Part 58 (2/2)

Gaskins, and she is a widder. So I thought I'd go away. I thought of being a nurse--I know a little about that. I used to be about the hospital at my old home, and I've had some little experience since.” She was evidently seeking his advice.

”You saved my life,” said Keith. ”Dr. Balsam says you are a born nurse.”

She put this by without comment, and Keith went on.

”Where was your home?”

”Grofton.”

”Grofton? You mean in England? In the West Country?”

She nodded. ”Yes. I was the girl the little lady gave the doll to. You were there. Don't you remember? I ran away with it. I have it now--a part of it. They broke it up; but I saved the body.”

Keith's eyes opened wide.

”That Lois Huntington gave it to?”

”Yes. I heard you were going to be married?” she said suddenly.

”I! Married! No! No such good luck for me.” His laugh had an unexpected tone of bitterness in it. She gave him a searching glance in the dusk, and presently began again haltingly.

”I want you to know I am never going back to that any more.”

”I am glad to hear it.”

”You were the first to set me to thinkin' about it.”

”I!”

”Yes; I want to live straight, and I'm goin' to.”

”I am sure you are, and I cannot tell you how glad I am,” he said cordially.

”Yes, thankee.” She was looking down, picking shyly at the fringe on her wrap. ”And I want you to know 'twas you done it. I have had a hard life--you don't know how hard--ever since I was a little bit of a gal--till I run away from home. And then 'twas harder. And they all treated me's if I was just a--a dog, and the worst kind of a dog. So I lived like a dog. I learned how to bite, and then they treated me some better, because they found I would bite if they fooled with me. And then I learned what fools and cowards men were, and I used 'em. I used to love to play 'em, and I done it. I used to amuse 'em for money and hold 'em off. But I knew sometime I'd die like a dog as I lived like one--and then you came--.” She paused and looked away out of the window, and after a gulp went on again: ”They preached at me for dancin'. But I don't think there's any harm dancin'. And I love it better'n anything else in the worl'.”

”I do not, either,” said Keith.

”You was the only one as treated me as if I was--some'n' I warn't. I fought against you and tried to drive you out, but you stuck, and I knew then I was beat. I didn't know 'twas you when I--made such a fool of myself that time--.”

Keith laughed.

”Well, I certainly did not know it was you.”

”No--I wanted you to know that,” she went on gravely, ”because--because, if I had, I wouldn' 'a' done it--for old times' sake.” She felt for her handkerchief, and not finding it readily, suddenly caught up the bottom of her skirt and wiped her eyes with it as she might have done when a little girl.

Keith tried to comfort her with words of a.s.surance, the tone of which was at least consoling.

”I always was a fool about crying--an' I was thinkin' about Bill,” she said brokenly. ”Good-by.” She wrung his hand, turned, and walked rapidly out of the room, leaving Keith with a warm feeling about his heart.

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