Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-11-26
earnestly. that you love me- and that you
wish to forget what was painful to both of
asked the doctor

earnestly. that you love me. and that you
| wish to forget what was painful to both of
| uS?"
Louise could not raise her eyes to his,
| and for a long time she could not control
| her quivering lips to speak. The doctor
| waited with growing wonder, not at her,
| but at himself. loyal man, who has or
| thinks he has reason to doubt his own
| loyalty, suffers an agony that think is not
set down in therapeutics. 1t Is not every
| body who is capable of that peculiar sor-
| row. In days not so very remote, a few
| weeks at most Dr. Williams had said to
| himself that his heart never could fail to
| glow more warmly at a glance from Louise,
| that her presence never could fail to
| charm and relieve him. TIe believed it, as
! all lovers do, and he had said to himself
that his career thus far had justified his be-
| lief
| &c. indeed it had, and yet here he was, I'M
| moved by the distress Of her whom he had
| asked to love him. After the misery of the
| inquest he had wrestled with himself alone,
| and had pursued the task of self analysis to
| the extent of his powers. Reasoning as we'll
| a physician might, he had said that his
| nature was suffering from shock and strain
| that dulled its sensibilities to familiar emo
| tons: that presently all would be as before.
| and he further argued that the one tonic for
| his emotional disorder was sight of Louise.
! With her whether or not she reproached
| him with bitterness, he felt that he should
| find restored all that ardent love that had
| impelled him to do everything short of posi-
| tive crime in shielding her father To feel
again that intense, yearning affection and
| the craving for her love. would be better to
him. even with disappointment as its accom-
paniment, than this dull Indifference
| Well, here he was, and there was she, and
| his heart seemed like a black cinder from
which flame had long since passed away
| Fearful of committing the most disloyal act
possible, he yet held himself at her COM
| mand, prepared to carry out the program of
| love in form. even If the spirit were lacking
Miss Drummond' he said at last q can
| not go to your father unless you tell me you
| love me. 1t would merely be postponing the
end"
Then don't CO." she answered.
He bowed gravely and held the door,
| ashamed, MORALLY ashamed to feel relief
| instead of pain at his dismissal. Louise
ran into her father, who had just entered the
| broad hall.
'Ah, DOCTOR" cried the professor, "be sure
| not to go till l see you. I must have a talk
| with you. Louise, want you for a minute.
| Excuse us, Doctor
| Regretting that his mothers presence at
Fairview made it advisable to remain there
| longer, the doctor bowed his assent and
| went to the dining room Louise returned
to the room she had just left, and the pro-
| fessor followed.
,v lou" he began. abruptly. has Doctor
| Williams talked love to your"
| She looked up at him. half in s1rnrise ba1f
| IN fright, for the question was unexpected,
| ana her fathers tone was brusaue.
answer me, Lou; you've nothing to fear. :"
Yes, she faltered, he has"
Wy hat have you told him, eh? Never
| mind, dear won't press the question. Ali
can say is that nothing would give me
greater pleasure than to have you accent
him. If there's any doubt in your mind as
| there might be, for you are young. dismiss
the doubt on your fathers advice; make the
doctor happy, and please me immensely
Louise was thoroughly frightened now.
She tried to frame the words II can't" but
no sound came from her parted lips. A
black frown gathered now on the professors
brow.
Don tell me that you've rejected him. -
he exclaimed, in a hoarse whisper OF Won
nave been SO unwise go to him at once and
take 1t back
Go be continued tomorrow)