Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1896-08-20


was bea ing too rapidly for the perfect
assumption of compoSure that she
wished to show She had been stand
ing up To this time Now she sat down
and turned her head aside
II know you deSpise me utterly"
faltered the doctor, but want you TO
know that ii wasn't merely groundlesS
jealousy that made me lose my temper
l thought MIR, Philbrick made very of
fensiNe remarks 10 me. and suppose
I'm too sensitive should have let
them pass"
lit would have been the more digni-
fled way" said Louise severely, II
am very much surprised and and
shocked DR.. Williams"
The doctor sighed almost iraudibly
but Louise heard his trembling breath
and her eNultatioN grew. What n thing
ii is. to be sure for young woman to
feel conscious OF her power over 4
strong man, 1t $ no wonder that she
delights 10 prove 1t, 10 convince herself
that he really is her slave, by stretch
ing him upon the rack and Watching
him writhe without an effort to free
himself
Louise began to feel little sorry for
the doctor. He was certainly rs pcni-
tent as a man could be How would
Mr. Philbrick act in such contin-
grncy@ How she would like to see
whether she could humble his assur-
ance and make the tell tale bushes of
shame mount to his checks! Why
shouldn't She The doctor himself
feared Mr.. Philbr1ck as rival; they
had had fight which. in spite of the
doctors way Of looking nj II, was
about her. Then if Mr., Philbrick were
in the least in earnest he would the
more quickly be melted to declare him
self. That was the way it had affected
gcthcr probable to Louise that the
next day. or shortly thereafter she
would have the loQuacious, ready-witted
Philbrick at her feet also,
Dr. Williams moved slowly toward
the door
You're not going?" said Louise, and
the uneasinesS in her tone made the
doctors heart bound hopefully Would
she, after the Castigation, forgive him
Il dare not hope, Miss Drummond,
he said, that you will pardon my very
unmannerly conduct. but | assure you
that you cannot think worse of me
than | think OF myself,
I'm not so sure that cannot pardon
YOU, doctor" she responded; II think
YOU were ahem very foolish, but
you've been very honest, too. IN own
ing to It."
Il don't want to take any credit for n
virtue without which a man would be
utterly contemplate, said the doctor.
"but If you could really know He
was about to tell her something with
respect to the enduring quality Of his
love its depth. and other things that
he had felt ard dwelt upon in his own
mind recently. but when he looked
into her eyes the words died In his
throat. He did not know what he read
there; he was not even conscious of n
wavcring in that supreme passion that
had led him to this declaration; but 1t
was as if some subtle force interviewed
to prevent him, as if he were warned
that his honesty might some day be
called into question, if he apostrO-
phized his attraction for this beautiful
girl whose sentiments at that moment
were almost wholly confined TO unad.
mirable personal triumph
SO he paused in confusion, and Lou
Use waited in surprise for him to con
tinue This he did after moment.
with all your condemnation, Miss
Drummond, there may be love can
not go away without an answer to my
question Do YOU think that YOU can
see. Do yOu?"
The triumph died down. and Louise
answered.
Il don't know"
Strange as 1t may seem TO the unin-
itiatcd, she told the whole truth
Then you do not altogether reject
me-"
mo, doctor iow can I tell? You
must give me time to think I don't
know what papa would say"
She smiled brightly as she said this.
and the doctors heart glowcd with
hope, not as buoyant as lie would have
expected but hope it was. nevertheless.
and very pleasant to him Yet almost
at the same instant he seemed to see
the ominous edge OF smother cloud, for
at the mention Of her father he recalled
for the first time since the exactng
conversation began, the tragic mystery
that oyerhung the house
What would she say" he thought
and his hand involuntarily sought his
pocket, and touched the brass switch
III she knew that was standing be
tween her and her fathers disgrace,
perhaps saving him from DEATH"
He dismissed the reflection as well
as he could, for 1t had no weight with
him in the present affair II was not
means that he would stoop TO use
with either father or daughter but he