The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1910-08-04

heavy with dew, and, man-like, Halsey
chose h shortest way across the
lawn. Half way, however, he stopped.
Wed better go by the drive" he
said. This isn't a lawn; it's a field.
Where's the gardener these daysg"
There isn't any" l said meekly.
we have been thankful enough, so
far, to have our meals prepared and
served and the beds aired. The gard
ener who belongs here is working at
the club"
Remind me tomorrow to send out
a man from town." he said. Il know
the very fellow"
record this scrap of conversation.
just as l have tried to put down any.
thing and everything that had a bear
ing on what followed, because the
gardener Halsey sem the next day
played a important part in the events
of the next few weeks-events that
eliminated as you know, by stirring
the country profoundly. At that time,
however. l was busy trying to keep
my skirts dry. and paid little or no
attention to what seemed then a most
trivial remark.
AT the lodge everything was quiet.
There was a light in the sitting room
downstairs, and a faint CLEAN, as IL
from a shaded lamp, in one of the up
per rooms. Halsey stopped and ex-
amined the lodge with calculating
eyes.
"I dnnff Gnnu At,nf Raw hn oofA
obviously; this is hardly a woman's
affair. If there's a scrap of any kind,
you hike for the timber" Which was
Halsey's solicitous care for me, put
into vernacular.
"Tll stay right here" I said, and
crossing the small veranda, now
shaded and fragrant with honey
suckle, l hammered the knocker on
the door.
Thomas opened the door himself
Thomas, fully dressed and in his Gus.
tomary health. l had the blanket over
my arm.
II brought the blanket, Thomas"
said; Il am sorry you are SO ill.,"
The Old man stood staring at me
and then at the blanket. His con
usion under other circumstances
H0,'d have been ludicrous.
What! Not ill?" Halsey said from
the step. Thomas, I'm afraid you've
been malingering."
Thomas seemed to have been debat-
Ing something with himself. Now he
stepped out on the porch and closed
the door gently behind him.
Il reckon you bettah come in Mis-
Innes,' he said, speaking cautiously.
It's got SO l dunno what to do, and
It's boun' to come out ONE time er
ruther."
He threw the door open then, and
| stepped inside, Halsey close behind.
In the sitting room the old negro
turned with quiet dignity to Halsey.
You bettah sit down, sah," he
said. IT'S a place for a woman, sah."
Things were mo- turning out the
way Halsey expected. He sat down
on the comfortable, with his hands
thrust in his pockets, and watched
me as | followed Thomas up the mar
row stairs. At the top a nm was
standing, and a second glance showed
me it was Rosie. She shrank back a
little, but I said nothing. And then
Thomas motioned to a partly open
door, and | went In.
The lodge boosted OF three bed
rooms upstairs, all comfortably fur
nished. In this one, the largest and
ARREST, a night lamp was burning, and
by it's light / could make out a plain
white metal bed. A girl was asleep
Thereon in a half stupor, for she
muttered something now and then.
Rosie had taken her courage in her
hands, and coming in had turned up
the light. 1t was only then that I
knew. Fever-1ushed i'll as she was,
. recognized Louise Armstrong.
will o tell me what you mean,
Thomas Johnson, by not telling me
his before?" I demanded Indignantly.
Thomas quailed.
Mis- Louise wouldn't let me-" he
said earnestly. 81 wanted to. She
ought to "a had a doctor the night she
came, but she wouldn' hear to it. Is
she very bad, Mis- Innes?
Bad enough" I said coldly. Send
Mr.. Innes up"
Halsey came up the stairs slowly,
looking rather interested and inclined
10 be amused. For a moment he could
not see anything distinctly in the
darkened room; he stopped, glanced
at Rosie and at me, and then his eyes
fell on the restless head on the pill
lsw. l think he felt who 1t was before
he really saw her; he crossed the
room in a couple of strides and bent
over the bed.
"Louise," he said softly; but she
did not reply, and her eyes showed no
recognition. Halsey a young, and
Illness was new to him. He straight
ened himself slowly, still watching
her, and caught my arm.
She's dying, Aunt RAY" he said
huskily. Dying! Why, she doesn't
know mel"
"E,,dooio T cpoppa1 haipo ant IN