The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1884-03-21

tervals; and now that they were both
back in their native village all the Cos
sips prophesied speedy engagement.
1t was at this juncture that the wish
of invalid Stagnantville was fulfilled;
for one bright morning startlingly
new and staring sign appeared in the
basement window Of the widow Nc
Gorvan's house, stating that Dr. Rec
guar's Office hours were from two to
five p. M, beside which hung a bran
new slate. and pencil, melting covet-
BUSINESS in many passing school-boy 8
heart.
The new doctor proved to be slen-
der, handsome young fellow, just grad
uated from a school of medicine, very
agreeable in his manners, and very
anxious to succeed in his profession.
He smoothed down ruffied feathers with
consummate skill, listening deferen-
tally to long-winded discourses, and
pointing out to each the best features of
his own pet theory, yet managing to be
nun-committal himself This mode of
procedure very soon began to tell upon
the slender practice of bluff young Co
lett, who naturally enough had none of
the kindest feelings toward his success
full rival. and it soon came to be gen.
orally understood that the young doc
tors were not on friendly terms.
Percival Recquar had been intro
duced to Stagnantville society at a gar
den-party, given IN his behalf by the
widow VICTORIAN; and had made at the
outset an enviable impression. The
young ladies admired his superb figure
and mustache; the young men pro-
nounced him at once jolly good fell
low; while their elders considered his
discrimination and sound good sense
remarkable in so young man The
truth was he was simply an easy going
young tactician, who found it easier
and more profitable to smooth people
over than to elbow his way through the
world. He meant to do his best by his
patients, but he did not consider it nee
essary to disturb their little halucina-
tons; so when old Mrs. Turnbull, q
rich. crotchety old widow, who had
done more than any one one e'se to pull
down DR.. Golett's practice, had said, in
her italcised way: 81.
81 hope, DR.. Recquar, that you are
not one of those who think they know
more than their fathers, and persist in
killing people by giving them cold water
in cases of fever" ~
The young doctor had been deferen-
tally attentive, and entered into eau
tious little dissertation on the i'll effects
of ice water, and had even quoted GER
tain cases of death occurring from its
use.
And Mrs. Turnbull had afterward
told her friend, Mrs. Miller. that her
views and those of the new doctor were
quite identical.
1t was not that young Recquar, was
a hypocrite, but it was his nature to
avert argument.
Lawn tennis was unheard of in Stag
nantville, but croquet sets were provid-
ed for the young people, and Kitty Van
Meta and Recquar played against DIR.
Golett and young lady in pink. Kit
ty looked wonderfully pretty in her
simple, white dress, with an immense
bunch of late roses at the belt, and one
great, sleepy looking rose artfully nest
tied in her dark hair, where 1t greatly
heightened her complexion.
Conscious of looking her best, and of
having an admirer there to torment,
Miss Kitty assumed very coquettish
airs, and when the heavy, crimson rose
dropped from her braids to her part
ner's feet, she very obligingly consent
ed to part with it, and even pinned it
conspicuously on his lapel herself. At
this Jack tried to appear assiduously
devoted to the pink young lady; but
the great, laundering fellow had been
fond of Kitty for so long, and was so
hurt to see her standing on tiptoe and
smiling brightly into the face of his
rival. that he made fatal misshot, and
the game passed easily into the hands
OF his opponents. .s.-s
The new doctor had been but short
time in Stagnantville when he began,
in his morning rounds, to drive by Miss
Vannetta's house, and to slacken his
horses pace when he caught sight of
Kitty in her pale blue morning dress,
standing among the tall, red holl yhocks,
her hands filled with flowers she had
gathered for the adornment of the par
lor. 1t was an exquisite bit of color, he
thought, such as an artist might enjoy;
and although DIR. Recquar made no ar
tistic pretensions, he certainly liked
looking at the bright little picture.
Then there was the smiling nod and
"Good morning. and perhaps an in
quiry for Mrs. Turnbull's little grand
son, who had spinal difficulty, and was
undergoing severe treatment, which of
course necessitated his stopping the
horse for a moment; and then what
more natural than that he should men
ton the pretty contrast of morning
gown and hollyhocks, while Kitty lis
tened, and scattered rose petals in the
morning wind. What wonder either
that afterward Kitty found all her flow
ers. in the vicinity of the hollyhocks,
and even fastened the crisp Little ruffie
round her neck with deep red posy.
1t was so pleasant to be young and
pretty! And with this graceful. we'll
bred young fellow, so different from the
Stagnantville youth, with his polished
manners and devotion to her. to note
every effect, was it strange that Kitty
made far more of study than was
profitable of her own complexion and
figure? And he Uds devoted; it soon
became apparent to all eyes that Miss
Kitty had but to stretch out her hand
and take the new doctor.
1t was in these days that DIR, Golett
became what Miss Vannetta chose to
call sulky. He kept himself aloof, and
the girl had no more plea ant drives in
the autumn twilight, with the fresh
breeze Frightening eyes and cheeks, and
Jack to tell her she looked as pretty as
a peach, while he persisted in driving
with one hand, and keeping the other
along the back of the seat. 1t was on
one of these memorable drives that
Jack told Kitty how dearly he loved
her, and asked her if she could be salts