The Dolores star., 1909-10-15
CHAPTER TX.

The steamer on which Mrs. Dimes
arrived was three days belated. to our
great impatience. arriving only the.
day but one before the wedding invita-
tions we're to go out: and ~ the
bishop was away from town on trip.
which annoyed and puzzled his sister.
It fell to my lot to accompany her 70
meet Mrs. Dimes.
1t had been years since I had aeen
that lady and then but once and brief.
ly. but ! knew her the moment she
came down the gang-plank. 80 exactly
did she look as l had been sure she
would; a large. ruddyish woman, In
an indiferently tailored cheviot. with
a mans keen eyes. . woman's nose.
the copious chins Of the bishops de-
scription. and mouth inclining slight
ly to gentleness, with arm jaw: the
brusque, direct woman that one hnds
in thousand. She had come easfly
into success, as the bishop had said,
and one could see that II Anson Dimes
had not accomplished anything for
himself. she must have accomplished
1t for him, since q woman built In her
mold could not have been = failure nor
have allowed the man she married to
remain one.
II am ILL.," she said at once. ~ We
moved to meet her and she stopped to
offer . grayish cheek to her friends
lips. THE passage was frishtfully
rough. l don't know when i've had
such . trip. must get home and to
bed"
She nodded briefly when I was pre-
sented to her, declined the arm
profered. and. when we had finally
got to the carriage, leaned back and
closed her eyes. maintaining an abso-
lutte silence except when she aroused
herself to answer trieny some ques-
tion in the flow of Miss Winstanley's
solicitude. 1t was evident that NAL
de mer did not leave her in the most
amiable spirits in the world.
Henrietta Winstanley sank lower
and lower In her corner of the car
riage. looking at me with appealing
and detected eyes. 1t was no won
der; to have waited all these nerve
wearing days on Mrs. Dimes and then
to have her arrive in this undone
and uncommunicative condition was
enough to sink even her buoyant spir-
its. For myself, felt the hopeless
ness Of the whole affair as / had felt
1t from the beginning.
AS we neared the Winstanley house.
Miss Winstaniey said, quite casually:
by the way, Hannah. the Hemin-
gray-Ankony invitations are out day
after tomorrow"
What" cried Mrs. Dimes. and her
eyes flew open on the instant why
didn't you tell me at once? had no
idea It was to, be so soon. must
see Dean at once
Dean was her agent and adviser.
Miss Winstanley revived imme-
diately.
Are you able?" she inquired ten
derby.
Mrs. Dimes nodded, swallowed hard.
and tried to sit up. She was green.
1sh gray and looked frightfully Ill
1T isn't a question as to that" she
declared; Il must see Dean this morn
ing. at once. Aren't we almost homer"
You see she has come fortified"
said Miss Winstanley to me, as was
leaving, after having assisted Mrs.
Dimes into the house
went back to my once and man.
aged to put In the rest Of the morning
and part Of the afternoon, but my
nerves were ragged and my alarm rs
to Mrs. Dimes condition was very real
Miss Winstanley had mentioned the
physician she meant to call. and l
went round to see him late in the day
to inquire as to his patient, but his
report Of her was not at all encourag.
ing and almost wished had stayed
away. He thought 1t probable that
she would not be out Of bed for . fort
night.
Toward evening, ~ came out Of
my club and started through Union