lationship with Miss stetson, still
liked and admired my master. He was
q skilled master in his profession,
man with many virtues and genial
qualities, one whose kindness in the
world had done much to make others
happy. He was in reality my beau
ideal of criminal, man who pur-
sued his unlawful work without i'm
bruiting his own nature, master Of
his profession and not slave to it.
But when it came to question Of
choosing between my master and Miss
Stetson I unhesltatingly sided with the
latter, one whose virtue was no less
powerful factor in attracting me than
her utter helplessness in the hands of
two such men.
DR.. Squires had enlisted my dislike
from the first. and through varying de-
grees Of feelings had reached eli
max in positive hatred for him. I
would thwart him in his aim even
though it compromised my master in
the doing. had convincing proof
that he was all ever imagined him to
be.
I soon became spy in the interest
Of Miss Stetson and in sense traitor
to my master. This underhanded pro-
cedure displeased me, and several times
I was on the point of applying for
position In the Stetson mansion. But
this would remove me from the base
of my supplies. 1 could not obtain the
material SO essential to conduct a sue
cessful warfare against the two men.
would have to play the traitor for
time at least-a role, be 1t said to my
credit, that I never acted before.
stroye to make myself liked and
trusted by her, for I knew that the
day might come when It would be very
important that she should believe In
me and have confidence in my wis
dom. Although nominally mere but
ler knew that my master had praised
me to her and had made her look upon
me as something more than common
servant.
Meanwhile an accident that nearly
proved fatal to her enabled me to in
crease her friendliness for me. While
riding one of the horses which John
said needed exercise. feature of my
old life us groom that had not totally
abandoned, this adventure occurred.
1t was a quiet, peaceful morning,
and 1 was cantering down the highway
thinking deeply of the strange circum-
stances which had so occupied my
mind of late. I heard the clatter Of
feet in the distance, and us they SEEM
ed to approach rapidly and increase in
volume ! turned my head to see the
cause. Down the old country road a
horse was flying, throwing up clouds
of dust and swaying the rider irreg-
ularly from left to right. turned my
horse and waited a moment to let the
daring rider pass.
But as the running steed rapidly
doomed up out of the showers Of dust
his feet were creating saw that the
rider had lost all control of the ami
NAL and was uncertainty retaining his
seat in the saddle. A moment later
my heart gave little bound of fear
when realized that the rider was q
woman and that woman Miss Stetson.
She was unattended, as she often was
in her morning rides, and along the old
country road there was little chance
Of her attracting any one who could
help her.
The horse was painting and snorting
with the violence of his eXertions, and
by the way he swung his head and neck
/ knew that he was liable to cut up
any dangerous trick to unseat his rid
er. As they approached within a few
rods of me 1 caught glimpse Of the
white face of Miss Stetson. She was
nearly overcome with fright and exer-
ton, and her appealing eyes stirred up
every latent power within me.
/ let the raging horse pass, for any
attempt to stop him short in his mad
career would result in his flinging the
rider to the ground. Then, whipping
up my own horse, started in pursuit
I shouted a few words of encourage
ment to Miss Stetson and bent myself
to the task before me.
Fortunately was mounted on the
. 6nnst animal in Mr. Gnddard'S stables