Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1886-03-07

UDtuful
They stood on the threshold Of pretty
boudolr, The general effect o. which was
made up Of pink chintg aud rattan furnl.
tnrc. The pre.dlcu with the rombor
crucllix above II was IN odd contrast 10
lts frivolous setting. A young lady who
mad been sitting at the bed arose a. the
doctor entered and made him stately
bow.
"My nlcce, Donna Irene. said the
count CDR, IlAviland.n
Donna Irene slowly raised a pair of
aplcndcd dark eyes and looked al the
doctor with placid icarlessncss that ex.
pressed neither curiosity nor Indifference.
II was glance as innocent, wide opon
and passive rs that of lake that rejects
the sky. Any kind oi thoughts might be
hidden behind II or ne thoughts. nr
liaylland preferred 10 think tho latter;
Tor II had that beautiful Inconsistencies
which goes with the absence Of disturbing
reflection. Donna irene was dressed in
some soft white summerystun, which may
have been muslin and may have been
something else She was tall and OF
noble proportions. Her ample yet grace.
lu form suggested the type OF woman
that Titan painted, marble women sud
denly glowing with life and color grand
heads, columnal throats, imperial shout
doris. Only Titan painted Thorn blonde,
while Donna Irene was black-haircd with
a warm palencss IN her checks which was
enllyoned with an undertlnt Of hali-in.
visible red
Dr. liavlland was too much mau OF
the world 10 betray the impression which
this young girl made upon him. lie only
returned her greeting with the extreme
Difference which Spanish etiquette oxacts
and passed on TO the bedside lie was
there introduced 10 Donna Diana, a
rather striking brunette OF twenty or
twenty-five, who was reclining IN dcmi.
toilet, amid a multitude Of wraps aud
pillows.
The doctor felt her pulse, which was
about normal, put his hand on her fore.
head, which was cool and moist, and
asked few professional questions The
| young lady with u curious smile which
she was yanly endoayorlng 20 suppress,
declared that she had n curious pain In
the top Of her head, and sensation ~ II
long pins were being forced through the
muscles Of her face. The doctor pre-
scrlbcd something for neuralgia, although
| he did not believe that Donna Dlana's
case was severe enough 10 require any
medicine. He had never before had a
neuralgia patient who, even under the
stress of an acutoly flirtatious tompera.
mont, had been disposed 70 laugh, lie
could scarcely suppress the suspicion
that Donna Diana for some reason OF
other was shammIng, though he was TN
able 10 ind motive for such behavior,
1.-THE family wished TO make his acquan.
lance II would have been u simple matter
10 approach him through some common
friend, or the count might simply have
called upon him and extended his hospl.
tally,
III
MIR. lluvlland learned, ns soon as he be
gan TO be domosticated, that Count dc
Munoz was great parsonage In Havana
II was no sooner rumored that he was tn,
medical adviser Of so distinguished a fam
lily than slate which hung upon the dooi
and which had hitherto been blank, begat
TO be scrlbhlodGll over with professional
invitations, Seeing this surprising 70
suit OF Donna Diana neuralgia, iluyilanC
came to the conclusion that for some oc
cult reason or other the Munos family has
entered Into II benevolent conspiracy Il
push HIM on to prosperity. II was als'
obvious that the count, though wishing
him we'll had purposely rcifNlned iron
honorlng him with 4 private call Thel
acquaintance, while IL might readily as
sumo more social character, had yet
professional flavor aud liayiland wa
quito content TO LET II remnln upon thi
I basis. The members Of the count
household had, during that irst brle
visit, impressed themselves 80 ylvldl
upon his memory that he almost io0re
TO bc drawn INTO close contact VII
them. IL was especially the bcautlfu
lady who had been introduced as Dom
Irene who had disturbed his proic'
slonal serenity, lie had never see
so noble creature before
30 placid and 40 pure, so remot
, from the shrilnoss of the nlnctccnt
century, There was AN virginia. malest
In her bearing, like that OF Diana betor
sho had kissed Endymlon. llaviland
though he well knew how dangerous II
10 speculate npon such things, could nc
; help roycrting 10 thcm In the pauses b'
tween calls and prescriptions, lie knr'
y how absurd II was for man In his pos
, tlon TO indulge In sentimental roNcriot
: and II struck him rs being the more ~
| Anrd, because IN Cuba there is NO PR
: vision made for satisfying the sentiments
I needs Of human nature Men there coui
md maIdons are courtod under the strl'
: supervision OF their manmas Surrcpt
{ tious proceedings nrc held TO bn illcgit
, mate and Involve greater risks than 10 MOI
9 favored lands iIayll0nd, 70 be sure, fonn
II consistent with his dignity TO take a
? occasional stroll past the house OF "
r count, and once or twice he was rewafde
by a glimpse OF Donna Irene behind "
u heavily grated windUws, Bntboth time
u Donna Diana, by the improsslycnesH
her smile and bow, stepped to thr IRON
as II were, uppropriatlng the intorfioS
ana reducing her friend 20 q plcturcsqt
accessory. Though he felt a momontal
y inclination 10 swear, Bay1rd llayilhnd r
q turned Donna Diano's greeting win "
u utmost suayity, and Donna l)lhna =
L sponded with a smile that was posltlNel
u dazzling,
. An the spring wore ON Or llayllaha
> profcsslonal engagements multiplied. J.
~ made his calls no longer ON foot, d
bought yolante, 70 which was harnesse
N stylish chestnut horse. He was hceoi
q np, IN spite Of the unobtruslve prlya'
% of his life, Kind OF public charaete
~ whose popularity was recogpll'
Nv everywhere except among
Il professional brethren. The nelu
/ doctors who prescribed charms 20 add
D, ,he eject OF the drugs aud called IN y
O. saints for consultation Regarded
N Amcslcan as an arrant quack MorooN,