The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1903-02-26
CHAPTER X.

| NDTnA UT in the meantime,
! |Vl&TNrTSs1 by mere accident. !
ttI IN discovered the secret
] aMsts va of my masters fatal
%xM nv illness. 1t happened
| SI.:1I4 in this wise:
Na-.;a.-.-gS One afternoon when
| was free for few hours l strolled
down the road toward DR.. Squires'
house. habit generally drawing my
footsteps in that direction. was in
tent upon no particular purpose. was
merely walking along for the change.
! | frequently like to get off by myself
| and lie down in the woods or on the
green grass and think. i am great
lover of nature. The birds and grass
and flowers always appeal to me.
When alone in the woods. | will
| watch the birds by the hour. finding
more enjoyment therein than in the
| company of man, or an army of busy
| ants Will amuse me for half q day.
would not hurt one of these insects for
| anything or permit them to be dis
tuibed III their work, and yet have
| raised my hand against my fellow
| creatures, partly i'll self defense, it is
true, to wonnd them or to take their
/ lives if necessary
On this particular afternoon walked
down the country highway for some
/ Qistance and then attracted by the
song of wood thrush, concealed my
! seli in thick clump of bushes and
listened The bird could not see me,
and for Il long time | lay there with
| my eyes half closed listening to the
sweet music of the dainty singer.
do not know how long / remained
there entranced by this private concert,
bun Suddenly the bird hushed it's song
! and flew away.
lhe noise that had frightened her
came from the hoofs of TWO horses,
nj !; rapid pace, l peered through the
! leaves OF the bushes at the riders, and
instantly all my gentle thoughts fed
The spell OF the bird was 10 longer
upon me. Al my evil, crafty nature
returned. The approaching riders were
| Or. Squires and Miss Stptson.
Not Il dozen PAGES from me a small
stream bubbled up from an under
ground spring, and it was quite Gus
tomary for riders to give their horses
| u drink III tliis place. \ wooden trough
had been sunk into the ground to re-
ceive the water and to form drinking
vessel for the beasts.
was consequently not surprised
when the two drew up their horses just
in front OF me and led them TO the
spring. The doctor dismounted and
the cooling draft The two had been
engaged in conversation, and | judged
that she had been trying to extract his
secret from him.
y do not consider it an honor to
keep Your work so secret until you
have completed your discovery" she
was saying. Then all the world will
know it, and there is no special inter.
est in it for me-"
But have promised to tell it to you
before any one else hears of it," the
doctor answered.
How long before-one day or one
hour:"
There was a look of annoyance in his
face at her reply.
"AnE number of days beforehand
you wish" he answered.
''Well, t!.en, wish to hear it now,' >
she replied quickly, a bright smile re
enforcing her words.
"Woman's in2patience," he muttered.
1T has caused half the trouble in the
world"
,srhat is unkind don't like such
reflections upon my SEX"
'"Nothing personal was intended, Miss
Belle. | was merely uttering my re-
1ections aloud.'
"IVell, please don't do so any more y
The doctor watched the horses drink
ing for few moments and then, lean
ing against the saddle of his black
steed, he said:
Can you keep the secret if divuge
it to you?"
"Can l? l don't think that question
is necessary"
mo, probably not. But want your
promise that you will never reveal it
to anybody" he persisted.
well, you have it. will never men,
tion it until you give me permission y
"All right, then. I will tell you all.
When | was young man, l went to
India as surgeon in the English ar
my. There | met SO many lepers that
my attention was called particularly
to this disease. AT first they disgusted
, and alarmed me. Their rotting fingers
/ and toe joints, their running sores and
u. -.
some that | could hardly stay in their