Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1892-10-15


D-Mg and crisply closing her
~ fan @w.lI.r observed
Dr. Houghtou, "don't
do too much for her." He had lazy
way of making such remarks. The fear
of giving offence never seemed to weigh
upon him. He had the clear, impartial
gaze, the straight, calm features, the
general personal acceptability that con-
stitute an armor from behind which it
seems quite possible for man TO be and
10 say what he chooses.
"You are extremely impairment" ex-
claimed Mrs. Branscombe, showing,
however, no further sign OF taking such
impertinence amiss. 'Of course | shall
do as much for her as l possibly can. |
know what you mean when you warn
rue not to do too mucn. You like that
bucolic flavor Felicia carries about with
her. That is quite Characteristic of you
super fastidious, blase man of the
world that you are. It's novelty
all that naivete which hangs about the
poor child. You would call it awkward
ness, stupidity in a sister of yours. But
you like to amuse yourself with it when
you encounterlt in fresh little stranger
Yes, you men are all alike. But Felicia,
you see, is q sort of relative of mine,
and since Providence has thrown her in
the way of having her rusticity some
what polished up l mean to do my duty
By her-even, she concluded, with hcr
brilliant, rather sharp smile, sat the risk
of making her as frivolous and conven-
tional person as myself"
DIR. Houghtou stroked his mustache
rehectively and smiled.
"Oh, you know that you are charm
ing," he announced.
"What is more 10 the purpose is that
should know that you intend to be so
while l am gone" said Mrs. Brans.
combe, looking at him more intently.
"While you are gomez
''Yes. Felicia is to be left here, you
know. Old Nine. CIoze is excellent, as
far as she goes, but she doesn't go very
far. am afraid she would be no match
for you if you should suddenly take 1t
INTO your head to make love to my little
rural relative Oh, don't stare! You
are quite capable of it. You would ex.
pertinent with her tenderly ingenious
seusibilities 1t would be a new moral
case to study. That would interest the
professional soul of the physician, while
it would exhilerate the palate of the man
of the world
"Why do you repeat thatl Why dc
you call me man of the world2 am
a hard worked, INDECENT drudge of d
doctor. TIE two terms are far from being
synonymous.
"Oh, no false modesty! You know
you mean TO succeed; to go very far and
very high" She laughed at his silence.
mo, man like you never likes to have
his ambition unmNs&ed, of course.
Nevertheless, how can one help under.
standing!'
She stood up and Houghton took the
motion as a sign for him to go. He rose
likewise. Mrs. Branscombe continued
to smile at him moment with her keen
practiced eyes and then she put out her
hand
Don relinquish your purpose, that S
all. Go very far and very high, by all
means. like 10 see such successes.
They're a glorious thing. Most people
let their lite use them. and it generally
use them very badly. You use your life.
You make it subservient; you are deter
mined that it shall help you to attain
your ends. It's altogether very fine, and
that's one other reason for my not wish =
ing you to find my little Felicia too in
l7resting. It would never do for you
20 be checked in YOUR career by any
such thing as that"
1t was on Houghton's lips to ask this
yivacious lady what she meant. But he
lid not frame the query. After all, 1t
vas needless subterfuge, he knew what
er meaning was as we'll as herself.
There is no telling what a man
ay DO" he remarked lightly, aud he
as gone.
A few days later he was passing BY
irs. Branscombe's cottage, when that
.oys carriage drove up. The grotesque
igure of the old companion, Nine. Cloze,
lighted, followed by the fair young
resence of Miss Felicia Langworthy.
he young girl bowed shyly, colored,
esitated and finally put out her hand.
Inc had tine air of not knowing exactly
neither this were quite the right thing
do. But Eer rosy embarrassment in
he setting of her vide, cool summer
'at and her thin, light dress, quantity
fashioned by Mrs Branscombe's dress
maker (who was an artist, to show the
pre-Raphaelite purity aud awkward
graces of tine young figure, pleased the
critical sense of this undemonstrative
and rather hard young man to an aston.
ishing degree. To be sure, he had in a
way, given Mrs. Branscombe promise
not to obtrude any attentions upon her
inexperienced Charge. But he reflected
that 20 be civil was not to pay attentions.
At all events and however he may have
squared the matter with his conscience.
be accepted the half hesitating invitation
Miss Felicia extended to him tc enter,
an invitation for which her timid glance
seemed to appeal to the piacidly smiling
physiognomy of Nine. Cloze for support.
He spent half hour in Mrs. Brans-
combe's charming drawing room, and
the rest of the day he was somewhat
pensIve and his cases absorbed him per-
haps shade less than usual
About week later he was hidden to
acombined fair and lawn party given in
the delightful grounds of one of the in