Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1881-11-19
THE COUNTRY DOCTOR.


down on the walk; the distant woods
were glowing like giant kaleido-
scope, and the sweet, pine-scented
air was blue with the intense blue
ness of an American autumn, as
Doctor Dulany sauntered down the
village street.
"My lot has fallen in pleasant
places" said he, to himself. "Whe y
old Doctor Holden asked me 70
come here and take charge o I his
practice for three months WI ,ile he
went to Europe, 1 had no il ,ea that
I was stepping into an ear blv nara
disc like this, and"
But at this moment tall souare.
shouldered young m an stopped. di-
rectly in front of oin holdinr ont
welcoming han 4
mo ~ cried 10 "Surelv nv senses
can NC pa ling me false 1t is
FRANK Du any And what in the
name Oh all the heather gods has
0l1ugn you here ?"
nu any laughed.
knew you lived somewhere in
u is vicinity" he said; 81 am here
N charge of old Holden's patients
for three months, before l go South
for the rest of my life. Tell me
something about Mossbridge and the
Mossbridgians."
Mr.. Kirke linked his arm in that
of his friend, and together they
walked down toward the little stone
hospital on the shore of the river,
where incurable diseases, gratis-pa
tients and outdoor relief were lump
ed together, as they often are in
country towns; and as they walked
they talked, with the careless aban-
don of college friends.
"But you hayn't told me anything
about the ladies'" said Dulany care
lessly.
"I'm coming to that" said Kirke,
eve have a dozen pretty girls, at
the very least, but only one beauty.
AndI tell you what, Dulany, you
had better beware of Geralda Gran
er."
"And why ?" Dulany asked.
Because" Kirke laughingly an
swered, "she is merciless beauty
slaughterer of human hearts-in
fine, first class flirt."
"And you think 1 shall become
one of her victims ?" said Dulany.
"Think ?" echoed Kirke, 81 don t
think at all-I'm quite sure of it,
''But Pm only poor old country
doctor. Why should she trouble her
head about me, if she is, as you say,
such peerless beauty ?"
Because" said Krke, "she'd
hirt with a chimney-sweep, if there
was no one else on hand upon which
she might whet her powers. It's in
her. She's bound to rule human
hearts, and trample on them after
ward"
Sand how have you escaped this
common doom of all mankind ?''
asked Dulany.
81 havn't," Kirke answered with
comical grimace. "My scalp is at
her belt with half a hundred others.
She has announced her detirmina-
ton to become the bride of some
city millionaire; and l think she'll
do it, too-for, by George, she is
handsome enough to be a crown
princess !"
Doctor Dulany thought over all
these things afterward, when be
was by himself in his little office.
81 don't mean to become the prey
of this rural Cleopatra" he said to
himself, "and | rather think my Oh
security is my security"
"The young doctor who has taken
old Holden's practice, ELI ?" said
Miss Granger little disdainfully;
"He is to be at Miss Mix's tonight,
is he ? Very WE'LL shall soon dis
pose of him !"
Geralda Granger was tall, i'm
perial beauty, with dark, long-lash-
ed eyes, a complexion like cream and
roses, and soft, languid voice; and
at Miss Mix's social gathering that
night, she looked as lovely as a
dream of Circassia. But to her in