Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1875-12-03
"lrl sit down in the niche and


Of woman he is disgusted with?"-
remarked Mrs Drayton, with rising
color.
"Not at all. Here are three pic
lures by Dennis, on these very walls.
and yet you dislike the man so that
you never ask hin to visit you.'
II don't see the analogy, ] ohn."
sit is another just such case"
Mrs. Drayton prepared to argue the
point, but the Doctor glided out qul
city, and she knew that he had
stealthily seated himself in dark
corner of the drawing-room.
Outside the stars glistened, and
from the window at the intruder's
right hand the pale crescent shone
with steady promise. The scent OF
flowers from the small conser.ator
gave tc the atmosphere an ideal el'
ement, which, with the hush of even.
ing and the strange throb in the all
made by the weird music, was partic-
ularly grateful to this poet doctor,
who, whatever he seemed, was a man
OF superior genus and kindness OF
heart.
There was an improvisation, he
knew; q weird, delicious, clfish melo-
dy, that made his pulses quicken and
his feet move nervously to time.
Then came shower Of sadness; a
soft breathing out of sorrow, as one
whispering heartache to an intimate
friend. Then roll of passion, and a
finale of lonesomeness which melted
the proud man as one is melted who
mourns the grief Of ones best be-
loved.
"Beautiful, Miss Blanche! Allow
me to thank You Tor great pleas.
ure," said the intruder, at the close OF
the performance, changing his seat
from the chair to the sofa.
"You there, Doctor Drayton? You
are quite welcome" was all she said.
as she rose from the piano stool.
"But, please, don't 60 away" he
said. "I haven't been so rested in
many MONTHS
"Would you like me to play
more7"
eff you only would be SO kind"
"W hat will you have? I believe
you are an admirer of Bach?"
"a most devoted one; but I would
very much prefer something of your
own"
avery well. I viii see if can i'm
provise for you. never tried with
an audience" she said, simply.
A few broken chords, a delicate
scherzo, clear and ripping, a sigh, a
tremolo, and John Drayton lost him
self entirely.
"Great heavens, Miss Blanchew
exclaimed the rapt listener, as the
music ceased. 81 never was SO
strangely affected in my lite before
1t actually seemed to me that you
held me with a clutch as strong as
death, and that we were floating away
into space somewhere
Chow singuIar!!'
"Indeed it was. Have you fin
ished?'
eyes, for tonight. am engaged
for the opera; and there he is now
as the door bell announced visitor.
"Au r'eDoi,, DR. Daytonm
"Well, we)l," said the gentleman
to himself, as he passed into his OF
fee. "What has happened, ! wonder!
This morning a Niobe; tonight a
Jnno! Selt.possessed, brilliant, and
almost impudent. This morning she
hated men, and this evening is qnite
radlent at thought of the opera with
one of the mercenary creaiures!'
AT midnight DR.. Drayton's carriage
and the one from the opera were driv
en- up to the door at the same time
Miss De Berri, flushed and excited,
ran up the stoop, followed 10y her es'
cOrt.
Dr.. Drayton joined them, shook
hands with the gentleman, unlatched
the door for Blanche, and in mo
IN mt more both carriages whi,led
away, and Blanche and the physician
were together in the dimly lighted
hall.
"Had pleasant evening?" he ask
ed, with considerable show of 1ndif.
ence.
"Very!" was the monosyllabic re.
ply.
"Wouldn't you like a glass Of
wine?". 4
"No, thank YOU"
"Forrest is fine looking man."
"Yes."
81 understand he had an immense
property left him.
"Indeed?"
BY this time they had both arrived
at the second landing.
"My prescription of this morning
acted like a charm, I see" he flung
out after her, just as she reached her
door.
She stopped a moment and said,
absently:
81 had entirely forgotten that You
prescribed for me. Did ! complain
this morning? Truly. ! don't re-
member feeling i'll. This morning
seems a month ago. Good night"
and the door closed.
"That's something no fellow can
understand" said Drayton, as he
turned the key. "Her property and
his together would make a swell, eh :
I know, if she got hold Of the right
one-and of course the right one
would have fortune equal to her
own-that she'd marry. Stuff and
balderbash! how she has cried over
that money of hers!"
The next morning, at breakfast,
Dr.. Drayton was unusually silent
and Miss De Berri unusually talka-
tive. :.
81 looked all over my room, Doc
tor" she said, after her pleasant good
morning, "to see if I could find the
prescription you spoke about la.t
night, but l couldn't"
allow could you find what you had
already taken? Will you ring for
the coffee, please, mother? l find
that there are several patients already
in the Office"
81 was quite surprised to receive