Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1882-07-28
tom HALIFAX, NJ. D.

she nau DEen resting HeI utdu pun
her hand, full 81 thought, WhCn sud
denly she heard the sound Of horses
hoofs gathering down the street. She
looked UP wondering who the rider
could be, and looking up half startled.
Il was Dir. Halifax himself, and as he
reached the gate, he slackened his
speed. and dismounting, came up the
garden walk with hurried step. She
did not wait for the servants, but step
ping into the hall, flung open the shade
blinds in response ID his summons and
stood before him.
He certainly he'd not expected to see
her, but lie did not vince, merely bow
ing, and coloring slightly.
Il beg your pardon, Miss Ashby," he
said; ''but have come 10 solicit char
ity on the behalf Of one OF my patients.
am not rich man myself" with the
calm, handsome eyes on her face, land
your father told Iae that ! might rely
upon him i'll this terrible trouble"
II am very glad 10 be Of service, said
Bessie. nMhat ii most needed, DR..
Halifax \"
He made few suggestions as he
thought proper, and, ander his dlrec-
tions, she filled large basket with food
and wine. 1t seemed as though he WAS
ut least ten years older, aEd Bessie's
heart grew very full at the sight Of his
pale, grave face as she completed her
task
aCan 10 nothing more n she asked,
i'll che gave him the basket. 20 Dr.
Halifax, If / only couldl' And in spite
III herself, the thick, gathering tears
filled her eyes.
lie looked surprised, and then his
face hoftened. ''Ihank voui' he replied.
II will remember what you have said.
When Tom Halifax mounted his
horse again, it was with thrill of
pleasurIblc pain and backward glance
i'll the slender figure on the piazza. He
had looked down upon the pretty face
beneath it'll yelling cnrls, the wet lashes
and tremulous mouth, thinking 4 little
audly Of the days when her eyes would
have met lis with warmer glow Yes,
ii all came 10 the same thing IN the end.
The old wound WAS not completely
hoaled, and II soft glance from the girl
lsh eyes had set it throbbing again al
most AZ ferccly MS ever That night
he came upon Captain Housted.
Can not help yon, Halifax" said
tile kind hearted fellow. You are kill
ing yourself Let me DO something, if
IL Ii only M grind powders. !
lou must not run the risk OF infec-
ton" said Tom. "Yon have someting
1T home to take care Of. !"
don't think the little somebody cares
much" His voice had stopped tone
or 30, and he was tapping his boot with
his whip, as though mlsngly.
Ask her, suggested Tom, with short
laugh, that most choked him.
II am going 70 ask her tonight"
eald the captain, raising his head sud
IDENTIFY, with il half smile. Its all a
lottery, you know. II remains to be
proven whether my prize Is n blank
or not.
Three hours after Bessie stood with
her cousin in the garden.
1T IL no use" she said, with impetu-
ous tremor. Il don't love you. Cousin
Fred nj least, not rs | must love the
man | marry thought | did, but
lately Sheslopped, dropping her face,
and then added, almost ii \ whisper
II nave been very wicked and foolish.
Please forgive mel"
The captain looked down little
grayely. when did you change your
mind, Bessie"
- few weeks ago, since this dreadful
plafue Il made me think, AID | saw
that Il had not been doing rightly"
1t waN fully three minutes before Fred
Housted spoke again.
sec here, Bessie" lie said, nj last,
q Am learning something too. never
believed the gossip before now"
moments pause, and his smothered
doubt burst forth: Bessie why did you
quarrel with Tom Halifax
oh, Fred, DON'T she said
Don't cry" said Fred Il want to
know the truth
| have said Bessie Ashby never did
anything by halves In her grief and
excitement she forgot she had tlirted
with her COUSIN; forgot about the posi-
tlnn. forgot everything. but that she
was frightened, and miserable, and
tired " acting.
q have been 81 horribly selfish, . she
sohbed ~ didn't think cared so
much, and and he WAS SO poor, and
then we quarrelled, and | thought |
could like you well enough. don't
think ! should have been So wicked,
hnt he was So proud. and things got
worse every day; but lately it has all
come back, and can't help it,
You have NOT treated me well, Bss-
sic, said the honest Young captain after
i short silence Mon don't want wo-
men u marry them because they think
they can like them well enough but |
think you see how YOU have wronged
me- Il is all over now, SO we will say
no more about it.
| have said before that hearts do not
break. They may stretch and perhaps
suffer little in the rebound, but really
breaking II ont If the question; and
warm and tue though our brave cap
tain's might he. II was not lksly 70
disgrace the general India rubber repu-
tation by swapping, even in this painful
strain; so pray DO not blame poor, pen
itent Bessie for any misfortunes which
may hereafter befall him.
The next morning DR.. Halifax met
his rival in the street.
Il prophesied rightly, old fellow"
said the gentleman, quietly. "The affir-
EAoNNS ~ ~ - bNstSANS tllGE
all"
"Madamoiselle is changeable,'' said
Tom. II hope AM not going to have
yon for patient, Housted. You are
~ pale as = ghost"
Broken heart, laughed the captain.
No, don't think YOU will" The
warmth gives me slight headache;
that is all
But there was something more. As
the day grew, the slight headache be-
came severe one, throhbing and pulls
ing, the pale face flushed, and the
strong limbs trembled ard failed as
they had never done before.
At about o'clock. rs Tom sat in his
office writing out some prescriptions.
Captain Housted entered the room and
staggered into chair.
II am afraid you are going to have a
patient Halifax" he said smiling feebly.
Il feel rather faint" And as ne said
it he dropped his deathly face upon the
table, ana lay there without moving.
He had braved il a long time, but
the dreadful pest had come upon him
at last. Tom sent for Colonel Ashby,
and the sick man was carried home.