The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1879-09-04
ELINOR NORTON.
By MARY SHANE SMITH.
CHAPTER XVII

night She vas not in the least super
stitious, yet she could not shake Off a
vague, heavy presentiment OF evil.
When she Joined the Doctor and Mrs.
DUFF al breakfast, the former eyed her
keenly, and began to jest as usual.
"What in the world have you done
with young Stoddard, Elinor?" said he.
81 haven't set eyes on him. and do be-
lieve you have been downright cruel TO
him, OF be wouldn't have run of like
this. Is the boy afraid Of me? He
ought to be, Of course hut then I
thought he had more courage than that.
You ought not to drive of fine young
fellow like him, my gin. ! think he'd
make you a good partner by aud by.
You might form a sort Of medicO-legal
firm, you know he could give folks
fits drive 'em distracted, raving crazy,
etc, by a skillful use Of bis legal knowl-
edge, and you could cure them-have
the whole concern in the family, you
see, and so drive a thriving business"
Eiinor flushed painfully, as she tried
to make some reply to the Doctors
banter. She wished she could at least
say that Frank had urgent business at
home, or that be had wished her to ex-
cuse him to the Doctor; but she only
said, rather incoherently:
Crank was in great haste, I think.
He did not stay long. l believe bis
mother is not we'll He would have
liked to see you"
"Oh! yes, see,D said the Doctor
at was his disappointment at not find
ing me in that drove him away"
"Now, James, can't you see that Eli
nor isn't well this morning, and doesn't
enjoy your teasing" >" said the kindly
voice Of Mrs. DUFF, as she looked COM
passionately at the now pale face and
heavy eyes.
She was rewarded by grateful glance
from Elinor, aud the old Doctor said,
pleasantly;
"Wel, ] suppose our young candidate
for medical houors does feel rather
nervous, for a woman doesn't change
her nature wheu she changes her oecu-
patton. ~ cone, M dear, 5ap iuust
eat a hearty breakfast. . as to have
strength 20 undergo The terrible ordeal
through which you must pass to-day.
Oh, don't be frightened" =" he continued.
as Elinor shuddered visibly. "The fac
ulty are not ogres, by any means, and I
don't think you will fiud the ordeal so
terrible, after all. Tm afraid You are
unduly disturbed and anxious about
your entrance into the class"
"Oh, no, Doctor" said Eliuor, has
tily; "I do not feel quite well, and OF
course / shall be glad when the day is
over and studies fairly begun. ! want
to get 10 work"
The meal over-a scanty one so FAR a.
Elinor was concerned-she busted her
self with feverish energy about the
house until time to go with DR.. Duff 10
the college. Mrs. Duff would not dis
turb her by talking, for she saw that
something was wrong Having ar
rayed herself in a plain and modest but
tasteful dress, she bade Mrs. Duff an ar
fectionste goodbye aud went away with
the Doctor, Mrs. Duhs motherly kiss,
warm and comforting, on her lips.
"What a dear, precious friend she is
What would I do without herl' thought
she. as with laugh and jest the Doctor
sought to enliven aud encourage her
while they walked along.
But her depression deepened, until
10y the time they arrived at their desti
nation, she was actually trembling.
A few Of the candidates for admission
to the class Of Is were present in the
leeture-room when the two entered, and
several members Of the faculty were
conversing together in Low tones aside
on some subject that seemed Of great in
terest. They glanced at the newcomers
uneasily, and seemed more earnest than
ever in their discussion. One particu-
larly seemed greatly excited, ami acted
as though opposed to all the rest.
Poor Elinor shrank back in her seat
as If she were some guilty thing and
these men were her judges. She felt
that they were discussing her, though
she coald have given no reason for such
a strange Impression. So she was not
at all surprised, though her nervous
trembling increased, when, after a few
minutes bad passed, one of the Profess
sors left his companions, and coming
over to them, bowed coidIy to her aud
told DR.. Duff he wished to speak win
him a few moments.
The two men walked out OF the room,
together, and Eliuor sat there, feeling
as though she were being slowly trans
formed into a statue. She remembered
long afterward that she wondered
vaguely how Hermione felt, aud If she
suffered as she herself did then. A
cloud, dense, dark and chilling, seemed
settling down upon her, benumbing her
senses, as she strove to think what il
could be that was threatening her. But
not ray Of light illUmined the dark
ness. All she could mentally see was a
pale face, whose manly brow was con-
tracted with pain, whose dark eyes gazed
pleadingly, half reproachfully into her
own. Poor girl! She would have
given all she hoped for on earth to he
able to answer that look.
Meantime, the Doctor aud the Pro-
fessOr repaired to the latter's room, the