Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1903-11-18


afternoon, and woke to find himself
alone and much refreshed. The rat
ting of dishes indicated the nearness
of the supper-hour, and outside there
was suggestion of approaching
dusk. He rose to his feet without
| difficulty, and was walking towards
the outer door, which opened upon
| the porch, with no definite intention,
when Miss Densmore appeared from
the adjoining room bearing daintily
| arranged tray, upon which was a
steaming cup of tea, some toast, and
a few other tempting edibles
She exclaimed in protest on seeing
Rossiter.
You're to sit down at once, sir!"
she said. We're not going to have
you running off in that fashion,
He succumbed very willingly, and
she hustled about making him com
Portable.
Miriam and my aunt are busy"
she exclaimed, $50 [ said I'd look
after you."
You needn't have been to all this
trouble" he answered. I'm fully re-
covered now" But he was glad to
eat with her sitting by chatting
cheerily to him.
I'm afraid" he remarked present
ly, "that you will find it difficult to
keep to yourself your promise of the
other night
What was that?''
Don't you recall? You were go
ing to hold in recollection from your
hop picking life only it's pleasant
phases. Aren't the disagreeables, so
to speak, likely far to outweigh the
happy eNperiences?"
"Oh, mol" she replied, with a little
shake of her head. Its like a play.
Unless the end is tragic, however
much the actors pass through, the
effect is not darksome, quite the con-
trary. The bright scenes stand out
and the gloomy ones recede."
''The end!' thought Rossiter. Yes,
the end of this small episode in life's
drama was certainly near at hand.
Though you would not let me try
to tell you, Mr.. Rossiter," Miss Dens-
more broke out suddenly, 'of my
gratitude to you for all you did for
me. must, I will speak of your no
bleness, your generosity, your brav-
cry in coming to Yncle's aid Why, if
it hadn't been for YOU
Her words were as spark to pow
der. All the pent-up emotion within
him rushed to his lips. She should
know, whatever might be the conse-
quences, that it was her presence
with Mr.. Merton that had moved him
to strive SO nightly, that there was
nothing he would not do, aye, to
risking life and limb thousand
times to win her favor. Whatever
his past might have been, and she
should read the open page of it with
out reserve, the future, and she
might put him to the proof, should
be like the life-moulding of another
man, if>he might but wear her gage.
DO you think, Miss Densmore." he
began. and there was that in
his voice and in his eyes that caused
her to turn away, ''do you think L
would have gone so eagerly to your
uncle's aid-''
His impassioned words were cut
short by Miss Merton's entrance.
How cosey you are!" she cried,
seating herself. "And is the hero
quite recovered?"
He's likely to faint dead away if
you apply that title to him again,
Miss Merton" Rossiter had wit
enough to answer.
What had he been about to saw
Miss Densmore wondered. Inference
clearly pointed but in one direction.
and yet. She was in a tremor of
doubt, not sure of herself. marvellinp
at Rossiter's sudden exhibition of
feeling when hitherto he had held
himself in such close restraint. AS
for Rossiter. he had resolved that he
would not turn his back on the Mer-
ton farm and the hop-fields without
putting his fortune once more to the
test.
Mr.. and Mrs. Merton came in short
". lamp was lighted, and then.
though they urged upon him to rest
for while longer, Rossiter declared
that he would go down to the mems
sleeping-quarters, and babe them all
goodnight
You'll not hesitate to rouse some
of us if you should feel ill?" said Mrs.
Merton.
Rossiter assured her that she need
have no further anxiety in regard to
him, and went out to find Joe Becraft
lounging about watching for him. He
would have much preferred to be
alone, but he would not hurt Be-
ff,S faaliHncrS