Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1892-11-11
physi0guomy Of AIme. oloso fol- support.

the rest OF the day he was somewhat
pensiye 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
creasing number of fashionable women
who felt that DIR. Houghton was the
only medical man who really had ever
understood their case and constitution.
This lady was awidow and had >me adj
vantages, or disadvantages, over the
brilliant young doctor as regards aee.
But who, after all, knew anything of
the factf To all intents and purposes,
Mrs. Chomley was young woman.
There was consciousness of the fact in
the smile with which she detained this
rising celebrity ut her side.
Houghton's cold, handsome ewes
wandered a little away from her face
now and then, and finally Mrs. Chomley
cried:
"Ah, if you want to talk to that little
maiden over here, leave me this in
stant!"
"Must II" asked Houghtoa, with
gravity. But Mrs. Chomlcy had turned
her back upon him.
Felicia was attached to brilliant
little booth. around which were grouped
number of assured young persons, with
level, critical eyes, engaged more in
entertaining a cluster of slim, limp
youths in extreme English garments than
in displaying the wares tho booth con-
tanned. Felicia seemed rather left out
IN Gbo nlo
what apart, and her fair, childlike face
expressed certain wistfdlness.
"What brutes women can be to each
other" commented Houghton, stridinC
over the lawn.
Felicia frightened up with the most
innocent pleasure ut sight of him. She
put out her hand as though they were the
oldest frieuds.
"Welll How do you like all this2"
asked Houghton, smiling down at her.
"Oh, its lovely" she fastened to
aver.
"Do you really find it so2"
She looked up quickly, and in his
down-bent glance she found a complete
comprehension of the situation. She
blushcd slowly, in pale, delicate re-
ticent fashion, which seemed to Hough-
ton to SAVIOR of all manner of quaint, old
time brecdings which superb Young
women OF the world never had nowadays
if, indeed, they had ever had them.
'Of course 1 am not one of them,"
Felicia remarked simply. "They talk
OF things don't understand. l don't
know the people they know. So-it's
natural"
"Natural you should be left out in the
cold2"
She looked little frightened. He
seemed to be accusing these animated,
fluent, bright-eyed young women.
Take my arm," he commanded.
"But Mrs. Chomley said l ought not
to leave the BOOTH"
"For all you will succeed in selling,
my dear child" he laughed.
She put her hand docilely upon his
coat-sleevc.
Within fortnight Mrs. Branscombe
returned.
II have to speak with you," she OBJ
served to Houghton the first time they
met.
81 warn you that know quite we'll
what You are going to say" he rejoined,
meeting her glance with one in which
she read something that made her tighten
her lips little.
"You have not kept your promise to
me-"
'1might tell you that did not make
promise. But that would only be true
in the letter, AFTER ALL"
tTm ulo1 Won RI bonoe+ ~ Iooot ia.
all l can say for you. What has become
of your Wanted common sense2 Your
prudencel Your long .headedness? You
know very we'll that you will BIO making
the greatest mistake of yorr life if you
allow this Irritation to go on to its final
consummation. Felicia is the best little
creature in the world, but she suits you
about as we'll as dove an eagle" His
silence exasperatcd her into adding, with
some violence: "What can you, with
your temperament, see in her anyway"
Hcughton hestated moment.
81 don't know" he said.
"Well, what do you propose to do2
can't allow you to dangle about the
child, giving her possible interest in
you which is not likely to eliminate in
anything. She is not the sort of woman
care much for-as a type. Yielding,
capable of limp heroisms but never
clf-asscrtion.-no, it is n type that stirs
one to no enthusiasm. But L shall not
see her trihed with. Come, what shall
you do2 In either case you see that your
selfintcrest and duty-if you care for
such an old fashioned coercion as the
last-are to CO."
81 have been telling myself that for
three weeks past"
''Then in heavens name act upon It!
Go to Mrs. Chomley to-day and put
yourself beyond the possibility of com
hitting any follies."
women are astonishing. You propose
that I should"
"Not offer yourself without prelimi-
naries-no. But begin pursuit in that
direction in way which can leave no
room for equivocation. Yon know she
would marry you. And, logically, that
is the sort of marriage you should
make ~