Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1896-08-06

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He Passed Cautiously Around the
Door Jamb
suicide. He believed in his business
prospects. and he had every reason for
believing that he had Won, or would
soon win. my love. In the Iirst shock
of the disappearance knew not what
| felt. | knew that i resented the fate
that had robbed me of the one being
who had ever manifested any especial
Hing for mo. AS suffered I grew TO
feel that my love had already been
awakened, and when | tried to com
prehend his taking off, | was 80 fren-
lied that could think of nothing bu.
revenge. l suppose it was that
Amelia spoke with perfect calmness,
not only to the surprise bun ad CirJtion
of the doctor. He couldn't have
viewed the circuI stances more cooIly
himself.
If il had been possible for me-" on
tinUed Amelia, muSangly. Ito go to
anybody for sympathy. it mEglIt have
been better, and l might haee acted
differently; But there was no one
There was rttfe genuine Sympathy be-
tween me- ana Louise, and Z eve
could have told her sues a ecrat She
would mn ee-bct never mind. Louise
is not heartIess- She simply Books at
things differently. Besides, Z gas
called on 10 comfort FEsr. as. at the
start. she was nuch aEarmed How
seiIish of ne! + havenFc asked about
her
Louise is we'll enough. for zught l
know" said the doctor. 4 see little Of
the household. Ny a%tterrion hsEs been
taken wholly up BY you
Amelia smiled gratefully.
1T doesn't seem so strange TO TIE
loved now she SKID. after a uAsmeut,
amt. you kaDw. L feel Ms ii, somehow,
thar other feeling. terrible as il WAS
broker upon. served a psrpose in pre-
pariag me for tlEs. Is tliat an uns
worthy thought?"
NO. my dear girl" responded the
doctor. profoundly moved. IT riink il
is Il wiser dlouglz than any . couM'
find IN my W poor head 1t may he
the explanation G my case, though,
how T could ever have bowed anybody
but yuu. | cannot see nCT."
Amelia pressed his hand gently and
closed her eyes. Tie doctor watched
her with II sense Of adoration as nh
ture peacefully salled her back to
Notwithstanding sleep. Suddenly a
thought OF his nssfher sccurred to she
doctor. Had She been present during
this intimate conversation? He.turGed
his head She was not in rhe com.
Mrs. Williams h:fd stolen OFT silently
as soon as the patient began to speak.
She net the professor at tse head of
the stairs.
Mrs. Williams" fe said. a~nxiousIy,
'.mr daughter would not come down to
luncheon. and refuses to open tire door
20 receive anything. I'm afraid she's
III. I hate to disturb the doctor.
Would you mine seeing If you cannot
bring her TO her sensesy
II will speak TO her al once" replied
Mrs. Williams.
She went 10 Louise's room. and, after
n few words. the door was opened.
She entered and remained with the un-
happy girl for more than an hour.
While she was gone Mrs Appleton
knocked at Amelia's door. The patient
was then asleep.
somebody to see you. DOCTOR" said
Mrs. Appleton. HE says it is urgent"
"Send my mother in" returned the
doctor.
They went down the corridor to-
gether TO the stairs. The doctor de-
seconded, while Mrs. Appleton went on
to Louise's room. DR.. Williams found
a man ut the door whose wife was i'll.
She was a patient of the doctors, and,
like others, had been somewhat neg
lected recently. The doctor heard the
mans story, wrote n prescription,
promised to call during the afternoon
or evening. and FASTENED back up the
stairs. AS he turned into the upper
corridor he saw Betsey gliding into
Amelia's room. She left the door open.
Greatly startled. for any happening
ut Fairview was suspicious, the doctor
went forward rapidly, but on tip-toe.
If any y~illainy was afoot he not only
wanted to prevent ii. but TO arrive in
time TO see, Enthusiastically, what was
intended. AS he came near the door
he could see the alcove. Betsey was
not near the bed. What, then, was she
up to?
He peered cautiously around the door
jamb. The woman was at the center
table with her back to him. Three bot
ties of medicine We're there. She took
them up, n after another, and
seemed TO be regarding them attentive
ly.
Presently she selected one, gllded
with II nclselessly 10 the window, and
poured its contents out.
The doctor drew back as she turn
ed around. He heard her Mt the table
again, and again he looked in, more
than half expecting to see her refillins