The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1891-10-17

woman's hand, the charm OF woman's
presence. And the little, low arm
chair by the hearth there-when would
it be filled by the sweet little form
the unknown but coming some body
DIR. Dinks loved to picture in it? How
very nice it sounded, to be sure! My
--little-wife-wife. --My-wec-wife.
My
"a letter, SIR"
1t was the doctors servant who
broke in upon his reverie. lie frowned
as he lifted the letter carelessly from
the table, and opened it slowly. 1t
was very brief, containing only these
words:
"DovEcoT HOUSE, Tuesday.
DEAR SIR: Please como and see me at once.
Yours truly BABs GRANTLEY."
"Babs," he repeated. "What funny
name Something nice about it, too.
Some antediluvian spinster, suppose,
whose name is the only nice thing
about her. Imperious, too, by Georgel
Heard there were new tenants at Dove
cot"
That is what John Dinks, NJ. D., Us
he signed himself, said before he saw
Miss Barbara Grantley; and when his
well-appointed brougham rolled along
Jemimaville's only street and drew up
in the pretty garden in front of the
Dovecot house, our doctor, all uncon-
scious of impending fate, complacently
jingled a couple of guineas in his trous-
ers pocket, with the agreeable eXpecta-
ton of soon adding n third.
"Dr Dinks," announced a smiling
little maid, in a low voice; and, as the
doctor advanced with n door closing
behind him, il was to see that he was
in a prettily furnished boudoir; while
reclining on a couch near the fireplace
was lady, who Immediately acknowl-
edged his presence by charming smile
and bow. And then?-at last! DR..
Dinks experienced that magnificent
thrill he had been waiting so long for.
His heart thumped away, just as it
ought to; his legs trembled; he felt a
cold chill shiver up and down his spine;
his mouth opened and closed several
times in an aimless sort of way; his
pulse-but, in brief, he rapidly expert
enced every symptom which attends
and indicates the existence of the prop
er, the legitimate, the genuine love.
His happiness made him almost dizzy,
and he had to seize hold of one of the
chairs for support Yes, this was love;
there could not possibly be any mis-
take about it this time.
Vainly he endeavored to assume his
usual matter-of-fact, professional po-
liteness His heart beat so he could
hardly speak.
"My patient Miss Grantley, 1 pre-
sumo. Would you-ah, ha-," he be-
gan, advancing towards the couch,
with the assistance of the chair backs.
QIow funny his legs felt to be sure.)
Would you --ah, ha-," he repeated,
taking Miss Grantley's proffered hand
which little courtesy had the won
der ii effect of sending a second edi-
tion of that magnificent thrill through
Dinks' sensitive system.
Would you--ah, ha-" he solemnly
repeated, determined to have it out this
time, "would you allow me to see your
pulse, and let me feel your tongue"
| Now DR.. Dinks had not the slightest
intention of being amusing, but, to his
| infinite disgust, he discovered as soon
as he spoke that Miss Grantley was
greatly amused. She pressed her hand.
| llerchief to her face and bit her lips
but, after moments futile struggle
she laughed outright, and evidently
only checked herself when he looked
so furious. In consideration for his in
| iured feelings, she assumed an air o.
mild but preternatural seriousness.
"It-it-isn't my pulse or my tongue,
she gravely explained; 'it's my ankle
sir, and only slight sprain."
DIR. Dinks was excessively embar
rassed. He was not altogether stupid
but really when we consider the sud
denness of the thing it amply excuses
the exhibition of a little foolishnes
and nervousness. And then to be askeC
to look at and touch her ankle!-and
very pretty little ankle it was, tool
Apologizing profusely, the docto
carefully - very arefully-examineC
the pretty little foot that just peepe,
out from among the many folds of Babs
skirts; and he vowed-to himself-tha
he would gladly go on bathing an,
bandaging his fair subject forever
Babs certainly looked nice. She wa
small and dainty young lady witt
bonny roguish blue eyes, and a wealtl
of willful golden hair that frizzled owe
her brow, and looked as if it had beer
rutfled by many sunny summe
breeze. DR.. Dinks noticed with keel
observant eye the curling sweep of tn
long brown lashes that shaded the deli
cately-rounded cheek, and, for the frs
time in his professional career, invalida
ton struck him as the most patheti
and attractive aspect under which
had ever studied woman. He took
long time bandaging that little foot
and by the time it was finished he ha
quite recovered himself. His touc
seemed to do her foot good; and Babs
watching the careful manipulation c
bandaging, and listening to the plea!
ant, cheerful voice assuring her that sh
, would be well again in few week.
felt that, strange though DIR. Dinks ha
been on his arrival, she could have n
kinder or more skillful physician. Ii
deed, by the time DIR Dinks took hi
, departure she had voted him "quit
: nice"
DIR. Dinks gave himself a month t
accomplish the conquest of Miss Gran
5 ley's foot and heart; but before tn
; third week was at an end he had rea
= lied that he had undervalued h
+ powers of surgery and fascination. I'll
r sprain had certainly surrendered to h
: skill, and, building his faith on doze
, Or so of smiles and glances, he allowC
L -. L i