The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1881-11-09


like Lucy, just out of boarding
school.
Aunt Susie" said she, suddenly.
81 think / should like to join sis
ter-hood, or go into a convent. or
something of that sort"
"What ?" said Aunt Susie, in dis
may.
I'm tired of all these senseless
balls and parties" said Geralda.
bursting into tears.
my love-" said Aunt Susie, ''you
are not well. Your nervous system
is all run down. Well send for the
doctor"
Doctor Dulany came just exactly
like ''human machine" as Geralda
declared in her anger, felt her pulse,
asked half dozen conventional
questions, and advised early hours
and tonic.
Il can't bear that man :" said Ger
aida and she burst out crying.
"The poor darling is quite hyster-
ical,n said Aunt Susie. never mind
good old Doctor Holder is COM
ing back next month, and he will
understand your constitution" !"
And then Geralda cried more bit
terlv than ever, and Aunt Susie was
hopelessly puzzled.
Doctor Dulany was at the hospit-
al, next day, Just at twilight, and as
he came into the feverish wards a
soft-gray shadow glided out at the
other doorway.
"Who is that ?" he asked quickly.
"Not old Kate, nor yet Miss Alice
Evans"
"It's Miss Granger, sir" said the
head nurse. "Alice has the neural
gia in her face, and Miss Granger
would take her place"
"She must not do it again" said
Doctor Dulany, with quiet authori-
ty. Il am not quite sure OF the nom
contagious character of some of these
cases."
"She SAYS, sir" said the old nurse,
''that she wants to do some good in
the world. But we was to be sure
and not tell you, sir"
Doctor Dulany smiled.
"There are more wavs of doing
good in the world tLa.. one," said
he. "And Miss Granger must come
here no more"
He hurried through the various
wards and made such good speed
back along the lonely road that he
overlook the gray, gliding shadow
at the entrance to the village street.
"Miss Granger" said he, Il detect
ed your identity at once"
"What of it ?" retorted Geralda,
almost fiercely. II suppose | had a
right to enter a public hospital so
long as my uncle pays taxes for its
support
POSSIBLY" said Doctor Dulany ;
''but it is nv desire that you viii
not come there again"
is it, then, an offense even to
cross your path ?" Indignantly cried
Geralda.
Not in the least but"
"Iknow-Ihave known all along"
went on the girl choking down the
angry sobs in her throat, that you
hated the sight of me but you have
no right actually to tell me So Oh,
| am SO wretched / wish that |
were dead"
Doctor Dulany planted himself
directly across the path, SO that she
could neither walk over, under, nor
around him.
Miss Granger" said he, will you
be kind enough to tell me what you
mean ?"
mo !" flashed ont the girl, 81
wont !"
"But you shall !" quietly declared
the doctor. "The reason that | did
not want you to enter the hospital,
is that l have an idea that some OF
those fever cases partake of the ty-
phoid nature, and"
"What then ~ said Geralda
"What have / to live for that i
should shrink from exposing my
self ?"
Everything !" said the doctor.
Nothing !" said Geraida.
Nevertheless said Doctor Dula-
Y ouietlv II forbid Won running
nhe risk"
whats it to you ?" she cried,
passionately. "If / dreamed that
you cared whether / lived or died
She stopped suddenly, with Grim.
tsoning cheeks. Had she said toe
much ?
81 do care" said Doctor Dulany
every much, indeed. In fact, had
/ not been told that you were q
heartless coauette-"
at is false !" said Geralda, hur-
riedly.
81 might. even venture to say
more" he pursued, his eyes fixed in
tently on her face.
Say it, then," she whispered,
making no effort to withdraw the
hand which he had taken.
swell, then," he returned, laugh
ing, II love you. Is that definite
enough"
"And / love you p she answered.
"Oh, Doctor Dulany, you must have
seen that long ago! But. tell me,
when you did first begin TOTO care
for me ?"
"From the hour in which / first
saw you," said he.
And SO our village coquette was
conquered and surrendered at dis
cretion and, to the surprise of all
her friends, she has married thequi-
ct young country doctor.
The Grants and Their New Home