The Wilmingtonian., 1886-06-05
The Country Doctor.

was blue with the intense blueness of an
American Autumn, as DIR. Dulany sauntered
down the village street.
''My lines have fallen iii very pleasant
Places" said he to himself "When old
Doctor Holden asked me to come here and
take charge of his practice for three months
while he went to Europe, l bad no idea that
was stepping into an earthly paradise like
this, and"
But at this moment tall, square-shoul-
dered young man stopped directly in front
of him, holding out welcoming h ind.
"No !" cried he surely my senses can't be
playing me false It is Frank Dulauy And
what in the name Of all the heather gods has
brought you here2"
Dulany laughed.
81 knew you lived somewhere in this vi
cinity," said he; Il am here in charge of old
Holden's patients for three months before |
go South for the rest of my life. Tell me
something about Mossbrdge and Mossbrdg-
ians."
Mr. Kirke linked his arm with that of his
friend, and together they walked down to-
ward the little hospital on the shore of the
river, where incurable diseases, gratis-pa
tients and outdoor relief were Jumped toge-
ther as they walked they talked, with the
careless abandon of college friends.
"But you haven't told me anything of the
ladies, said Dulany, careessly.
81 am coming to that" said Kirke. "We
have dozen pretty girls, at the very least,
but only one beauty. And tell you what
Dulany, you had better beware of Geralda
Granger"
And whyP" Dulany asked.
Because" Krke laughingly made answ, +
''she is merciless beauty-a saughterer of
human hearts-in fine, first-class &C.
quette."
"And you think shall become one of her
victims" !" said Doctor Dulany.
"Thnk ?' echoed Kirke, 81 don't ''think''
at all-Im quite sure of it |"
"But I'm only a poor, young country doc
to-. Why should she trouble her head about
me, if she s, as you say, such peerless
beauty ?''
"BecaIse,' said Kirke, "she'd flint with a
chimney-sweep, if there was no one else on
hand upon whom she might whet her powers.
It's in her. She's born to rule human hearts
and trample upon them afterwards. !"
Sand how have you escape this common
doom of mankind ?" asked Doctor Dulany.
81 haven't" Kirke answered, with co mi
cal grimace. "Nly scalp is hanging at her
belt with a hundred Others She refused ME a
year ago. She has announced her determin-
tion to become the bride ofsome millionaire,
and think she'll do it, too-for she is hand
some enough to be crown princess ~
Doctor Dulany thought over all these
things afterward, when he was by himself in
his little office.
81 don't mean to become the prey of this
rural Cleopatra" +" he said to himself; 'and
rather think that my obscurity is my seeuri.
ty."
"The young doctor who has taken old
Holdon's practice, ell ?" said Miss Granger
little disdainfuly. "IIe is to be at Miss
Mix's tonight is he? Very we'll shall soor
dispose of him !"
beauty, with da,k, long-!ashed eyes, a com
plexion like cream-and- roses, and soft, Ian
guild voice and at Miss Mx's social gather
ing that night, she looked as lovely as
dream of Circassa. But % her infinite dis
may and amazen ent Doctor pulany took NJ
more notice Of her than he did Of old Mrs
Percy, who wore wig and blue spectaclos
He was eohly poite-that was all and Mis-
Granger did not know what to make Of him
''But he's rather handsome, " she UNIV ill
ingly admitted to herself,
Miss Granger put ON her prettiest diesse
and decorated her hair with the sweetes
flowers out Of her aunt's little conservatory
an really devoted herself that Autumn to tin
business of captivating Doctor Dulany.
'The man must be made ofcast-iron, sh
said to herself. 'And only an insigniiican
country do3tor at that 1t is perfectly lidicu
lous The idea of his visiting Miss Herb +
Just because she has mania for charity aut
poor people! And he took Lucy Vlllar
down into the woods to botauzn after Au
tumu howers--the hateful school miss An
he is going to join Mrs. Gracy's Shakespear
Society. never was blue stocking an
never will be. Let him go!'
But Geralda couldn't content herself wit
this system of philosophy. Doctor Dulan
was the first man who had ever resisted he
fascinations and she was determined that h
should be the last.
And she tossed her head, and fr1ze up lik
fair icicle, in his presence, and tho ilinty
hearted fellow seemed to know it.
"a charming young man." said MIR
Gracey $50 intelligent; SO perfectly well ii
formed On every subject"
so truly generous and good to the poor
said Louisa Herbert
''The most delightful companion in u
world" said tile Lucy Villas, who W;
developing into dangerously pretty blond
'Oh, Geralda, if you could only heal Iii
talk OF his home and his mother"
'Pshaw Y said Geralda so short al
sharp that Lucy looked up, wondering VIII
was the matter.
Miss Granger was somewhat pensive th
evening. She had always regarded Lu,
Vlllars as a child but after all she was nea
ly seventeen aud undeniable. But what
fool Doctor Dulany would be to fling
rare capacities on thoughtless elf like Lu
Just out of boarding school
4. - = \ Al.