Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1906-03-14
CHAPTER VIII.

~ tne DOCTOR permitted his pa
tient to be clothed and seat
4 = ed in an easy chair, and,
calling Mrs. Barnett to him, Raymond
asked, do you think Miss Rupert will
see me now!"
II will ask her." replied Jeanette,
with due appreciation of the romantic
situation.
Ann rose to comply, with little
thrill of unpleasant excitement. She
did not want to see him, and yet she
could not decently refuse.
At the door of the sitting room Mrs
Barnett stopped, and the girl walked
in alone, her face set in lines Of cold
disdain.
Raymond sat in big, padded chair
with his back to the window and the
sunlight streaming over his head. He
wore handsome gray dressing gown
and the linen ut his neck and wrists
was spotlessly clean. His hands were
retined-almost delicate in effect-and
his clean shaven face and his vel
brushed, abundant brown hair gave
evidence of most careful toilet
Something mystically solemn and
sweet was in his eyes, and his lips
trembled as he greeted her. "This il
very good of you. Pardon me, Won,
you? am forbidden to stand"
II beg you, do not think of it,
Dare ask you to be seated?
want to thank you more suitably thai
have been able to do for what 70,
did for me-"
please don't, Mr.. Raymond. l as
sure YOU I deserve no credit. l wen
out there under compulsion, and VIVA
did was determined by pressure O
circumstances. Pm not q bit of hero
inc, and L do not like praise"
He was chilled by her tone and for ;
moment hesitated. "a sick man ma.
be forgiven some things" he began Il
say at last. II may as well comics.
that have been longing to see you.
have been trying for many days to rise
and dress in order that / might have
you come in. You must let me ask
your forgiveness for the rude way III
which received you that day. All that
l did seems incredible to me now, like
the action of another man."
A glealn of amusement crossed Ann's
face. II didn't blame you. I'm willing
to admit that youy position was try
ing"
He was too exalted of mood to re-
spond to her quiZzical tone. 81 had
lived for years quite apart from any
from association with cultivated peo-
pie, and besides had begun to feel
that was wasting my life and had be
come irritable. 1 went to the ranch tt
pay off debt, and I-well, had faller
into groove. You recalled me to bet
ter things"
II and the bullet" she said rather
tiippantly, for she was becoming appre
hensive of the trend of his condolences.
He ignored her interruption, or, rath
or, he plowed across it with something
like his old time resolution. at is due
to YOU to know-or at any rate desire
you to know-that am not fugitive
from justice. Baker thought he was
being funny"
Il am not so dull as you think, Mr.
Raymond. l understood him perfect
~"
II am glad you did. 1t is true l an
estranged from my family, but it is moi
due My faults have never been Grim
inal."
please do not feel it necessary to
explain" interrupted Ann. st is pain.
full to you, and-and it is wholly unnec
essary. beg you to deslst. hope yor
will understand that l am in no sense
doubling YOU"
a shadow of pain crossed his face
Somehow the reality Of their meeting
was not as he had imagined it.
She, on her part, was angry and dis
pleased with herself and resentful OF
his implied social equality, and yet lie
looked the gentleman, and his face
was very handsome, very moving in
its clear pallor. Suffering had infinite.
ly refined its lines, but she could not
forget his services as cook and cow
boy, and, besides, she hated being per-
turbed. She resolutely changed the
subject.
"Dr. Braide says you are getting Oh
splendidly and that you will soon be
returning to the ranch"
Checked and chilled by her manner,
he plainly abandoned all further
thought of confiding in her and an
swcred, wearily and sadly: at will be
long time before return to the life
on the ranch. l have other plans
now"
Ann half regretted her action and as
she rose said, with a smiling assulnp-
ton Of easy, friendly interest which
hurt him worse TIA .silgtliing she had
hitherto spoken: Il tl!..i!ii il wonderful
the way you are coming on. We will
see you ut dinner in IL few days"
"Thank you. l shall be down at the
earliest moment" lie quietly replied
and leaned back in Ills chair, white
and suffering, his eyes closed, his lips
Ann was well aware that she had not
lived up to her higher self in this in
terview and that she had been cruelty
and distant with him.
"And yet don't see how l could have
acted differently" she argued with
her better self. "He must not so on
me more deeply interested in
his life than really am"
Mrs. Barnett was impaticntly wait
ing for her return.
What did he say?' she breathlessly
asked. I'm dying to know"
Ann answered with evasive indiffer-
ence. HE thanked me again for my
heroic action and begged pardon for
Lis rudeness, all of which he might
have spared himself the trouble of re-
reatilg."
Mrs. Barnett was Oil the scent for
romance. what clse:"
Nothing else"
Poor fellow! He has been strug-