The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1883-07-06
DOCTOR FRANK,


sDear mel Such pretty dress so sad.
ly wasted. It seems almost sin to put
it on. don't think either Uncle Reu-
ben or Aunt Jane will appreciate it, and
Fido I am sure will not, inasmuch as its
rufles are not to be soiled by his dirty
paws"
And, thus soliloquizlrg, Kate Arden
hesitated moment as to whether the
open trunk should receive back the pink
batiste, with its innumerable lace
edged founces and loops of rose colored
ribbon, or whether it should deck the
pretty face and form reflected in the
mirror of Aunt James best bedroom, oc-
cupied only since yesterday by Der
pretty city niece, who had come down
to smell the June roses and WOO some of
their color into her own pale cheeks.
Something in the reflection decided
the question. The trunk was closed, the
bastite donned; and, looking as lovely
as the first flush ofsun1ise. Kate tripped
smilingly down the stairs, knowing that
two pair ofeyes would kindle into ad-
miratlon, and that Uncle Reuben would
break into hearty speech.
Nor was she mistaken. He turned
toward her as she opened the door.
"Ah here comes the little girl now"
he said. "Kate, dear-why how lovely
you're looking, my lassie!-this is our
new doctor-Doctor Lawrence! He
stopped in to know how my rheuma tism
was getting on, and I was just talking to
him about YOU"
The girl looked up. All regret con-
corning the pink batiste fed, for stand
ing by her uncle's side was young,
handsome man, whose clear brown eyes
were bent full upon her, and who ac-
knowledged the introduction with
courteous bow, utterly devoid of en-
barrassment or rusticity.
1--WE thought at first no one could take
poor old doctor Gray's place." continued
Uncle Reuben. ("You knew he was dead
Kate? Yes, took sudden cold last
Winter.) But somehow I don't think
we'd quite know how to do without Doc
tor Lawrence now, although we old
folks do laugh at some his new-fedged
notions"
you're very kind, Mr.. Evans" an
ewered the young man, in deep, mus.
lcal voice. II hope you don't think me
unappreciative of how little you've let
me feel myself stranger in Evansville"
1T was your own magic my boy; but
talking Of strangers, you must certainly
not be sc. now. We don't quite know
what to do with this city girl, who's
come to spend a few weeks with US, to
get back the roses dissipation and town
life have scattered. You'll have to ks]p
us make the country 80 attractive that
She'll not be in too great a hurry to run
away from U.s."
IF you always set such delightful
tasks, Mr.. Evans, your prescriptions
will, | am quite sure, be religiously fol-
lowed, though, unfortunately, every
chemist cannot make them up.'
And he glanced at Kate with mis-.
chlevous smile. -, ~
She was not slow with some merry re-
partee, and when, half an hour later,
DR.. Lawrence took his departure, he
had left quite pleasurable little wave
Of anticipation and excitement behind.
Nor did Kate experience any more re-
greet at pretty dresses being wasted, as
one by one she took them from her
trunks, and proceeded to make herself
as fascinatingly pretty as possible.
It was wonderful, too the time that
Doctor Lawrence managed to spare
from his patients. 1t grew to be very
customary thing for his light wagon to
drive up in the early cleaning, and for
Kate to take in it her place beside him,
for one of those charming drives she
said were doing her so much good.
They had long talks, too-talks in which
he told her his hopes for the future, and
touched very lightly on some of his dis
appointments and struggles of the past.
She learned that this man was ambit-
ious; that the post of physician in this
obscure town was in his own mind a
stepping stone across the stream which
yet separated him from honor, name
and fame. Somehow her own blood
ssSssad m sSs qHfs and her pulses
different from the Iansuid talk ka she s vss
used to hearing from the men who
her shrine, sum which would do so
much to realize his life ambition; yet
she wrote home:
Irritation with country physician.
hope he's taking care Of his heart: he
may find it difficult to heal himself.
For me, of course, have no heart. He
has 30 much spare energy, TN sure he
must find it kindness to be able to ex-
pand some of it even on me-"
But after she had written this she laid
down her pen and sighed. After all the
words did not help her in fight she
was having with herself, nor make her
arguments the stronger for her own con-
vincing; but she folded and sealed the
letter and mailed it the same evening,
She and the doctor driving past the
post office that she might do so. Was
she sorry for what she knew was inevi-
table?
June had nearly passed before Frank
lawrence put his fate into her hands.
She had had many men make love TO
her, but never one in,those simple, ear.
nest tones:
You'll have to share some of the
hiardships, Kate, 'n.he said; but I'll make
1t as light as may be for you, darling:
and one day I'll make you proud of
Looking ahead to the light, will you let
ny US love make the present not quite
He used no eloquence, no passion, but
his face was very pale, and his hand
trembled just little as he folded hers
within it and awaited her reply.
A sharp pain she could not then ana
lyze shot through her heart.
~ am very sorry, Doctor Lawrence"
she murmured, ..but it is impossible"
Impossible! Why?"
81" f.R
She got no further.
"You do not love me? Is that what
you would say? Look straight in my
eyes and tell me true!"
She dared not. He knew that once
her eyes met his she would hide her
head upon his breast and whisper what
she dared not Acknowledgements he
alone had not been burned in the hot fire
her hands had helped to kindle.