Thomas County cat. [volume] (Colby, Kan.) 1885-1891, 1888-01-05
=, p,.t. vho b.d him.elf veil IN hand

DR. Blake. who had himself well In hand,
made NO audible comment on this surpris-
ing bit Of news. which in reality was the
nnal blow to his vague hopeA And 1rA
Mack, tucking tiny, tear-blotted note nd
dressed to d.. Paul Blake little further
down in her pocket, noted with inward sat
isfaction that his appetite appeared in no
way impaired by what he had heard
1--WE viii have q talk when como In
| from my calls, Mrs Mack, /" he said with his
usual courtesy; but the widow thought she
detected an undertone Of warmth in his
speech, and her hopes ran higher than
ever
Bob was waiting the doctors appearance
| in the office with manifest impotence It
was evident that he had nerved himself up
to the fulfllment of some important duty,
regardless of consequences
sLook here. Doctor. he said, in cautious
undertone, the moment DR.. Blake had
closed the door behind him; there's things
that's got to be said, whether you think Tn
! interferin' with what's none of my biz
| ness or not Fust and foremost, you've let
Mis- Mack drive Miss Doris away from the
house -"
Nothing of the sort Bob, SHARPLY inter-
| rupted Dr. Blake eMiss Doris has-has
run off with my nephew, Paul, to be mar
ried"
Begin your pardon, but she amt"
coOlly returned Bob, who was nothing il
not blunt spoken Mr. Paurs been an
| Hoped with Judge Haynes daughter. which
isn't only eighteen years old, and the Judge
is jest wild about it; every tody's talkin' Of
it downtown"
DR.. Blake fell into the nearest chair
cod c1x- Ip,h r,yk0
with great inward gusto, went on:
Seems he told Miss Doris all about it,
and she tried to get him off the notion, but
twasn't no use. So hen Miss Haynes has
gone off to Boston to get married, and Miss
Doris she's took the train to Portland, where
she's had offer for to teach music and
DRAWN in the Presbyterian Institute"
How do you know all this. Bob?"
hoarsely demanded Doctor Blake, feeling
as though every thing was slipping from
under his feet
Didn't Miss Doris tell me last night
when she got me to hang your picter
in your bedroom on the sly, and she crying
like her heart was a-breaking?" boldly re-
turned Bob; land didn't she say she hadn't
no home here any longer, now that You
was goin' to marry Mrs Mack? But I've
writ a note thatl explain it ALL she says,
and Doctor Blake'll find it under his plate
in the morning"
doctor Blake did not wait for further
explanations. Ten minutes later he had
left the house, caught the 9:15 express for
Portland, and reached there by ! m.
Dressed in her best, Mrs Mack sat in the
parlor New Years night impatiently await
ing DR.. Blake's coming. She knew that he
had been invited to dine out. and his pro-
longed absence did not surprise her: So
absorbed was Mrs Mack in a pleasant day
dream that she did not notice the arrival
/ and departure of hack which had depos-
tied gentleman and lady at the door. That
the gentleman was Dr. Blake was evident
by the fact that he let himself and his COM
panion in with night key. Who the lady
might be is probably apparent to the dullest
comprehension.
Still taken up with her castle building the
widow, blissfuliy unconscious of i'm
| pending ruin, turned her head languidly as
the door opened.
''Dr. Blake-and MISS Doris"
This was the startled exclamation which
fell from the widows lips as she sprang TO
her feet
Not Miss Doris, but Mrs Blake" said the
doctor, with freezing politeness I'VE were
| married In portland This afternoon. anu -
| before Mrs Mack could scream-~let me adj
that as you see have made my choice as
| to which of you two should remain under
| my roof, shall have to request you to take
your departure at the earliest opportunity
perhaps you can guess why"
Mrs Mack gasped, but nothing came Of it.
Though speechless with baffied rago and
shame she hurried ont of the room banging
the door behind her till every pane OF glass
ratified
But an earthquake would not have dis
turbed the happiness Of the newly-married
couple who sat side by side in front Of the
cheerful blaze.
IF were not Q4its so young said Doris,
little regre;fully. i'll pause OF the CONVEX
sation after the mutual explanations had all
been gone over again.
If 1 were not quite SO old, " said the
Doctor. with a quiet smile
odd" was the indignant response. Does
the picture painted of you look old:"
why. no." said Dr.. Blake, laughing; "c0
the contrary, it fiatters my years grossly.
But that is the way you look to M"
whispered Doris And that is all.
| EvAcE II CUyvEpsE