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Show ' ' rn ' ff r" f - f- - : l 1 i : : : ,:; r ' . t l - ; ?" J .. a j . , j ." 1 I fas. . -C-y la a t..-. t .,- tj e r s. I am not f-, '- ." ? jvith a ;:.-.- s in ' - vps. "T : 1 I w uIJ hue if ' ' : !-' I '- : t always tave i ai t- v v . .:i t .?." "And my tn v'i v 1 t C,-y's true ra:'h-r!" t '. I' :' c.iw:. j Dorcas tenlerly to I-. f-- "Jlushi Pores s! Is that rala? . It ou.-..l3 as If omt gecll ere la.hlcg pals cf water ealnft the casements." "Xt'e rala, Cuy. . The ; ..Ir.pctlal storm, you know." . "And that dreary moaning down the chimney Is It wind?" The boy shivered a little, and drew he 1 bedclothes ep around tls clJs. The rcJ Cames from the tlar!r.g log on the hearth danced up and down like a maglo lit tern; the Shaded lamp burned teadHy on the table. Dorcaa "Wynter stitched qaletly away at her sewing -without looking up. "It must be .an awful tempest. Dorcaa," Dor-caa," ntterel the lad.'aa fresh guat of wind eeerned to shake the octagonal tower to Us very foundations, -It In Coy. I heard old Capt. Lake I cay that the tide had cot been so high I nce the year the Iloyal Vlctorl was wrecked oCT Faioe Fplnt." Tt in tetter to he here, even with a broken leg." said Guy Faley. slightly lifting his eyebrows, than out at sea In such a fclow as this! "A good deal better, Cuy." , "Not that I'm a coward, DorcasM cried the boy. There are worse things than a storm at sea, and I have aa instinct in-stinct that I sb&U he a. sailor yet. - But this sickness has taught me, this sickness sick-ness and you, Dorcas, that it's better to go for a thins; In an honest, straightforward straight-forward way, than to try to reach it by sneaking. But I always supposed it was a fine .thing to run away to sea, or else I shouldn't have tried the get-out-of-the-wlndow-by-midnlght dodge, and broken my leg. I'm wiser now." Dorcas smiled at him with melting! hasei eyes and rose red lips, revealing & line of pearls. . "Poor Ouyr said she. "It was a hard lesson, wasn't Itr "I think J needed It, Doreae. If ever there was a thorough-paced young ruffian ruf-fian It was II" groaned the hoy. ' But, you see, nobody ever talked to rne. Scoldings, without end I trot. I grant you, hat bo one talked nam on cm sense to me before. - You are the only one who seemed to think me worth reasoning with; and you shall see, Dorcas, that X am' worth the trouble.- Once I'm up from this scraps I'll taakl tor lessons in real earnest, and try to do something better. And I say, Dorcas "Yes, Ouyr "You're the prettleet glrj I ever saw." "Nonsense, Guyl" "Oh. but you are, and the sweetest and most sensible. X can't think how you ever came to be ft housemaid in ft place like this." Dorcas colored a little. "Shall T ten you, Guy? I came as . governess to the primary department, but X had no discipline, they told me. The younger hoys did exactly as they pleased. I've always thought that Mrs. Vail, who succeeded to the position, had something to do about the reports of my management that reached Dr. Delfer's ears. But that can't be proved, neither can It be helped. I was that you cM at tea last rht cannot cfcU Urns If an Invalid try l.rer. the has been here a month, nd " "Hut she's not tu n awsr for all that, Aur.t Ec;h." sail Ouy, v. ho was devouring de-vouring roasted chestnuts IJie a drsTon. "Ask papa, t.ie's to be ilrs. Palvy one of these days, and " "ilrs. Patey!" Aunt SophronlL turned green and yellow. "It's ctmie to that, then, has It? Well,' I've euppected at this eoroe time. And all I've got to-cay "Seven years from now." said -Guy. with his mouth fuU of chestnuts, "I shall be. 21. and she will be 26. Not enough difference to signify. And. he uttered with a grin, as his aunt flounced wrathfully out of the room, "you'll get your walking ticket, old lady, when I'm married. I'd aa soon have a death's head and bones around the place any time." He was sitting curled up In the easiest chair In the library, reading a book, half an hour attervard. when the door opened, and his father cams Into the room. Something tn the parental glance and j movement struck the boy. -I never saw father look so young and bright before." he thought. "Some- j thing must have pleased him very ! much. Perhaps Aunt Boph Is going to marry some old fogy or other, and the coast will be clear." - "So you know aU about It, Guy? said Mr. Faley, laughing. "About what, sir?" "About my engagement." The book fell with ft crash to the floor. "Your what, father?" "At least you told Aunt Sophronla about it- Wen, I'm glad you are pleased, my boy, and Dorcas says abe will always love yoa as If you were her own son. As a general thing, I don't approve of stepmothers, but you and Dorcas love each other so dearly that Why. Guy, what Is the matter?" for the boy had rushed out of the room with an odd. suffocating sensation In his throat. He met Dorcas coming up the garden path with a bunch of scarlet hoUy berries ber-ries In her hand. "Dorcaa,' he cried. "Doreas. you are j as false as the serpent . woman You , beau" j She comprehended him In an instant. though his -voice was choked Into si- j lence. She flung way the scarlet cluster and put her arms about him. 1 "Dear Guy," she whispered. "X love' him; but If you are unwilling If It takes away any of the homo feeling for you, It only remains for you to say so, and " Her voice died away, her head dropped on his shoulder. There was an Instant's silence, and then Guy said bravely: I "Well. o let It be. My father is a trump, and you are the only woman alive who is worthy of him. And I cup-libse cup-libse people would say six years was too much difference la our ages, although al-though how they're to get over the fifteen fif-teen years between you and father, I don't know," be added, with a forced laugh. ' - And then and there. Guy Paler alone here and friendless, and I was glad to accept a vacant position under the housekeeper to mend the linen, care for the occasional cases In the infirmary, infirm-ary, and make myself generally useful." use-ful." " "I knew yeu were a lady!" egultantly cried the boy. "I could eee It tn your face." 41 "I would rather you would call me a true woman, Guy. than a lady," said Dorcas, moving the lamp few Inches farther back, so that the light would not shine In Guy's eyes. "But I say, Dorcas, how old are you?" Rather young, I am afraid, Guy only 1." "And I am 14, Dorcas. Will you wait seven years for me?" "Guyr "I shall be 21 then, and my own master." mas-ter." eagerly added the boy; "and I'll work like a slave to get a good profession, profes-sion, and If you will marry me, Dorcas. I'll make the best husband that ever was to you. for I'm desperately in love with you. that I am." , Dorcas burst into laughter. "Guy," ahe said, "what a child you are." "But you do love me, don't you?" "Yes, f course I love you: but not a bit more than I do Cecil Parker or little Frankle Gaines." "Dorcas!" Well, a trifle more, perhaps, because be-cause I've had all the care of you these four weeks, and you've really behaved very decently, but '' " "Promise me, Dorcas." "I won't, Guy." "We're engaged, all the same," said Guy. with a deep sigh of relief; it's a bargain. And now you may get me my gruel." ; e e e "Tea, Mr Paley." said Doctor Delfer. with a nod of his spectacled brows, "that wild hoy of yours Is a different creature. And the Infirmary nurse, has done it all. Not to mention the credit the doctor gives her for keeping down the fever and managing the troublesome trouble-some splints. He was the worst boy la the school. I don't mind admitting to you now that I was contemplating expelling ex-pelling him from our members." : ' "Guy always was a wild sort of chap." I admitted Mr. Paley. "But his aunts spoiled him. He never had any bringing bring-ing up to speak of." "But this illness seems to have ex- erted a wonderful Influence over his moral nature," added .Doctor Delfer. "And I really think Dorcas has done it all. Her influence has been wonderful." "She deserves a great deal of credit, I am sure." said Mr. Paley. "I should like to see her and thank her. I've brought a few presents for her a warm shawl, a silver snuff box and a black tuff gown," Doctor Delfer gasped a ; little. "She I don't think she1 takes snuff!" said he, feebly. I "All these nurses do." J "Yes but there she is now.'' The door opened and Dorcas Wynter came in carrying a student lamp, which she had Just filled and trimmed anew. Mr. Paley dropped the sUver snuff box in astonishment. "I beg your pardon, I am sure!" he stammered. And when the doctor suggested that the nurse had better accompany young Guy on the. Journey home she assented without remonstrance. t "Nurse, Indeed.1" said Miss Sophronla Paley, a gaunt, high-featured damsel of M. "Aa If a pretty, simpering chit of a thing like that could understand anything about nursing !" "She does, though," said Guy. "She's a brick. Aunt Soph. And I don't believe be-lieve X should be alive bow If It wasn't for her." MTou are quite well enough by this time to dispense with her services," said Hiss SophrotHa, "A boy that eats the Quantity ef ranOn aad pluxa Jam |