The St. Louis Republic., 1902-12-21

o." CRIED DORRfNGTON
''Frail. What is fraiio' inquired Zepher-
| Inc, albeit she had dim conception % her
own that it meant dispute.
Mr.. Sanders laughed.
| Il bet you that Randolph knows what it
| means" he replied; an YOU couldn't a.
whaled chap that deserved it more
Whale? oh, l don't know what you
mean
zepherine was forced to fall back on
! Sarah Clopton for an explanation.
When the explanation was given it quite
took Zopherine's breath away
oh. was rude to him" she said weep
ing little and blushing great deal.
| But how could do? He was also rude.
| He would drive me away when l go to
| take care of his own child
| Why. my dear he didn't want you to
! catch the disease Sarah CIoptou explained.
But if I catch it. wha, is that to him."
| cried Zepherine with some show of indisna-
| ton.
! II he have it won't take care of him
unless"-she paused and gave Sarah Ciopton
| a swift glance.
| Unless what?''
| Unless you or Nan want me to go there"
| The older woman regarded Zepherire with
| curious smile. and she continued to smile
| after the girl had gone for her embroidery
| frame.
| Whatever the smile may have meant il
! had no effect on Zepherine. for whenever
] Dorrington came to Shady Dale, which was
| often, the young woman promptly dlsap-
peared and was seen no more until after his
| departure.
| More than once he made inquiries about
her. and on one occasion he said he wanted
, to see her for the purpose of apolosizing for
his rudeness.
Why. I hope you haven't been rude to
| the child. Randolph" remarked Sarah CIop-
ton when he mentioned the matter.
She thinks that she was rude to you"
We'll, only properly so. l was irritated
when she came into that house. but not for
long. 1 soon found that she knows more
about the treatment of smallpox than 1 do
She threw my medicine out of the win
dow and refused positively to follow my di-
rections; and yet Nan tells me she's the
timidest. gentlest little thing in the world
I'm sure don't understand her at ALL"
, Later when Sarah Clopton informed Zeph-
crime that the doctor had made inquiries for
her. she raised her eyebrows in astonish-
ment.
For me?" she cried
''Yes; he said he wanted to apologize" re-
piled the older woman dryly.
Apologize to meI'' exclaimed Zepherine
We'll. poor man! If he know nothing OF
smallpox. and know not who should apollo
gize, he must have a deep trouble some
where. I am quite sorrowful for him.
Whereupon Sarah CIopton renewed the
dry smile with which she had regarded
Zepherine on former occasion.
This time however. Zepherine saw it, and
seemed to divine its import
"Oh, now you are laughing at mev' she
cried. blushing violently. II am very fool
ish; cannot tell why your Doctor Ran
dolph cause me to be SO out of temper all
the time. day and night"
why. he's not nearly so important as
that" replied Sarah Clopton; hes moth
ing but a great, big. blundering, good-na-
tured man."
Zepherine tossed her head and her eyes
flashed. We'll. wish 1 could see some of
that great good-nature," she said scorn-
fully.
We'll, my dear. I'm thinking you'll have
plenty of opportunities" the older woman
suggested.
After awhile you'll come to the conclu-
sion that Randolph is not important enough
for you to jump up and run away every
time you hear his footstep on the gravel
outside.
Hes been coming here regularly many
years. but I've never taken the trouble to
try and distinguish his footstep from that
of other people,
"Oh, but If you we're in my place" said
Zepherine. blushing, eff you had heard him
walking as did. all through the long night,
while Nan was SO ill-welI. 1 think you
would know his step when you heard 1t. I
know yours. and know Mans.
II don't think 1t so hard to know the step
of those you-oh. 1 mean those you like or
dislike; do you think so?'
mo. 1 suppose not" replied Sarah Clop-
ton.
Zepherine was only too glad of an excuse
to get away from this friend, who had sud-
denly developed a desire to tease, SO she
ran off to meet Nan.
AS soon as she saw Zepherine. she threw
up her hands with a shrill scream of de-
light.
She had the most delicious mystery and
she just knew 1t would turn out to be real
and truly romance.
She had gone around to Mr.. Valicombe's
shop to find out why he didn't come to
Shady Dale any more. and one of the men
there-he had two now-had told her that
Mr.. Valicombe was not in town at all; that
he had gone to New Orleans, and that he
didn't propose to return until-at this point
she placed both hands over her mouth and
gave Zepherine wild look.
What, then, is the matter with you? |
Why do you begin to tell something, and
then pause in that way?" inquired the thor |
oughly puzzled Miss Johns.
oh want to tell you but mustn't. Oh. ]
Mr.. Sanders would never forgive me. In
deed he wouldn't. He told me So
1T is the most perfectly lovely idea I |
ever heard Of
But what can it be? Is it about me?" |
As she spoke Miss Johns began to blush |
even as she blushed before Sarah Clopton.
Nan paid no attention to the bushes. She |
simply placed hand over her mouth ard |
shook her head.
When she did speak she pretended to be
angry.
"You know I am just dying to tell YOU.
Oh. if you knew how wild 1 am you would |
not dare to ask mcr'
Dare? 1t is something terrible. then"
said Miss Johns, her face becoming pale. |
''Oh. if you care for me. please tell me-"
Nan seized her in furious embrace "Oh
you sweet goose! On, you dearest. Don't |
drive me crazy l