Middletown transcript., 1896-10-10

with all its elegance, never seemed to
have cosy, family air. and SO had lii
tie attraction for him.
| Joe returned these infrequent visits
with compound interest, and spent a
i good deal of time at the Office; partl,
because he was neither ornamental noI
convenient at home, and there was q
comfortable feeling of safety in hav'
ing him with Uncle Max, but chiefly
because it was his own sweet will, and
he could talk and ask questions there
to his hearts content, even though, as
in the present instance, not half Of
them were heard or answered. Joe GER
tainly did not consider the room either
dreary or lonely. but then the doctor
had scarcely thought about it until
lately himself. He had not known,
either, how much he had been think
| ing Of the quiet, earnest young music
teacher, and how thoughts of her had
frightened every place for him, until
her growing reserve and distant polite
ness had awakened him to conscious
ness. And she had fancied he might
annoy her with his persistence, perhapsI
No fear of that. He was not so vain
as to think himself irresistible, nor SO
selfish as to press even his love upon
her, If that love could not make her
/ happier, he said softly to himself.
Burglars =, remarked Joe.
"Ehl w6atp" demanded Uncle Max.
To be sure, Joe had been talking al
most necessarily for the last ten
minutes, but he had heard nothing of
it until that rather startling word at
tracted his attention.
They've broke irto a good many
places about town, and carried off lots
of things" pursued Joe. 81 guess they
must be pretty rich by this time; and
they don't care about folks bein' about
either; they just put 'em to sleep. How
do you's pose they do that, Uncle
MAXI" t
"Ohl don't know" responded the
doctor carelessly. Relieved that .only
burglaries in general were under dis
cussion, and that neither his brothers.
house nor the bank. had been robbed,
he was far less interested in any ma
rauder's boldness than in considering
Edith More's shyness and constraint
when she had called with a message
that morning. She would never have
come to him, he was sure, only that
the unsuspecting old lady who sent her
| would swallow no other DOCTORS po-
tions, and Edith Was too tender-hearted
to refuse SO slight an act of neighborly
kindness. How quick she had been to
assure him, when he promised to be in
the.office on her return, that it was Of no
consequence II only he could leave the
the powders for her, that would answer
quite as well. It was almest time for
her to come. What il he met her, and
spared her a part Of the long walk2
It was out of her way, he knew-so
well he had learned the round of less
on-givingl
Joe was stiIl deep in the subject of
burglars. He had explained to his own
satisfaction how, ''after dark, they
carry lanterns that'll shine, or not
shine, just as they want 'em to; and
they wear stuffed shoes that you can't
hear no more'n cat with mittens on.
And, anyhow, you can't tell who they
are. if you do see 'em, cause their
faces are covered with-with-o
VIII at is it they put on their faces,
Uncle Max?''
son their faces?'' repeated Uncle
Max. pondering another question
Should he 60 or not? Would there be
any danger Of his failing to meet herr
"Yes; what they cover their faces
with, you knoupn pursued Joe.
"Cover their faces with? Why,
veils-brown wells, generally" added
the doctor a little absently, thinking
Of certain brown one that would be
futtering along the street somewhere
now. He decided to go.
"Such as women wear2'' queried
Joe.
"Why, yes. Of course; it's always
women that wear them"
''Is it?" demanded Joe, quite excited
6y THIS new item of inf ormation. II
didn't know that"
"I'm going ont for little while, "
said the doctor, drawing on his over
coat and taking up his gloves. "If
you will stay here till come back,
I'll walk up home with you."
"Well," said Joe contentedly.
"And if any persons come, try to
keep them till get back; it won't be
long," -
"Isn't any danger of any one comin'
here, is thereP" asked Joe, locking
somewhat startled.
"Why not?" laughed Uncle Max,
noticing only the words. "You are
not very complimentary, Joe. Do you
think I'm so poor doctor that it
wouldn't be worth while for any one
to stop here3"
Outside the door the graz mist
seemed to fold aboat one in = chill,
dispiriting sort Of a way. The doctor
felt it, and struggled against it, press
ing forward with quick, firm step. but
the whole town. looked old and sad.
He had longed to be away from it
lately-a restless inclination that he
had resisted because Of a brave. brief
c.eed he had, that the very life Of life
is not its joys or sorrows, butlits duties
There was work for him here, those
4