The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1882-10-11
TONI HALIFAX, M. D.

TONI HALIFAX, M. D.
She had been resting her head upon
her hand, full of thought, when 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 started.
It was DR.. Halifax himself, and as he
reached the gate he slackened his speed,
and dismounting came up the garden
walk with q hurried step. She did
not wait for the servants, but stepping
into the hall flung open the shade
blinds in response to his summons and
stood before him.
He certainly did not expect to see
her, but he did not vince, merely bow
ing, and coloring slightly. =.
AZ beg your pardon, Miss Ashby,'
he said; "but l come to solicit charity
on the behalf of n of my patients.
I am not a rich man myself. with the
calm, handsome eyes on her face, "and
your father told me that l might rely
upon him in this terrible trouble
81 am very glad to be of service"
said Bessie. what is most needed,
DR.. Halifax"
He made a few suggestions, as he
thought proper, and, under his dlrec-
tions, she filled large basket with food
and wine. 1t seemed as though he was
at least ten years older, and Bessie's
heart grew very full at the sight of his
pale, grave face as she completed her
task.
"Can LIDO nothing more?'she asked,
as she gave him the basket. "Oh, DR..
Halifax, if ! only could" Andin spite
of herself the thick gathering tears
filled her eyes.
He looked surprised, and then his
face softcned. "Thank you" he re-
piled. 81 will remember what you
have said"
When Tom Halifax mounted his
horse again it was with a thrill OF
Measurable pain and a backward glance
at the slender figure on the piazza. He
had looked down upon the pretty face
beneath its yelling curls, the wet lasheS
and tremulous mouth, thinking a little
sadly of the days when her eyes would
have met his with " warmer glow.
Yes. it all came to the same thing in
the end. The old wound had not COM
pletely healed, and a soft glance from
the girlish eyes had it t%hrobbing again
almost as iercelv as ever. That night
he came upon Captain Housted.
"Cannot 1 help you, Halifax said
the kind-hearted fellow. You are
killing yourself. Let me do something,
if it is only to grind powders"
"You must not run the risk of in
lection" said Tom. "You have some
thing at home to take care Of
"Yes," said Captain Fred. "But l
don't think the little somebody cares
much" Ills voice had stopped a tone
or so and he was tapping his boots
with his whip, as though musingly.
ASK her." suggested Tom, with a
short laugh that almost choked him:
"I'm going to ask her tonight" said
the captain, raising his head suddenly,
with a half smile. Its all a lottery,
YOU know. 1t remains tc be proven
whether my prize is a blank or not"
Three hours later Bessie stood with
her cousin in the garden.
"It is no use" she said, with impet-
uous tremor. Il don't love you, Cousin
Fred-at least, not as l must love the
man l marry. | thought | did, but
.lately"-she stopped, dropping her
face, and then added, almost in a whis-
per: 81 have been very wicked and
foolish. Please forgivelme"
THE captain looked down a little
gravely. "When did you change your
mind, Bessie?"
GA few weeks ago, since this dread
full plague. 1t made Inc think, and l
saw that had not been doing
rightly
1t was fully three minutes before
Fred HoUStcd spoke again.
"See here, Bessie" he said, at last.
IT am learning something, too. l
never believed the gossip before now
"a moments pause, and his smothered
doubt burst forth. Bessie, why did
you quarrel with Tom Halifax"
"Oh. Fred, DOM" she said.
"Don't cry" said Fred. 81 want
toknow 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
"position :" forgot everything but that
she was frightened and miserable and
tired of acting.
Il have been so horribly SELFISH she
sobbcd. - didn't think | cared so
much, and he was poor, and we quar-
relied, and thought 1 could like you
well enough. | don't think | should
have been so wicked, but he was so
proud, and things got worse every day
but lately it has all come back, and l
can't help it,"
"You have not treated me well,
!, Bessie" said the honest young captain,
after a short silence. "Men don't want
. women to marry them because they
think they can like them well enough;
but l think you see how you have
wronged me. 1t 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 a little in the rebound, but really
breaking is out of the question !; and
warm and true though our brave cap
tain's might be it was not likely to dis
grace the general india rubber reputa-
ton by swapping, even in this painful
strain so pray do not blame poor, pen
itent Bessie for any misfortures Which
may hereafter befall him.
The next morning DR.. Halifax met
his rival on the street. .
81 p~rophesicd rightly, old fellow"
said the gentleman. quietly. 1.-The
affirmative proves to be a negative
after ALL" =.
"Mademoiselle is c~hangeable," said
Tom. q hope l am not going to
have you for patient, IIousted. You
are as pale as Il ghost"
"Broken heart" laughed the cap
tain, "No, 1 don't think you will.
The warmth gives me a slight head
ache; that is all"
But there was something more. AS
the day grew the slight headache be-
came q severe one, throbbing and
pplsing, the pale face flushed and the
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