Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1882-02-09
i DOCTORS STORY.
CHAPTER I.

CHATTER L.
1t was a summer evening, and 7 was
standing in front of my consulting-room
door, rafting a bunch of keys, after
having locked up, ready to repair to my
bachelor establishment. l believe L
was then considered a rising young
physician in orr quiet little town, in
one of the States of America. At any
rate, l had patients enough to warrant
a respectable office down street, and a
luxurious suite of apartments in the best
clearinghouse the town could afford.
Well, l was, as I said, rafting my
bunch of keys; and my friend, Horace
Bertram, was standing near, wonder
ing, suppose, from the way he looked
at me, what | meant to do next. | was
the first to break the silence.
"Do, Horace, come over to my lodg-
ing and stay with me tonight. / always
feel so lonely, somehow"
81 have no doubt of it, Wiifred; for
you're man with great social qualities
Glad to come, old boy. But why do
you wear out all your best days by your
self? Why don't you look out for a
better-half to brighten up that smoky
den of yours?''
"Tm afraid she might prove my
worse half, Horace. l am not one to
make a leap in the dark, assure you. /
have the highest respect fer the fair sex;
but there are exceptions to every rule,
and man must look twice before he
plunges into marriage" just as / was
saving this, L noticed two young ladies
coming along in our direction.
Hush, Wilfred,'' said Horace; sshere
come two of our angels now, and l hap
pen to know them. Isn't it a fine thing
to be so fortunate as to know everybody
in town."
They were ladies of cultivated tastes
one could judge that much from their
dress; for | was very ObServant of the
minutiH of a lady's costume. They had
been shopping, too, that delightful
occupation of the gentler sex. As they
passed us, l caught few snatches of
their conversation. The taller and more
queenly looking of the two was remark
ing to her companion: 81 tell you, Jes-
sic, Lean not do it; it would not be
right. 1 must do my duty" She was
speaking, [ could see, very earnestly.
They looked up as they passed us, and
nodded in q friendly manner to Horace,
who uncovered his curly brown head;
and we both bowed politely to two of the
fairest specimens of womanhOod. Then
/ caught q glimpse of the face of the
stately lady who had such decided no.
tiOns of right and wrong. L could see
the pleased smile that fitted over the
childish coUntenance of her companion
as Horace lifted his hat to them; and [
also noticed the flush that mounted even
to my friends high forehead; so | put
these two incidents together. and drew
nv own conclusions. But that was all
7 FOL h
sorbed in the statelier lady of the two
who had passed us. The light of pair
of clear gray eyes had for one moment
rested on mine, and l had had one brief
glimpse of a true, earnest face, that
haunted me afterwards like q dream.
Horace's voice reused me from my mo-
mentary reverie.
Building air-castles, are you?" he
said Swell, then, my dear friend, just
let me give YOU piece of advice. When
YOU people that mansion of yours, don't
attempt to convert either of those two
into the 'lady of the Manor"
"Why, Horace? Who are theyP
Where do they live? And what relation
are they to each other?"
Gently, my friend, gently One
question at a time. Why? Because
those are ladies of high degree and
very much above such poor human be-
ings as Horace Bertram the lawyer, and
Wilfred Lansdowne the DOCTOR Irath-
er like that little gypsy, Jessie, myselfp"
81 did not need to be told that" 1
said. 'sYour face is a good index to
your heart But you haven't answered
the most important question of all. Who
are theya'
81 was coming to that when you in
terrupted me. They are the daughters
of Sir Gerald Wyatt, an enormously
wealthy Englishman, who came over to
the States here few years ago for his
health. He has only two children-Lu-
ellie and jessie"
Then to whom will the title and es-
tate revert. upon the death of the pres
emit owner?
ITO a distant cousin of his own, his
only living male relative. He has never
seen this cousin; but Sir Gerald has
made inquiries in England, and hopes
soon to discover traces OF his eXpectant
heir. Madame Rumor has further