Evening journal., 1892-11-01

kiss on the cheek.
fertility Of unclean imaginations, Oro-
delphia gossiped Of Mrs Rogers, while
still opening their doors to her for her
husbands sake; for, just as cordially as
they disapproved his wife, everybody
liked the doctor, perhaps partly in un-
conscious effort to atone for the neglect
they accorded him in their ailments
For the old school Of medicine had as
firm a hold upon popular prejudice as
orthodoxy in religion. They liked their
physical as well as spiritual healing in
doses large and strong. DR.. Rogers was
a homeopath, with quite radical theories
as to high dilution, and if thiswere not
enough, he looked moreover young and,
inferentially, inexperienced. 1t is an
unwritten law that the successful physi-
clan must never appear young.
Donald Bartels was not given to con-
fdences regarding his ante nuptial
amours, which tradition said had been
many, not alone from a sense Of honor
toward those who had accorded him
favor, but that, in his utter absorption
in the one great passion of his life, all
that came before it seemed sunk into
utter nothingness. In a prudent i'm.
pulse to forestall the gossips, however.
he had told his wife all the story of his
friendship with Mrs. Rogers. 1t was a
bald little tale, only worth the telling
because Of the mountain of talk that had
been built up from the mole hill of fact
The Rogerses had simply made him wei
come TO their house in the unaffected
hospitality they extended TO all mankind.
In his bachelor loneliness he had found il
remarkably pleasant to be invited TO tea,
to play croquet in the summer twilight,
and take a hand at whist on a winter
night. And when, one day, the doctor
| had found him tossing in the misery Of
mountain fever, Mrs. Rogers had
| promptly come to his dreary boarding
| place, bringing delicacies to tempt back
his appetite and books to amuse, hel
visits bringing more life and cheer into
| the darkened room than all her hus
bands pellets and powders, That the
world had afterward called him hel
lover was to Donald Bartels always q
sufficient refutation of all other GOSSIP
about her; the calumny was so absolute
ly unfounded. in the one instance, il
proved how easily the poor little woman
might be maligned under other circum.
stances.
"Yet at that very time You were en-
gagged to mel" exclaimed Anita. in a voic,
Of eloquent reproach, when she had lis
tened to the tale.
"But what Of thaty cried Donald, hon
estly puzzled. 81 have told you ther'
was nothing in it-not the ghost of fir
tation. Why" as one who would offei
confirmation strong as proof of Holl
Writ. 81 never kissed the woman-neve
even pressed her hand beyond the limi
Of an ordinary how do you do"
Anita stared at him with wide eye
horror. "As if | could hint at such
thingl" reddening angrily "As if
could think it possible that you should.
We'll, you seemed to think there mus
have been some awful development
about it," laughing inconsequentially
And that sort Of thing is supposed to b
rather commonly done, believe di'
not know but your imagination was run
ming on some such line.
"Of you, Don" a little choke in he
voice. 81 would not imagine such thing
Of you; | would not give myself the tor
ment Of such thoughts until was com
PEELED But your suggestion seems L
prove that such things were possible
that you might have enjoyed these httl
familiarities. 50 commonly done. wit
a scornful quiver of the nostrils, regarC
ing him keenly chad you but cared t
make the most of your opportunitie.
Your tone implies that it was no III
reasonable prudery on her part tina
hindered
Donald laughed rather confusedly
be had sometimes fancied that Mr.
Rogers perhaps cared more for him tina
strict duty to her lord allowed he ha
never thought of blaming himself in Ia
matter. and battered in his heart neithe
had be any idea Of condemnation ia
her He was rather disposed TO reg,,r
it as highly creditable to both th'
nothing more had come Of it. An
Anita's jealous exclusive love, grudgn
that even his name should have been al
sociated with that Of another woman