Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1895-07-25


or life should shut, and thou return no
more?
YOUNG DR.. JARVIS.
DR.. Jarvis sat alone in his office,
reading, perhaps for the twentieth
time, the note on the desk before him.
The afternoon sunshine touched with
a pale radiance the familiar objects
in the little room. In faint, flicker
ing fashion it Illuminated the shelves
of books, the dusty cases full Of specl-
mems, the stiff row of diplomas that
adorned the wall, the ragged rug, the
worn oilcloth carpet; but it seemed to
linger on the solitary figure in the
office chair.
1t revealed a sensitive, restless face,
with signs of great weakness, great
passion(and great tenderness; such 4
face as men like and women love. 1t
was DARK with pain and anger now,
for the note had reused host Of sleep
ing memories. The air seemed full OF
odor, the remembered odor Of hya-
cinths; and in every shadowy corner
Jarvis could see the insolent, smiling
face of the woman who had written 1t.
He crushed the p.rfumed paper IN his
hand, though it was only a kind invl-
tation to the poor, struggling country
doctor to take charge OF good case,
consult with q famous surgeon, and
cure-if he could-a sick old man.
1t read simply enough:
DEAR DR.. JARVIS
Mamma wishes me to ask you to
come up today to see Mr.. Morton,
who is very i'll, and to meet DR.. Lin
yard, the specialist from the city. We
fear an operation is unavoidable, and
desire the benefit Of your skill.
Sincerely youls,
EsTELLE MORRIS
Jarvis had many other notes with
that signature hidden away in his
private drawer. Estelle Morris had
never taken the trouble to ask for her
letters, when she had sent him his
curt dismissal two years ago. How
faithfully he had loved and served
her, how be had worked and econo-
mized, and strained every nerve to
hurry through college, that he might
begin the life struggle for fame and
fortune that should bring him his
hearts desire She had seemed to re-
turn all this passionate devotion, and
they had been sworn lovers. Would
she wait for him? How often she
had told him so, the full, white lids
dropping over her soft, shining eyes.
Then, three years ago, a sudden
change of fortune had come to the
mother. They went abroad, and after
a few months her letters altered in
tone. Finally there came a short,
cool epistle. "She did not love him, "
she said. at was wrong to marry
without love, and so-goodby.' In
silence, in anger, and in bitter despair,
he had accepted his fate.
Estelle had come back to America,
the promise of her girlhood magnih-
Gently fulfilled in the beautiful woman
who dazzled the quiet old village.
She had many courtiers, and she had
chosen the richest Of them-a man
many years older than herself. The
engagement had been proclaimed far
and wide. All summer long, from his
office window, Jarvis had watched her
drive by, benignly arrogant and radl-
antlv handsome. \ few days ago he
had heard that her fance was serious
" i'll. Today this letter had come.
Should he so?
He longed with an intense longing,
born in his youth and wounded pride,
to show her that he was Indifferent to
her insult, cold to her neglect. If a
half defined instinct warned him that
neither his anger mol his contempt
might be proof against the deadly
power of the old love, he crushed It,
as he crushed the letter in his hand.
Go he would, and the future might
take care of itself
The first meeting was easy enough
Jarvis's cold politeness was accepted
without trace of embarrassment.
"Oh, DR.. Jarvis" said Estelle, III
is more than kind in you to come. We
hear so much of your skill, and We
I am so much distressed about poor
Mr.. Morton. You Will help him,
am sure?"
He bowed in answer. Yes, he would