The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1903-03-05
Copyright, 1908, bv r. M Buckles 6 Co.. New York

BY GEORGE f. WALSH

During the progress of the lunch
caught her studying the hands and
face Of he" host on every occasion
when his eyes were turned away from
her. could not ut first understand
the reason for this secret scrutiny, but
it suddenly dawned upon NE that she,
toe, had been reading on the subject
and was looking for symptoms of the
disease.
The doctor, as usual. was the life of
he party and kept The conversation
,ioNing freely from one to the other,
never being at a loss for words. Nev-
ertheless there was an uneasiness in
his manner which seemed very unnat-
ural. Ny master alone appeared to be
perfectly at his ease and normal
When the conversation Jagged mo-
ment. he suddenly rubbed the back of
one Of his hands With the palm of the
other and said:
Doctor. | think | must have run up
against some poison ivy or sumac in
the woods. for I'm sure that my hands
ana race are poisoned.
Very likely. very likely" the doc
tor replied quickly, but with a little
tremor in his voice. "There is great
deal of it around. and one of your ma
ture would be very susceptible to it."
MY hands and face itch terribly
and biotehes are breaking out on my
face and forehead" Mr. Goddard con-
timed
looked at Miss Stetson. She was
staring at my master with horror writ
ten all over her face. The hand that
held her fork trembled so that she had
TO put it down.
My master displayed his hands and
sdded
See these red spots or the back of
my hand. Are they not the result of
poison? And over my eyes and fore
head. They seem TO be breaking out
all over"
"FrobaIAy, Charles. viii tnyesti-
aJe ter snch the daetor SAID iur-
iiaeig, siyi4eG, a3Ward Miss Stetson.
For the Erst tlAle Mr.. Goddard turned
his eyes toward hel. Feeling that she
was attracting attention, her over
wrought nerves could stand the strain
no longer She had been thinking as
| had-that the brown spots We're the
first and earliest symptoms of leprosy.
We both knew just enough to be car
ried away by any symptoms that re-
sembled those which indicate the be,
ginning Of the dread disease.
"Belle, what is the matter? Are you
ill.,"
MI. Goddard had hardly spoken these
words before she dropped her hands
and tainted. She would have fallen
to the floor had not caught her in
time.
They deposited her on II couch and
rubbed her hands and moistened hel
brow with water. She slowly recoy-
! cred consciousness.
ZOO .s.uuit. not lave Auc4ltl0neu. De
! ing poisoned to her. the doctor said
admonishingly to my master. ITO one
of her sensitive disposition the mere
mention of Il thing like that might
/ cause her to faint"
How careless and brutal of me-
my master said in tones of repentance
Then as she opened her eyes he knelt
down by her side and, drawing one oi
her hands into his, said:
Did frighten you? I was a brute
to DO it. Look at me, Belle, and tel
me that you forgive me-"
For reply she turned her head ava.
from him With shudder and with
drew her hand from his clasp.
"What is it, dear?" he continued
"Do not draw away so. Tell me wha
it is that | have done | will do any
thing to repair it. Speak, Belle"
Leave me, please: leave me-" sh,
gasped, I'm nervous and excited
Let me alone for few minutes, ant
then III be better But | must Ct
home Docfor. Will you help me to sc
on my things:'
Belle. you're not going to leave MI
| IKE -hie" pleaded my master, ap
| preaching her again.
But she moved aside and said in
wavering voice:
Let me go now. Charles. Maybe
can explain some day. I'm not mysel
( now. Goodby"
She did not extend her hand or offe
to take his, but walked quickly out 0
| the room.
Mr.. Goddard stood quite still TO
some time, puzzled, perplexed, discour
aged