Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1902-02-19
the papers will cease to print much

| toSetueT, Wulle BRENDA selected SuCn
| portions as she thought that DR.. Ken
dali might permit Elsie to see The
sight of these stories with their abun-
| dant illustrations set Mr.. Maclane's
nerves on edge again. and he was in q
most wretched frame of mind when he
left the hospital.
1t CHANGED that us he emerged from
| the structure he encountered Alden,
who had just come from Kendalrs
room and was full of good will to all
mankind as the result Of the converse
tion with the doctor. He felt that Mac
lane had just grievance against him,
and he began at once most earnest at
tempt to repair the injury. Maclane
WAS relieved to find Alden in plant
mood-=the rarest of all his moods, by
the way-and the two walked toward
the avenue together In an atmosphere
Of cordially such as surrounds some
times the unfriendly victims of q COM
| mon misfortune.
Upon arriving at his office Alden met
Detective Elmendorf, with the result
already disclosed. Profiting by the adj
vice received in the course of this in
terview and by his memories of many
stories Of crimes, criminals and sleuth-
hounds of the law. Alden succeeded in
eluding both the shadow of trouble"
and the shadow of business" and his
doings for an hour or two We're wholly
| unknown to the police. At 3 o'clock he
appeared at st. Winifred's hospital,
where he was informed by DR.. Kendall
that Elsie would receive him presently.
AT that moment Elsie was confiding
to Brenda her opinion that Mr.. Alden
would suffer grievous disappoint-
ment.
HE won't expect to see me like
this" she said. II look like deaths
head on handspike, as my cousin
Billy says. Billy was in the naval re-
serves during the war and prevented
the Spaniards from capturing New
York, but that's another story.
Brenda, If l should put on just little
bit of rouge don't want to brighten
him.
You don't want to think of rouge
for ten years." replied Brenda. "And
besides. my dear, you haven't any.
Moreover. he won't know how you
look; he will be too glad to see you
alive"
"Of course you think I am very
trivial and absurd" said Elsie, ''but do
you realize that he may not see me
again? No one can know precisely
how am hurr. This wound may be
nearer to vital spot than DIR. Kendall
suspects or will tell. A break of a wall
as thin as paper. a little blood spilled
here beneath my hand. and am gone
in moment. Perhaps tonight: per-
haps even while he sits here beside
me. And this last sight of me will be
the memory he will carry as long as he
lives. l want it to blot out the face of
every other girl that he will ever see."
Then don't blot out your own with
the contents of rouge pot" said
Brenda. 'Hark! They are coming
along the corridor
She stepped to the door and ushered
In Alden and Kendall.
Alden had the pale, set face Of
Nathan Hale going to execution. AS
often happens with man too strenu-
ously prepared. his eyes failed to TO-
Gus, and he stared for moment at
Elsie without really seeing her. Had
She been the wasted and pitiable OBJ
ject that his inexperience led him to
expect he would probably have borne
the sight of her with great fortitude,
but when her face emerged from the
CT Of tv,,r ,t.,fa
Elsie's, with every well remembered
attribute of beauty, 1t was an attack
upon an unprotected spot in his de-
lenses. and every drop of blood in bis
body cried out with the voice Of one
great sob.
This is what was afraid Of" NUT
tered Kendall. "Confound him! 1
knew he'd break down."
He glanced uneasily at Elsie, but she
seemed quite calm. She extended her
hand toward Alden. and he kissed 1t,
falling on his knees beside the bed.
'You must not feel sorry for me-"
said she. 81 am very comfortable, and
1 waste no time in plying myself It
was very kind Of you to send the VIC
let's"
Dear little girl" he said, still kneel-
ing, every minute of my life shall be
yours to make this right"
You are not to speak that way" re-
piled Elsie, with that manner which
accompanies long considered words.
You have your own life to lead. You
must not spoil 1t for me-"
A1Inp'S fann ty,.o ,x,ikb
as he looked into Elsie's.
Don't say we have gone back; that
it's all like long ago" he began. But
the warning eye OF the vigilant Ken
dali. who had softly stepped to the
head of the bed, upon the other side,
checked this plea. Alden writhed with
the effect but his will held him.
II mustn't worry you," he said; then.
with half an eye on Kendall: Elsie.
who did this? Tell me, little girl
II don't know; really don't" she
answered. why do you think that I
do?"
Again the doctor silently protested,
and Alden took heed.
II had not heard it from you," he
said. But let us put it out of our
minds. What can do for you? Is
there anything you need? We will
hold conference on the subject"
Brenda would get me anything in
the world" replied Elsie "She has
been as good as two mothers 10 me.
Brenda, what do want?'
REST and an easy mind and your
rpal mother nS soon as sha an n Gonna
replied Brenda. "As to Mr.. Alden's
contribution. I would suggest pretty
picture or two to put on the walls.
They would relieve the eye. Elsie has
| asked for Tantalus. but the art COM
mittee. consisting of DR.. Kendall and
myself, refuses to hang him."
1.-THE art committee is all right" said
Alden. 81 shall submit some pictures
to 1t with confidence"
~.