The St. Cloud journal. [volume] (St. Cloud, Minn.) 1866-1876, 1870-08-18
ONLY n. {, FOR THE SEASON,
( Ia. .,sE.E:li. q. !
CHAPTER I.

I,3::!$ f;z.,E CAAIIEh l.
DR.. SEEKER MAKES, 4 PROFESSIONAL VISIT
The The twilight was past, the stars had
come out, and a smart March wind
shook the tree-tops in the avenue lead.
ing to Dykeham, the residence Of 81,
Francis Crevillon, Baronet.
DR.. Carl Seeker drew in his horse al
the lodge.gate, and looked down at the
woman who opened it with a face ex'
preesive OF dissatisfaction. He had
seen moving lights, like carriage-lamps
amongst the trees, and had heard: the
rumble of wheels in the drive before
him. .:.... u..
"Stop a moment. cried DR.. Seeker.
lis there ais anything unusual go.
ing on at the Hall?'' '...;:
"No, sir; only dinner party, I be.
lieve."
DR.. Seeker passed on into the drive
with speculative sloWness. IfSir Fran
cis was about to entertain dinner-guests,
be had come on vain errand, and
might almost as we'll turn back. So it
appeared at first sight, or so he made
believe that it appeared but he vent
on for all that in the rear of the carri.
ages, watching tbs lights as they van.
ished behind big trees, and came twink
ling::into sight again;
"1f they had as many starlight ride
to take as I have," unused the doctor
"thcy would learn to do without lamps
such q night as this. Well, I think I
had better 60 on. '1think I ought to
60, professionally. A busy man can't
choose bis own time for visiting a pa
tient."
He quickened his pace little, for if
be did 60 on, it was important that he
should rea, ,h the house before the
guests were assembled. He passed a
carriage or two, saw a gentleman in
black, and had vision of white cloud
Of muslin and lace, and a corouet that
glittered like silver. Then a groom
took his horse, and he sprang up the
steps and became the prey of the first
official receiver, whose duty it was to
hand him over to the second official re-
ceiver, who would relieve him of his
coat.
"Ne," objected the doctor; brusque-
", for he did not much like being mis-
taken for an invited guest; ''show me
into . morning-'oom, if you please, and
inquire if Miss Crevi]lon will see me.
1@shall detain her but few moments -
+ He was shown into morning-room,
accordingly, and took up his position
on the hearth.rug, after the fashion Of
English gentlemen 10 general. While
he waited, it occurred to him that lis
heart was beating little faster ttau
usual, aud that he could not he said to
retain that evenness ofspirit and nerve
which are essential to man in his visits
to his patients. A certain sensation Of
doubt oppressed him as to the proprlety
Of the step which he had taken also a
little haze Of unreality began to rise uu
about the position in which he had be.
lieved himself to be placed when he
mounted his horse to ride to Dykeham.
He couldn't possibly have dreamed it,
he supposed. And, after all, what had
dinuer.parties, or, indeed, any arrange.
ments at Dykeham to do With bis dis.
Oh. rye Of bis professional duties? AS
all the world know, his time could not
be called his own, and he must pay bis
visits Is he could. '- q; u.
The vision which appeared to him
when the door opened would, howe. er,
scarcely have been suspected Of requir.
ing medical aid. 1t was cloud o.
white, something like that other vision
! which he had just before seen through
I carriage window, only the first va.
totally uninterestiug to him, whilst
this one -
Ho made a step or two forwards, and
then stopped. 1:;s>~ -,
"Amy| he said, in tone not pro.
fe3sional. .t, o- .
20 Carl ought not to have come
I stole away without their knowleds &C
If Lady Crevillon were to know, o,
joanna" q" - : - "a =, =.
"Or Sir Francis" added the doctor
"He would hardly object to your see
ing me, Amy You forget"
"No, I do not. But you never meant
ito see Sir. Francis this evening?"
"Indeed I did" ssrs.t ....s.
"Well, you'll find tito be impossible
And, Carl, I tried to tell Joanna, bu
she was 50 hard and dry that I couldn'