The Bottineau pioneer. (Bottineau, N.D.) 1885-1895, 1893-07-08
DR.. JAMES,;
Or.
DEAD WITH ESS.

western fringe Of Greenbarns. These
were mostly dark, rs the hour was
late: but above the door of n of them
a brilliant light was still burning.
Jerry bad Heard That this light was
kent burning all night through; and 1t
was quite true, for this WAS t doc
tors house, and the light was maih-
tanned for the convenience Of callers
during the dark hours. The glass globe
which inclosad the light was half with
in the house and half without, SO tbat
the rays might be shed on those who
approached the door both from out
side and inside.
A brass plate On the little gate by
which the path across the narrow strip
of shrUbbery was entered on from the
street bore the inscription, DR.. James
Burch." The plate was evidently OH.
and. in fact, was serving the second
generation.
The present DR.. James Burvh had
been the associate. and was now tho
successor of his father, the DR.. James
Burcn whom the plate had originally
designated. The father was known as
DR.. Burch, and for distinction the son
had always been spoken Of as DR..
James. The name had been kept up
after the death of the elder had re-
moved the need for such =: distinction,
AMI the present practitioner was still
known through the town and neigh
berhood as I)r. James.
The Good business which the father
had created, the son to all appearance
still retained. He was even more liked
by the richer class AMI soon came to
be us much trusted. He had q man
rer suitable fer every occasion. He
could be soft and sympathetic, inGrati-
ating and respectful, CoarSc and free
spoken, genial and .ioculaT, as suited
sex, character or worldly station of the
patient.
There had been some stories about
him when younger as to courses il little
wild and cratic, but since his marriage
he had seemed to walk in the ways
Of tame responsibility.
It was sometimes whispered that he
was not SO hi,DDy at home as lie ap-
peared to he abroad and that he was
drawing in less money and spending
more than the old doctor, but nothing
had transpired Of sufficient Importance
to lessen the general estimate of him
as Il clover doctor, q pleasant compan-
ion and a prosperous man.
At an earlier hour than the one at
which Jerry had got such a fright, but
on the same evening, DR.. James and q
lady were seated at opposite sides OF
his dining-room table, from which the
supper-tray had just been removed.
The doctor was 4 middlc-agcl man,
with a broad and fair coNntcnance,
s%urmounted by q mass of curly, brown
hair. His brow was high and smooth,
; his eyes blue and clear, his mouth wide
and ~good-humOred; but Il certain
! squareness Of jaw and hcaviltess of
chin limited at possible hardness and
%sensuality. lie was considered a hand,
some uian by the ladies, and the care
full and expensive manne:: in which lie
| always dressed suggested that he
, shared their opinion.
J His vis-a-vis might lave reached hel
thirdeth yea-, but could not have
passed ir Thin featured blu pretty,
elegantly shaped and neatly dressed in
black, she sat bolt upright in her chair,
facing the doctor. with a pair of dark
eyes almost lurid with anger.
Compose yourself" DR.. James was
saying in soft, placid tones, but with
out Ieciprocating the steadfast gaze
Of his companion. What is the use
Of getting into a passion again? What
you speak Of is impossible, but VIC may
live together, agreclbly, or part-in
friendship"
"Yon forget something, DR.. James,"
said the lady, in tones Of suppressed
passion.
Not at all, 'Retta. I admit that
something was said at n time about
ges and-and circumstances alter, and
well, you know It is so short a time
since my wife's death, that the subject
need not have been discussed yet" r
'Dr. James. was it I who introduced
it,"
We'll, you see, I thought it better
that we should understand each other"
II understand you now, James, but
I hardly think you understand me. Are
you aware that, # you do not make
me your wife, you have ruined me:"
And q deep flush suffused her hither-
to pale c~Ountenance.
Nonsense! Why should yeu take that
strained view Of it?'
II can never be an honest mans
wife"
Il do not see why you should not"
She still continued to fix him with
the gaze which he continued to avoid:
but the expression in her yes seemed
now to change from anger to hatred.
81 say again. she Missed through her
teeth, that you forget something, DR..
James!' y 1
my dear 'Retta," in the most dulcet
and, apparently, careless tone, "What
is it that I forget?"
She started to her feet in uncontrolla-
BILE passion and, fiingiEg out her arms,
cried, "You forget the deed which these
hands-Would they had been Wit!lercd
first!-assistei you to do; and you for
get this also, DIR. James, her voice
sinking lower. ".that these same hands
hold your life!!"
Do they2 I was not aware of it,
Her hands sank by her side and in
q softer tone and with a softened look
she said, oh James, tell me that 1t
was not all 4 deception-tel1 me that
you are just trying me-that there was
some truth In your protestatiOns--th
you really loved mc-that it was for
my sake you wished to get free and
not-not,' here the passion rose again
met for the sake Of the money, or
to marry some one else r.
.s'Iietta, ,Retta,I am not thinking OF
marrying any nj just now. / am not
such a fool as after getting my neck
out OF one rope, to twist round It an
other!!'
James Burch, II you do not redeem
your promise 70 me, assI am q living
woman / Will put q rope round your
neck 0f a different kind
sseaI he moose would be vile enough to
80 oyer both out heads ,Retta r.
III f.arnY II WIFI nrssfnr fftD