The Delta independent., 1888-02-28
Doctor Dwire.
BY R ALTA LILLY.

DAesoAiy SoAo "CaLuci} PioiSihS Z
wind astir, blowing in little gusts from
the northeast; with that damp rawness
in the air which makes one shudder,
and feel strong desire to be safely
housed out of its loathsome embrace.
Few, if any. save on special business
which could not bear delay, would have
cared to be abroad; and DR.. Dorien
Dwire, when his housekeeper. Betty,
took away the tea, drew his chair
nearer the fire burning in the study
CRATE with the air of man who
feels he may enjoy his evening uninter-
rupted.
DR.. Dwire was slightly over middle
height; his figure was firmly but slen-
derly formed; his square shoulders and
fine carriage proved the strength of
chest and manliness of spirit. His
complexion was fair, his eyes full. of a
blue-gray color, with bold, straight
yet singularly gentle outlook. His age
was somewhere about twenty-eight
but the hair thrown off the white fore
head had many silver streaks in it.
which. however, the most careless OBJ
server would have seen, had he looked
at the face beneath the hand of Time
had not produced.
DR.. Dwire was quite young, COM
paratively speaking; but. he had liv-
edh is life, loved his love. and
experienced sharp, bitter trouble,
past and over now, which had left its
imprint on his life as ineffaceably as
the impression of some preadamite
birds tread on the soft clay that has
hardened into stone. But DR.. Dwire's
nature was not stony. Far from it.
His hear twas the gentlest, kindest, man
could possess.
Seated by his glowing study fire, he
soon had forgotten the outer world as
perfectly as most of the outer world
forgot him. The wind tossed the trees
outside the rambling, old red brick
house. and shook the windows of the
study almost vindictively. as if to inter-
rupt the thinker within. But the doc
tor hardly heard, being in spirit far
away in the past-that past which had
to do with his mothers pretty govern
ess, Lydia Leyton. There were no gray
hairs in Dorien Dwire's closely cut.
dark curls then. His cheek bore the
hue of health, his dark eyes sparkled
with the happiness reciprocated love
alone can give.
1t all came back to him as If it had
been only yesterday-beautitul Lydia
seated in his mothers parlor, having
brought her young charges-two little
girls, now away at boarding-sch ool-
on visit to that lady; and Dorien, see-
ing her for the first time, and being
surprised by her great beauty, was un-
able to take his eyes from her.
He sighs now, as he remembers his
boyish enthusiasm.
81 was happy then. SO happy! Poor
fool +! So happy for the time being in
the society of the woman l loved with
such deep devotion. such perfect faith
and trust" he murmered bitterly. "But
is one ever supremely happy without
the consciousness of coming pain p
Suddenly there had been change.
Allen Courtney. an artist. came to stay
awhile in the neighborhood--a man of
aristocratic birth. handsome, and of
small principle. He had called at the
Doctors once or twice. and had seen
Lydia.
From that hour the joyous light had
slowly faded from Dorien Dwire's face,
for he began to know what jealousy is.
and TO doubt the love that Lydia had
professed for him. And doubt indul-
ged soon became doubt realized. How
could he help doubling. when he noted
the little pleasure his presence gave
her-how silent and listless she grew
in his society?
This fellow has bewitched her with
his fine talk of poetry and art" he
thought, sadly. when he is gone she
will be my own Lydia again. She is
so young and merry, no wonder his
conversation pleases her."
A week later. Allan Courtney left for
his home abroad. The following day
lh! how we'll he remembered it! Bet
;y brought him letter from Lydia
Leyton. She had gone! She exprss-
ed much regret, but found on examin-
ing her heart that see did not love him
with the affection wife should feel
for her husband; and their union, in
that case could bring happiness to
neither. She considered it was wisest,
kindest that all should be over be-
tween them.
Sometimes. she concluded, "it
seems as il do not know my mind. l
feel that l should not wed you; but oh!
Dorien. weak and foolish us / have
been. think that even you would pity
me il you did but know how desperately
! have struggled to do right. 1t is best
for both that Ishould go away. That
you will ever forgive me-that you will
never look on my face again-I do not
expect. Good-by Dorien. Try not to
think too hardly of your unhappy
friend. LYDIA.
That she had gone with Allan Court
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