Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1906-08-21
CHAPTER VII.

nee more in Valley Springs,
AIMS old self returned, and
the scenes through which she
had passed became as un-
real as the happenings Of dream, but
her sense Of injury deepened into dis
Ike Of Raymond and the life he rep
resented, Therefore she took care not
to see him as he was borne into Bar
nett's house. He is nothing to me,
and I must decline to be troubled by
him further" she said as she was
dressing to go out.
Mrs. Barnett, however, was waiting
and when the carriage In which be
lay came to the door FASTENED to take
his hand In both Of hers and make him
welcome. "I'm glad you came, Rob.
We are going to have you out in a few
days. How do you feelY'
In his week state he could only boy
ishly say; "0h, I'm on the up grade!
You and Don are mighty good to me-"
Thereafter Raymond abandoned him
self to the joy Of travelling back to life
along such ways Of wanton luxury as
he had never known. He permitted
himself to be waited upon, even by
Mrs. Barnett, without protest, and
when Louis came stealing into the
room In awe and love his heart went
out to the boy as to brother.
'Hello, younker" he called. "You
needn't walk SO soft voiced. I'm worth
dozen dead men yet"
y The boys face shone. II thought
you We're asleep. Can ! do anything
for your. & 80 ~ $3.50
emo; only come and sit down and
talk to me. What have you been do
ing since you came back to the
sbringsF' y
Louis took a seat. s:Nothing Of any
consequence, except to make some
drawings Of the ranch, It's dull here.
8 want to go into the mount Gains"
You're a wonderful youngster.
Wait till I'm able to travel, and we'll
30 up into the high country together"
Louis clapped his hands. Won't
that be glorious? I'd rather do that
than anything else in the world"
Glow is your sister?" asked Ray
mond, with abrupt change Of tone.
Z" She is well. She's always we'll.
We Just came fl from a drive That's
fhe reason ] wasn't here to help you.
Did it hurt you going upstairs7',.
mot a bit. The boys handled me
~ tenderly as side o. pork. Let me
gee your drawings, win your"
The boys face glowed. "Well, you
Just wait" And he rushed away to
get them.
Mrs.. Barnett upon meeting Ann said,
With deep feeling t..Rob!s Illness has
transformed him. He said to me q
few moments ago: II you can find the
man who shot me, reward him. He
has done me great service. I am
lost "a dream of luxuEya He asked
after you with emotion and said he
would like to thank you for your serv-
ios to him."
Ann, listening intently, remained cold
" impassive Of face. Mrs. Scrlbbins
was the really efficient person. / have
horror. Of sick people, and as for
wounds. She shuddered for lack Of
words. KS :
Mrs, Barnett went on: II like to do
for him, he's SO grateful and so ODE
dent. He says just the right thing al
ways. There must be good breeding
back Of the man, although he never
mentions his family. There's some love
affair to account for his being here.
!. He's too handsome not to have had en-
tanglements. Don't you think so?"
He insisted not" replied Ann "He
begged me to consider that his life had
been quite commonplace"
ef don't believe it. He couldn't be
commonplace. He said to me just now,
Sometimes q man must hear the wash
Of the river of death to realize how fu-
tile he has allowed his life to become
His gratitude toward you is pathetic"
Ann frowned. cts worse; it's OPP
pressIve. did SO little, and that little
was not done with gracious spirit.
didn't enjoy 1t then nor in retrospect"
You mustn't let him know that. His
worship Of you positively irradiates his
face, and he's very handsome. He In
lists that you were heroic.
Ann grew q little petulant. IT wish
yau wouldn't try to maKs mountains
out Of molehills. It was most un-
pleasant experience, and / wish to for
get II, not to have it dinned in my ears
forever. Ny going was folly. and my
stay in that CHASTITY place was tor
ment. Please allow me to put 1t out of
I my memory"
Ann had moment Of bitter home
sickness, a feeling she had never known
before. This mad trip into the west
with reckless and representative boy
grew each moment more disastrous, At
Pc moment she fairly hated her eous-
ms and all the guests at their table and
lpngsd, with Hnspeakable hunger, for
die roll Of carriages on Fifth avenue
and the glitter and tumult Of Broad
way. The stony, uninterested stare Of
Aer mother was better than this pry-
ing. this oyerstrained interest on the
part Of Jeanette.
As for Raymond. he had been mo-
msutarily interesting as cowboy, and
yghan he was lying ct the brink iof the
4xaye be had assumed tragic value but
new that he was on the way to recov-
~ he ceased to interest. HE is mere
1 - -. ~ o&l.