, and old Mrs. Barts was herself chlorided to
her fathers, Dumps drifted over to San Juan Smith and turned stage
driver, and was killed by road agents, and so forth.
Why do I tell you all this, dear? Because it is heavy on my heart.
Because I walk the Valley of Humility. Because I am subduing
myself to permanent consciousness of my unworthiness to unloose the
latchet of Dr. Barritz's shoe. Because-oh, dear, oh, dear--there's
a cousin of Dumps at this hotel! I haven't spoken to him. I never
had any acquaintance with him, but--do you suppose he has
recognized me? Do, please, give me in your next your candid, sure-
enough opinion about it, and say you don't think so. Do you think
He knows about me already and that is why He left me last evening
when He saw that I blushed and trembled like a fool under His eyes?
You know I can't bribe ALL the newspapers, and I can't go back on
anybody who was good to Gunny at Redhorse--not if I'm pitched out
of society into the sea. So the skeleton sometimes rattles behind
the door. I never cared much before, as you know, but now--NOW it
is not the same.
Pages:
146
147
148
149
150
151
152
153
154
155
156
157
158
159
160
161
162
163
164
165
166
167
168
169
170