Morgan County republican. (Versailles, Mo.) 1906-1914, 1907-12-19


"All right again." was the reassur.
ing reply.
Thank God!" Challoner murmured.
and Everitt marveled to see tears
stealing from under his friends closed
eyelids.
But In a moment Challoner dashed
them away, opened his eyes wide,
smiled and attempted to sit up.
Everitt kept him down with
strong hand.
mo, you don't!" said he. THE doc
tors coming back presently and he
left strict orders that you we're not
to be allowed even to sit up until to-
morrow"
But old fellow, l must! You
don't know"
Il can guess" said Everitt dryly.
But there's no need to get up on
that account. Miss Winthrop is none
the worse for her late experience, but
l hear she will not leave her room
again today"
Challoner was silent for a moment,
then he said:
TON, l want you to do me a ia.
vor."
Anything in reason, old man."
Then go and order by telephone
three dozen American Beauties-do II
o and they'll be down on the six
O'Clock train. And give me a sheet
OF paper and a pencil. won't sit
up, but l must write her a line-be-
fore the doctor comes and forbids me
doing It,"
But no answer came to C%halloner's
note OF solicitous inquiry, and he pass
ed a restless afternoon. At night the
roses came, and Everitt himself had to
see that they were promptly delivered.
Half an hour later, as he sat Ia Chal.
toner's reading by dim lamplight,
there was a knock, and Everitt went
to the door.
What is III" asked Challoner Ian.
guidly.
"It's-it's those COMPOUNDED roses
and a motel"
"A note-give It to met" cried Chal.
Toner. Quick, Tom, bring the lamp"
And-doctor's orders alike unheeded
and unremembered-he sat up In bed
and eagerly tore open the envelope.
This is what he read:
Mr.. Challoner: They tell me you
saved my life. cannot think 30. /
know I was In danger. I thought you
had come to help me and for one moment
l regarded you as my savior. Then with
a hardness of which a brute would be in
capable. you struck me in the face. You
coward Your pretended solicitude is
useless now. I shall never forget. / hope
never to see your face again.
MARGARET WINTHROP.
Everitt read II and whistled softly
to himself.
well, what are you going to do?"
he asked presently.
Pm going to see her." said Chal-
Toner, already half out Of bed.
mo, you're not-not tonight" said
Everitt, pushing him back again. you
can't force your way into her room
when she refuses to see you. Wait un.
til to-morrow-she can't avoid o
then. Besides, by tomorrow she'll
see things In a more reasonable light"
Then give me paper. a card, any.
thing" and Challoner wrote:
"You do not understand. Let me see
you and explain. IT 10 not as you think
Nothing could be more unjust, more cruel
than your letter. Don't Judge me harsh
iy until o hear my explanation, and
then I pray you will forgive me-"
Five minutes later this same note
was returned to Percival Challoner,
and below was added just these words.
Forgive you? Never!"
1t was nearly daylight before Chai-
loner fell into al uneasy sleep. He
awoke about o on to learn that Mar
garet Winthrop and her aunt had
called to inquire as to his condition.
Notwithstanding the doctors orders
Challoner hurried into his cothes, and,
although his head ached badly, made
his way to Miss Winthrop's home.
Everitt had been there before him,
and after lengthy intercession and ex-
PLANTATION Of his friends seeming
cruelty in striking her, and showing
her that to that one blow she could
lay her present existence, the fact
dawned upon her that she was entirely
wrong and that she owed her life to
the heroism Of Percival Challoner.
Margaret flushed and half arose
from her chair as he entered. Mar
garet, dear" he said. surely you are
not angry? You m in danger Of
death and what did was only to save
the girl l loved"
She had turned away from him and
he could not see her face. She made
no reply. He caught her hand and
raised 1t to his lips.
Il did not mean to offend you" he
said sadly. you will not send me
way?"
"Never!" she breathed.
He caught her In his arms, and
with her fair head pillowed against his
shoulder, she smiled up at him, a trem.
ulous. sweet smile