Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-01-21

Yes; she sends me the marlborough gossip.
and 1 let her know what is going on in Lon
| DON"
"And she answers your letters?''
"Of course; why not? II il only men that
don't answer letters But men are very stupid
| over letter writing altogesher-with some ex-
ceptions, of course. l feel sure you wonld write
a very good letter.
VERY kind of you to say SO. but am afraid,
like most men, can only write when have
something to saw
oh. but there is always something to say"
But it is not always entertaining"
"Oh, but You can easily make it so. A little
arrangement OF things. don't you know?
There is no harm in il. friendly letter is
not one OF those terrible legal documents
which have to be signed and witnessed. People
don't want dry facts in a letter any more than
| they do IN ordinary conversation. What they
want is to be amused. / al avs write Just as
talk, don't you know.and find my correspond
ents like my letters very much"
II am certain they are delightful" said
Lorraine. endeavoring, while not looking too
ostensibly toward the clock. to discover wha.
time 1t was. He began to consider the various
trains from Lindborough and heard no more
TIL through long and sparkling review Of
fashionable amusements Mrs. Courteville
reached the topic Of doctors and then OF Mr..
"eatherley, looming up on purpose to see
one."
us he ill2' asked Lorraine quickly.
"Of course. He is always ill in the dull
season. when the shooting is over and the fish
ing has not begun"
"Mr. and Miss Weatherley," said servant,
throwing open the door,
First entered Miss weatherley, literally nut
brown maid. for her hair and ewes had both
the sheen and the color of chestnut, and her
transparent skin was of that pale brown which,
when 1t reddeus, takes SO rich shade Of rose.
Her mouth, the very opposite to Mrs. Courte-
vlios' pouted rather than smiled habitually.
and the instant that she set eyes upon Lorraine
this pout changed to something even more
severe. But he was very differently received
by Mr. Weatherley, a man Of hercuean build
ana with all the appearance Of robust health.
He shook Lorraine heartily by the hand and
congratulated him.
You are an uncommonly lucky fellow. let
me tell you that, :" he cried. Your cousin went
on just about the time of life when men of his
sort take to marrying their cooks"
Mrs. Courteville. hearing of this good for
tune for the first time. also offered her con-
gratulations, glancing inteligently round upon
the trio, and inwardly wondering why Beryl
looked so cross.
but. Mr.. Weatherey," she cried, when they
were all seated, Il am so sorry to hear you are
obliged to see a doctor. trust he will do you
good"
mo doctor will ever do me any good
oh. Mr.. Weatherley, you must not say
that"
81 can only tell you I have consulted two
doctors within the last six weeks, not counting
the one l have just SEEM and what with fees
and the railway tickets. it has cost me a pretty
penny, and not farthing's worth of good have
got out Of it all yet
"Oh, but Mr.. Weatherley," cried Mrs. Courte-
vile, archly. 81 am afraid you do not do what
they tell you''
II don't take their medicines, il that is what
you mean. l can't; they give such preposter-
Gus directions with them. Every three hours
every four hours. half an hour before meals.
can't stay at home all day looking at the clock
ing to take their physic bottles out with me
when go fishing or shooting. Perfect folly.
l will say this for our local doctor, little Pan
ton; He gives his jalap in a lump and is done
with it,
But the new doctor-the one you have seen
today-how does he arrange it?''
"Oh, he doesn't go in for medicine, it seems.
Diet is his line-what he calls diet. 1t sounds
more like starvation to me-
He took a sheet Of paper out Of his pocket
and in detected tones read aloud:
Breakfast: Tea. toast, egg lightly boiled
Why, breakfast is the meal l always do best at
Lunch: One slice of meat. roast or boiled. pota-
toes, green vegetables claret and water If
there is a sickly mixture earth it is claret and
water Dinner: Soup. fish, meat or game, no
entrees or savories'-they are the best part of
the dinners.-'stewed fruit or milk pudding
thing to pay two guineas for!''
"But who is this doctor?"
CDR. Ciinker."
ooh, you should not 20 to him. He starves
all his patients. He has killed several. You
should 90 to Dr. Vincent-quite a different
man He always Goes in for p.ensy OF nourish-
ment and keeping the strength up. Now, my
sister Bertha-you saw her last year-so pale
and thin, and no appetite He ordered her to
eat as, much - she possibly could. Meat three
times 1 day and plenty Of stimulant.'
"Where does he live9' asked Mr.. Weatherley,
evidently impressed.
1t appeared that he lived close by, insomuch
that there was plenty OF time to consult him
before lunch, and this. after some demur, Mr.
weatherley was persuaded to do, with Mrs.
Courteville herself as his guide.
"Beryl and Mr.. Lorsine can entertain each
other. We don't want either of them. do we,
Mr. weatherley?'
They were alone, and likely to remain so for
at least quarter OF an hour. 1t was one Of
those pieces Of good fortune, SURPRISING pecta-
ton, which sometimes fall as If straight from
heaven on mortals in their extremity. 1t only
remained, as Lorraine instantly recognized, to
make the most Of those priceless minutes, and,
looking toward Beryl. he saw that she was
employing them to read magazine story--and
not very amusing story, to judge by her
did. with mixed feelings. Her attitude was
highly characteristic OF a creature abruptly
impulsive in her movements as in her actions
The hand that supported her head had
thrust her hst all awry, into a position that.
behind face less freshly young, would have
been simply ludicrous, and from front locks
always disposed to wander where they should
not, one in particular fell almost over her eyes,
quite down TO the curve Of a feverishly pink
cheek. 1t fell too low and too straight to be
picturesque; 1t was simply untidy and vet
Lorraine was seized with wild DEERE to lift it
up tenderly and kiss it. For a moment or two,
under the charm Of this suggestion, he was
tempted to adopt Holden's rough-and-ready
method--to take Beryl in his arms and ask her,
without further preface. why she had been 30
cruel; but Lorraine was always slow in obeying
impulses--this one had died away before he
even moved. When he did 1t was to approach
the difficulty in what he considered q much
more dignifed manner.
He strolled little nearer to Beryl, lifted q
china cup from console and. carefully exam
lining the mark underneath, said:
~ suppose you have been very gay at Lind
borough since left?''
Without turning her head, or raising her eyes
from the leaf before her, Beryl answered sharply
and shortly: -
mo" 49,
"very busy, then?" 4
"Not more than usual" "a
"Too busy to answer letters?"
tit depends il the letters were worth ansu
ing"
al should think any letter deserved a. lea
an acknowledgements common politeness.