Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1890-12-25

connection.
Even if some misfortune of that sort
had existed, Mrs. Moreland and Jessie
were both too sensible to have any false
shame about it.
BY single swift mental reference to
what he already knew concerning the
two ladies, therefore, the young physi-
clan was able to decide that the rejection
of his hand was in no wise based upon
! anything in their family history or con-
nections.
To the contrary, the motives which
| had Influenced Jessie's conduct had all
been of a strictly personal nature.
In other terms, she had rejected Vance
because Of some attribute, characters
tic, or circumstance peculiar to herself.
But what was it?
Did she refer to some incurable malady
OF the body, or some dreadful infirmity of
the mind?
Was her affection entirely beyond
wise and loving treatment, or could it be
cured or mitigated by judicious resort
TO The vast resources OF modern science?
Was it wholly real or partly imag-
mary?
Vance recalled in this connection that
Jessie had never made any complaints,
and had always seemed to be in the best
of health.
Then what could be the terrible curse"
of which she had spoken?
In any case, it was an inheritance of
Mrs. Moreland as well as her daughter,
inasmueh as the latter had spoken of it
as having existed in her family for many
generations-a fact which was in itself
enough to show that it could be perpetu-
ated.
Might it not be in their blood, and
something in the nature of one of those
scrofulous taints which are so cor mon?
T. 4lnA L. L. I.
not made every possible effort to get rid
of it, and why had they failed to take
the young physician into their counsels,
after all the great cures he had already
effected?
Was their affection not more likely to
be some dreadful form epilepsy, which
no art can cure, and which is liable to
strike down it's victim at any moment,
with every circumstance of torture, dis
fgurement and horror?
But just what could it be?
This was the query that kept present
ing itself constantly to the puzzled young
doctor.
From the mere fact that all his atten-
ton was given to this inquiry, at the
very moment of the rejection of his suit,
it will be seen that he did not take his
dismissal very seriously to heart.
Not for single instant did he regard
as a fnalfty.
If the lover had indeed been temper
arily eclipsed, it had only been to give
way to the physician.
He could only regard Jessie as i'll, and
1T was no more his intention to remain
away from her than if the painful inter
view he had just had with Jessie had
never taken place.
In good truth, this interview had deep
ened his love for the afflicted girl i'm
menSely.
The fact that she loved him so intense
ly could not have possibly failed to call
forth all the ardor of his own passion.
How tenderly and sorrowfully his en-
tire soul went out to her!
How her grief and despair were dupli-
Gated in his own hearth
How earnestly he wished to get hold of
her secret and Danish forever all the
misery it coVered!
As he neared the fence at the end Of
the meadow, the end adjoining the high
way, he suddenly became conscious that
some one was logging his steps, and
came to an abrupt halt, facing about
with an air Of eager inquiry.
'It's only me, Vance," announced the
pursuer, in a quiet, pleasant tone, con-
tinuing to advance.
"Ah, Uncle Erastus!" recognized the
young physician, looking around in a
curious sort of way, as if not quite sure
where his feet had carried him while his
thoughts were so busy.
ais this the first you have seen Of me?"
asked the newcomer, as he came to a
halt in front of the rejected suitor
Vance assented.
"Then you didn't see me pull up the
grays at the entrance of the driver"
%No, uncle"
"Nor walk along the drive to the lawn
after hitching them?"
The young doctor shook his head Wig
orously.
@Nor saw me sitting on that horse
block near the house?"
"No, didn't"
al was none the less there, my dear
nephew-near enough to see and hear
why you were so oblivious of my pres
ence-"
@Ahl you saw"
"That Jessie rejected you, as always
supposed she would" interrupted the
uncle, in tone that was at once cheer
full and sympathetic, as he drew the arm
of his nephew within his own, and put
the young physician and himself in mo-
ton for the highway. 81 was too near,
you see, not to become enlightened"
~But how came you here, uncle?"
allow? Well, that's a good one!
Didn't you invite me to take tea here
with you, and told you would come if we
could get that hay into the barn in
time?"
Certainly"
swell, we had some delay, so that
was unable to drive into town to your
Office and come here with you, but
fancied it would do just as well if I drove
direct to the house."
@Why, of course, only"
@Oh, yes, understand the matterl
see there has been hitch in the pro-
ceedingsl But here we arel"
He climbed the fence with the agility
of a school-boy, and proceeded to un-
hitch pair Of fine gray horses which
awaited him there in front of hand
some top buggy.
aTumble in," he added brusquely. /