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

scope. and the sweet, pine-scentec
air was blue with the intense blue
ness of an American autumn, as DIR
Dulany sauntered down the village
street.
"My lots have fallen in pleasant
places" said he to himself 'Wher
old Doctor Holden asked me tC
come here and take charge of hl'
practice for three months while he
went to Europe, l had no idea tha
was stepping into an earthly para
disc like this, and"
But at this moment tall, square
shoulhered young man stopped, di
rectly in front of him, holding out
welcoming hand.
"No !" cried he. Surely my sens
es can't be playing me false 1t Is
Frank Dulany And what IN the
name of all the heathen gods has
brought you here ?"
Dulany laughed.
Il knew you lived somewhere II
this vicinety," said he; Il am here
in charge of old Holden's patient:
for three months, before / 60 South
for the rest OF my life. Tell me
something about Mossbridge and
the Mossbridgians.'
MIR. Kirke linked his arm in thai
of his friend, and together they walk
ed down toward the little stone hos
pital on the shore of the river, wherl
incurable diseases, gratis-patient'
and outdoor relief were dumped to
gether. as they often are in country
towns and as they walked they
talked. with the careless abandon.
ment Of college friends.
but you havn't told me anything
about the ladies" said Dulany care
lessly.
"rm coming TO that" said kirke
"We have dozen pretty girls, at
the yerv least, but only one beauty
And | tell you what, Dulany, you
had better beware of Geralda Gran
ger"
"And why ," Dulany asked.
Because" Kirke laughingly
made answer, "she is merciless
beauty slaughterer Of human
hearts-in fine, a first-class CO.
quette."
"And you think i shall become
one of her victims ?" said Doctor
Dulany.
Think ?" echoed Kirke, Il don't
think at all-Tm quite sure of it 7
"But I'm only poor old country
doctor. Why should she trouble
herself about me, if she is, as yor
say, such a peerless beauty p
Because" said Kirke, shed fir
with a chimney-sweep, if there was
no one else on hand upon whom
she might whet her powers. It's In
her. She's bound to rule human
hearts, and trample on them after.
ward"
And how have you escaped this
common doom of all mankind 2
asked Dulany.
'Ihaven't," Kirke answered with
comical grimace. "My scalp hangs
ut her belt with half hundred 9th
ers. She refused me a year ago
She don't mean to marry in Moss
bridge. She has announced her de
termination to become the bride o.
some city millionaire ; and L think
she'll do it, too-for, by George She;
handsome enough to be crown
princess J"
Doctor Du.any thought over all
these things afterward, when he was
by himself in his little office.
Il don't mean to become the prey
of this rural Cleopatra" he said to
himself; "and i rather think that
my obscurity is my security"
"The young doctor who has taker
old Holden's practice, eh ?" SAID
Miss Granger, a little disdainfully
ale is to be at Miss Mix's tonight
is he ? Very well-I shall soon dis
pose of him !"
Geralda Granger was a tall, impe
rial beauty, with dark, long-lashed
eyes, a complexion like cream-and
roses, and soft, languid voice, end
at Miss Mix's social gathering thai
night, she looked as lovely as /:
dream of Carcassia. But, to hel
infinite disinay and amazement, DIR
Dulany took no more notice of hel
than he did of old Mrs. Percy, who
wore wig and blue spectacles. HI
was cody polite-that was all and
Miss Granger did not know what t.
make of him.
''But he's rather handsome she
unwillingly admitted to herself.
Miss Granger put On her prettiest
dresses and decorated her hair witt
the sweetest flowers of her aunt's lit
tie conservatory, and really devoted
herself that autumn to the business
of captivating Doctor Dulany.
"The man must be made of cas-
iron," she said to herself. "And on
ly an Insignificant little country
doctor at that It's perfectly ridicu
lous The idea of his visiting Mis-
Herbert Just because she has ma
mia for charity and poor people
And he took Lucy Villars down int,
the woods to botanize after autumn
fiowers-the hateful school-miss
And he's going to join Miss Gracy'
Shakespeare Society. / never was
blue-stocking, and / never will be
Let him go !"
But Geralda couldn't content her
self with this system of philosophy
Doctor Dulany was the first maj
who had ever resisted her fascina
tions, and she was determined tha
he should be the last.
And she tossed her head, and froz
up, like fair icicle, in his presense
and the flinty-hearted fellow neve
even seemed to know it.
"A charming young man. sal,
Mrs. Gracy-"so intellectual, so per
fcctly well informed on every sub
ect.D
SO truly generous and good t,
the poor !" said Louisa Herbert.
'sThe most delightful companion
in the world" said little Lucy Vii
lars, who was developing into
dangerous pretty blonde -0h