Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1886-09-16
THE DOCTORS STORY.
By Katherine Whiteside.

By Katherine Whitesde
ut is five years, isn't it, since you were
here?n asks the doctor, as we two lag a
little behind the rest of the equestrian
party, who are winding along the road
through Mission Canon, in Southern Cali
fornia.
YES" [ responded, "and think now, as
then, that Southern California is the gar
den of the earth, and Santa Barbara the
most delightful spot in it,
"Thanks," he replies; ''Of course [ en-
dOrse such sentiments to the fullest ex-
tent"
''And the people," [ proceeded enthusi-
astically, 'are certainly unusually enter
tanning; those that one likes are charming
and those that one dislikes generally have
a thrilling history as background
Chats true" he says. "By the way,
we're the Luckeys here when you left?"
Il think so. Weren't they family of
girls with a widowed mother, who lived
just beyond the ArlingtOn?"
"That is the family, and the second
daughter, who was Miss WiIhelmina, is
that third lady yOnder in advance, with
the dark blue riding habit
{ ''What a lovely, pen profler I ex-
claimed, as the lady in question turns her
head in response to some remark of her
escort. 1t is a lovely face with delicate
~ cut features and a knot of blonde hair
on the naye of perfect neck. The doc
tor enjoys my enthusiastic
admiration to the utmost and contin-
ues:
"You shall judge whether she would
make the heroine of a thriIIing romance,
when I tel! you her history during the
last five years."
We are walking our horses toward the
camp in the canon whittier we are
bound, and the delicious air like cham
payne. The doctor, an old friend, has
promised nae new lease of physical and
mental vigOr if 1 will spend month
literally out of doors, and am only to
glad to join his family party for that
purpose. Accordingly he has come
down to the hotel to act as escort, and
large riding party has volunteered to go
to to the camp for dinner and return by
moonlight. The doctor in consideration
for the weakness that cOmpels me to ride
slowly, has refined in his staid little bay
pony, which upon occasion can distance
all the other horses, and we have slowly
fallen behind the entire party; so, the
doctor begins:
1T was the next Autumn after you left
that Harry Stayman's father moved his
family here. He, the old gentleman, had
patent for making paper from the
caches plant, and made an astonishing
amount of money. Harry was a good
boy, not brilliant you know, but he sent
to New York for his clothes, and duly
adorned his outer man. Well that winter
there were the usual number of hops and
private theatricals among the young
people and about Christmas time the
engagement of Whilhelmina Luckey to
harry Stayman was announced. So in
spring they were duly married, and went
down to coast to live, as Master Harry
was to have new paper factory establish
ed there for himself. Of conrse the US
sual number of talkative folks said she
never would have looked at him if it
hadn't been for his money, and that he
would find pretty face wasn't all a wo-
man needed to make a good wife. Rut I
thought there was the usual amount of
affection between them. What that is
in the usual marriage I will leave you to
Judge"
And the doctor chuckles a little
maliciously and then more gravely con-
tinues:
1T was about year later that Harry
was caught iii some machinery and found
mangled and dead.
At this 1 heave sigh and unconscious
y quicken my horses gait to catch a
glimpse of that pure, proud, womanIy
face. The doctor. after sufficiently i'm
pressive pause, resumes:
we were all shocked, and of course
the entire town was full of sympathy for
Wllhelm1na. She came back to Santa
Barbara, but couldn't go to her mothers
house, where everything reminded her of
Harry; so she went to stay little time
with some friends living near by.
One day, as | was riding past they called
me in to see Wilhelmina They to told
me that she had tainted and that thew
could not revive her. I applied the usual
restoratives with no effect, and was com
pletely puzzled by her condition. At last
I noticed one little spot of blood on the
left side of her waist, and, upon having
her undressed, the mystery was explained.
She had placed small pistol next her
body and shot herself. The clothing had
DETECTED her aim and the ball had missed
her heart.'
Just here a curve of the winding road