Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1896-06-05

door.
'Oh, dou't look as il you didn't
know all about it! cried Edna ion E
patiently.
You don't mean to look me in
the face and tell me you have re-
fused bimY
Il told you this morning.
What a girl says beforehan d
goes for nothing, Edna, what a
fool you are! You know Alfred
will be jnst wild about it,
alfred did not think it necessa-
ry to consult me- was the answer.
sOf cOurse,' Edna added, drawing
nearer and placing an arm about
Gertude's waist, 'Of course it
would be all the same if he ha
darling.'
Still, it does seem a pity, Ger
trude persisted. 'Thongh he b as
only been a year in Uppercom6e,
every body has a good word for
him-or nearly everybody. HIS
has increased old DR.. Andrews
practice enormously. DR.. Lester
is a man a good many girls would'
Jump at! know. That is exact
ly what feel abont him. he is t6O
eligible-lsn't that the words-
too emlnently desIrable.'
'You have always seemed to like
hiU.'
Il do like him, GertY,'
Then, why in the name OF good
ness don't you marry him and
have doBe with it,
Edna slightly shrugged her
shoulders as she turned toward
the window again.
Honestly, | don't quite know.
| don't see why l should dissect
myself for your edi6catiOu. He is
very nice-a little too nice. L tried
to persuade mysef-there, YOU sea
rm nothing If not candid. Olly ]
don't know what it is; somehow,
the spirit didn't move me-
When Eluv was following Ger
trude from the dInlng.rOOm that
evening Alfred Sinclair called him
back.
Permit me to remind you that
sou are twenty-twO,' he said.
'B3 accurate, Alf. Twenty-Five
years and two months
'Of COURSE he continued, Il need
not tell you we are glad to give
you a home here as long as you
require It. But if you ask me-a
woman is much better 10 place
of her own
sThe first that offers itseliiask ed
Edna.
Il didn't think Lester was the
first. He is the best of the bunch.
though. A fellow who is bound 10
get on
'Of course, that's everything'
'Oh, well, if you cau't see the
good of talking
Neither do j. EIna answered.
One afternoon Alfred came home
from his Office looking more solemn
than usual, though the dignity OF
his position gave him the air OF
extreme solemnity at the best OF
times. Like Edna be was short,
but carried himself his full height;
like his sister again, he was fair,
and appeared more youthful than
his years. He wore a moustache
which looked too heavy tor bis
pink and white face.
'Sr Edward Strangeway's dead,
he said, pulling up his light coloTed
trousers as he sat down.
Then remarked Gertrude, 'the
operation was not successful
Now, if it had been, don't you
imagine Strangeways would be
alive, Gertyp he said, testify, "A
bad days work for Lester
'whyP demanded Edna. 'Dr
Lester cannot be expected tc woIk
p miracles, He cannot cure all hit
= patients
? saul amongst the prophetsr ex
4 claimed Alfred. 'One doesn't look
a for Lester's apolosist over tbere
6 Edna. He went the wrong way tC
, cure this one. | was talking TO
Blenkinsopp about the case
only yesterday. BleDkinsopp would
have had a surgeon down frou
r London. Money was no object
I Toe plain fact is, Lester is oyer
: cenfdeDt.'
dare say DR.. Lester Is quite as
I sklllful as any surgeon in London,
I Edna returned.
n DO you think 1t will damage hl'
/ practiceP inquired Gertrhde.
'Iuiure his practicei OF course
J 1t will. Lester IS too young. People
a don't care to be practlced on