The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1906-08-15
HAMLIN GARLAND
CHAPTER VIII.

+ CHAPTER VIII.
Z q Z last there came a day when
the. doctor permitted his pa
tient to be clothed and seat
a q ed in an easy chair, and.
SagsAg Mrs. Barnett to him, Raymond
As6eaass, <sDe you think Miss Rupert will
Wsa ne nows''
N VIII ask her.. replied Jeanette,
WIS., dae appreciation Of the romantic
wsSsaaassom.
AA rose to comply, with little
Mas@ OF unpleasant excitement. She
Vss ssot want to see him, and yet she
SAaA net decently refuse.
g AS sae door of the sitting room Mrs.
aagssassssa1 stopped, and the girl walked
"a acne. her face set in lines OF cold
QssaaA.
Raymond sat in a big, padded chair,
MaA his back to the window and the
NsesMGgAt streaming over his head. He
we've g handsome gray dressing gown,
aaa Che. linen at his neck and wrists
Was spotiessly clean His hands were
sSsss@a- almost delicate in ehect-and
Aa ciean shayen face and his well
Asasaed, abundant brown hair gave
Ssaaauce of a most careful toilet.
S@Aeshing mystically solemn and
Sweas was IN his eyes, and his lips
saesablea Sas he greeted her. 'SThis is
Ssgs geed OF you. Pardon me, won't
S,ass Z am forbidden to stand"
Ss beg you, do not think Of it,
ysDere 4 ask you to be seated! |
wet TO thank you more sui tably than
3 Asre Aeen able to do for what you
Iss Scr me-
ssease don't; AR. Raymond. I as
as&S you deserve no credit. I went
9ss @aere under eompulsion, and what
@sa was determined by pressure Of
N9eNsastances. I'm not bit OF hero
&aA ana do not like praise
e was chilled by her tone and TOR a
saaaseat hesitated. ga sick man may
De Sosgiyen some things" he began to
Ny ut last. q may as well confess
Saa T have been longing to see you. l
cave been trying for many days to rise
am& dress in order that I might have
Se& come in. You must let me ask
sS4sa forgiveness for the rude way in
NAaea received you that day. All that
e 4sa seems Incredible to me now, like
aessction Of another man.
a g2eam of amusement crossed AIMS
ease 81 didn't blame you. I'm willing
go admit that your position was try
sssA
20 was too exalted of mood to re-
ssaad to her quizzical tone. Il had
sSy&a For years quite apart from any
EsssA association with cultivated peo-
se. end besides I had begun to feel
fAas Asaase was wasting my life and had be
sSSase irritable I went to the ranch to
aaS of debt, and well, I had fallen
sse a groove. You recalled me to bet
Ss9 things"
and the bullet" she said rather
gSantly, for she was becoming appre-
ssssSsasiFe of the trend Of his condolences.
s BE ignored her interruption, or, rath-
sg ae plowed across it with something
SSe bis old time resolution. TT is due
va goa Se know-or at any rate desire
SS&a TO know-that z am not fugitive
ZEN Justice. Baker thought he was
sag funny
am not so dull as you think, Mr..
&asmond. 1 understood him perfect
sss
g am glad you did. It is true I am
ses1sangea from my family, but it is not
.sssaae- Ny faults have never been Grim
sasaae p
Please do not feel it necessary to
sSaeasn," !" interrupted Ann. Tt is pain
sss % You, and-and it is wholly unnec-
essASs. / beg you to desist. hope you
T0 understand that am in no sense
%asaA6ssag you"
:. .A shadow of pain crossed his face.
ssSsssaehow the reality of their meeting
aS not as he had imagined it.
zee, on her part, was angry and dis
ssssed with herself and resentful Of
ssss aodplied social equality, and yet he
ssaeSsa the gentleman, and his face
"~FS sS1 AdoOSOlAS, NSly AlOf LIS LII
~ esear pallor. Suffering had infinite
2eHned its lines, but she could not
ees@s his services as cook and COW
a5, and, besides, she hated being per-
Tsssad She resolutely changed the
taaaRct.
'ae. Bra;de says you are getting on
saeassdidly and that you will soon be
sssasrning to the ranch
Checked and chilled by her manner,
ae olainly abandoned all further
ShNaght Of confding in her and an
severed, YEARLY and sadly: ''It will be
q ass5y time before return to the life
Saa ssae yanch I have other plans
Nasss'
&seA half regretted her action and as
See Sose said, with a smiling assump-
esSsass. esf easy. friendly interest which
sseasSEHG- seNasSHG- hin. zrorse than anything she had
sassssseefo spo3sen: Il think it wonderful