Morgan County republican. (Versailles, Mo.) 1906-1914, 1907-10-17

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niece, then her gaze wandered out to
the garden and the village street be.
yoDd.
Ills wife's been dead two years
last May" she Illuminated. IAN Mrs.
Mixter's a mighty sharp woman. but
she don't Sc. ahead Of Jane Splint!"
Il was with a satisfied smile that
DIR. GaTie into the old.fashioned gar
den surrounding her house a few
hours later.
"Hester's gone to see little Ruth
Gilmore" she explained, but sit
right down. You look tired
Felix Garde dropped into the quaint
garden.seat YEARLY, and, holding his
hat in his hand. let the cool breeze
play acros his forehead. His eyes
had a sad and somewhat tired look.
How sweet II is here" he said.
Mrs. Splint looked at him keenly.
Then she made a bold move.
Il should think you're gettin'
about tired of Twin alone" she re.
marked.
The doctor glanced at her quickly.
but she met his gaze without finch.
ing.
What do you mean?" he asked.
What I say; you'd be happier II
you could make up your mind to
marry again"
The man sighed.
You knew Madeline, Mrs. Splint,"
he said at last, and you know that
my heart died with her"
Mrs. Splint gave rent to an internal
"Humph!" Aloud she said nothing.
1T would not be right" he said
slowly.
What would not?'
Suddenly he faced her.
Would It be right? You are .
woman; tell me, would I be justified
In marrying when there is 80 little I
could give in return for any woman's
companionship?'
Mrs. Splint looked at him steadily.
She wished he could see what was in
her mind without her telling him.
He sat very still for a while and
Jane Splint, being a wise woman, did
not interrupt his thoughts. At length
he rose and put his hat firmly on his
head.
Il think I will go and bring Hester
home" he said.
When Hester Maxwell entered her
aunt's sitting.room an hour later
which lent a strange beauty to her
face.
Aunt Jane" she said quietly, 81 am
engaged tc be married to DR.. Garde."
For the lands sake." Mrs. Splint's
knitting dropped in her lap and sew
eral stitches slipped. She had not ex-
pected this so soon.
Say you are glad, aunt"
Indeed / am" that lady replied
truthfully, while she gently stroked
her niece's soft hair.
The engagement was a short one.
II she missed anything In his manner
during their engagement or the early
months of their married life, no one.
not even the doctor himself. ever
knew 1t. And so the weeks slipped
away and winter drew nea
II was late In December. Hester
sat alone in her small neat sitting
room with some soft, white stuff on
her lap. but she was not sewing. She
was thinking Of her husband, and OF
the fact that, though she had been his
wife nearly half a year, she had never
yet heard the words of love from his
lips which should have been uttered
before he asked her to share his life.
She rose with an unconscious sigh
and went to the front door, for some
M had turned in at the gate, and
though she tried to greet her visitor
cordially, Nettie Mixter's presence
Just at that time grated on her.
Come right in and lay of your
things" she said.
Nettie stepped into the warm sit
ting.room, where a large stove gave
out a genial glow, her small eyes tax
ing in the details of the room with
quick, envious glance.
MY! but you're gettin' quite fixed
up" she remarked tartly.
Hester drew a chair nearer the
stove for her visitor, and resumed hel
own seat by the window.
You're settin' ready for summer
pretty early, amt you?" Nettie sale
presently. That a lawn waist?"
NO" The color rushed into Hes
ter's face.
I'm most forgettin' what / com,
for" her visitor resumed; "mammi
wants to know II the doctor coult
step round and see her tomorrow
she's got that pain under her shoulde
again"
I'm sorry to hear that; I'll tel
him" Hester said.
"Oh, say. Miss Hunter was in {,
sec us yesterday, and l most die,
hearin' her tell NAV about Mrs
Splint's tellin' her what a time sh
had gettin' the doctor up to tn
scratch"
Hester gave her a puzzled look. Tn
small. dark eyes encountered her
with a vindictive CLEAN.
Mrs. Splint said he never'd hav
got to the proposin' point II sh
hadn't given him a push, as good q
told him, in fact, that he could hay
YOU for the askin'. Well" risin
leisurely, Il must go. Come 'roun
soon, Hester, and bring your SEWN,
Hester Garde shut the door directl
her visitor had stepped outside. Their
were no prolonged good-byes. She r.
IL vU-x