The morning call., 1892-08-14

I0m Easlon was Joiiy, uappy-go- lucky
Junior, who had fallen, or imagined he had
fallen, head-oyer-hees in love with Dick.
Tom was apt to have such spells. lie had
been violently enamored of the Princess
during his first year, but had finally found
her icy brilliancy too cold and bright for his
liking and had retired from the circle of her
admirers. The Princess never missed him,
though he was worth half dozen of the
numbers of others who basked in the chill
light Of her distin guished regard. He con-
fided to me, one night as We were walking
home together from quiz" his grand pas
sion for Dick. "Do you think / stand any
chance?" he asked me, anxiouslY. / hated
TO tell him my conviction that he
had not the ghost OF a chance, but the poor
fellow refused TO entertain my evasions,
and bes0ught my answer until finally gave
it, suggesting to him, by way of conso ation,
that he buy plug hat, and devote his spare
time to keeping 1t smoothly brushed, by way
OF creating diversion In his tender aifec-
tions. II seems heartless recorded on
paper, but i knew Tom and also my
remedy, which works admirably in nine out
OF ten such cases.
Tom, however. was not convinced, and
one Saturday morning between cases at
surgical clinic he told me that he had
spoken to Dick. What did she say TO
you?" asked. He dug his pencil savagely
into his notebook. "Why," he stammered,
II don't know whether she understood or
not. l told her how L felt. and said /
couldn't feel happy when | was away from
her, and-well-she said 1t was too bad,
and asked me why / didn't take some Pc
ruvian bark.
i could scarcely keep from laughing in the
poor boys face, but his distress was so real
that had to keep a sober countenance and
comfort him as best / could, whieh am
afraid was under the crcunS stances not
very we'll. The next time | saw Dick | at
tempted, as delicately as might be, TO sound
her little on the subject OF Toms declara-
ton. l might have spared my finessing-
she simply had no notion Of what he was
driving at; fancy she thought his liver out
of order. These boys when they are study
ing don't know how TO take care OF them
selves she said. l did not enlighten her
and Tom, forgetting his fancy, was soon
devoted to the little widow.
L formed theory in regard to Dick, that
she had such bOundless love for the whole
world that the need of individual affection
would never touch her consciousness She
was not particularly young. had seen a good
deal of life. and frankly announced that she
had never in her life felt a tender sentiment
for anything but pet cat she once owned.
Il used to kiss that ca" she confided TO me
on one occasion. 1--WE never cared 10 kiss
any one or anything since"
Yes. Dick was an odd genius. BY the
middle of her second year she WAS the idol
of the students and the admiration of the
professors. Tue chronic patients in the
hospital wards came TO know and watch for
her. The poor" cases that We students
used to hunt up and treat free for the expe-
rience were 10 her more than good subjects
upon which 10 practice-they were friends
and fellOw-creatures, whom Ii was her priv
ilege to bless. and there was many friend
less girl and hopeless woman who found her
q friend in need and a source of helpful
ness and strength. | used to tell her her
landlady ought 10 charge extra for the wear
and tear of the stair carpet from the press
ure of many feet climbing them at all hours
OF the day and night as their owners came
with burdens OF suffering and need that
Miss Dick" always seemed able to tighten.
IL was drawing near TO examination time,
and | was burning the midnight oil so In-
dustriOaSly that / had little time to see
DICK that half. In fact, toward the latter
end OF the term so absorbed had become
that | came and went in semi-unconscious-
ness Of her or my fellow-students, most Of
whom were In much the same state. /
missed, therefore, anv preliminary symp-
toms that might have beer apparent TO
less eDgrossed miEd. and never dreamed Of
trouble IN Dicks direction until one sven-
ing after the last lecture as | was getting
on my coat preparatory to rushing home to
dinner and then off TO quiz, 1 saw Burton
Hardy holding Dicks books while she ad-
JuSted her Oyershoes. As she straightened
UP he handed her tho books and then, as IL
from mere matter Of habit drew her fur
collar closer under her chin, making some
tTlhing remark about her catching cold.
His hand touched her face ever so lightly az
he did so, and l was dumfOuuded to note
that Dick turned deadly pale and shiveTed
slightly.
Her face was a revelation to me. Why
could not have seen? Why could / not
have prevented? / walked home in a daze.
OF all men to attract Dick ! Burton Hardy
wealthy, refined, brilliant, entirely unpTin-
cipied, so far as | could judge after years Of
acquaintance with him-hs life full of
Qd
him to keep hidden, to attract Dick. The
thought made me sick at heart
made 1t point after that 20 see more OF
the dear girl and il was not Difficult. to dis
cover, though she said not word. that she
was very unhappy. She worked on, how
ever, with feversh energy. She, too, was
preparing for her junior examination. but
aside from that work her tims was fully
occupied with her poor patients.
III you can find time" she said 70 me one
afternoon. as we were leaving the college,
Il wish you would come with me TO see one
OF my girls. She is not doing WELL ! want
some one with more experience TO look at
her." ] expressed my Willingness 10 90. and
together we walked through back streets
and alleys to the big tenement, not far from
the college, where her patient lived. II
think" Dick explained TO me, that If
could only make her care TO get we'll she
would recover. put cannot arouse her in
terest In living" We found the patient in
little room in the big building. The mother
opened the door for us-a careworn, sor-
rowful woman, whose face took on shade
OF shame as she spoke TO us OF her daugh-
ter. Il think she's plning for him." She
said. with gesture OF angry impatience.
We stepped into the little sickroom which
opened off the kitchen. where we had seen
the mother The poor girl lay on a narrow
bed. and beside her nestled the Door little
unwelcome waif whose advent had caused
so much sorrow. The patient had heard
her mothers accusation and mourned
broken-spiritedly: "Oh, it's true. it's true."
she walled, ''but Inever shall, and might Sc
well die" Dick bent over the bedside and
endeavored to soothe her, and after she had
become more calm tried to learn from her
the name and whereabouts of the man who
had wrought her undoing. She was loyal.
however, In her refusal to betray him. and