The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1896-04-10

~
her hand.
1T is unusual to see you walking"
she said.
"Ye-es. The fact is, one gets so
little exercise that IL have sold my
carriage
"Weli,' she faltered. ''it's-it's Il
lovely morning for walk. You don t
come to see Us now
"PerhapS you remember the last"
oh" she cried brusquely, i never
remember unpleasant things. think
NV sister would be very pleased
whenever you have time to spare.
Time to spare ~ he said bitterly.
''There is little difficulty about that
Of course, you know what all the town
knows. My practice has fallen away
from me as il it were Il garment
But she returned, trying to speak
cheerfully, lit will come back again
1t is only matter of time
Very likely. But, you see, Miss
Sinclair, one has to live somehow
meanwhile"
However, he went his rounds more
blithely than usual, and at 1 O'Clock
that afternoon, after IL long debate
with himself, turned his steps toward
SincIair's house But, on nearing the
house. he saw Blehkinsopp's carriage
at the gate and few yards further on
Sinclair. Instead of entering, as he
had purpoSed, Lester passed the
brougham, then came face to face with
Alfred, who appeared sOmew hat en-
barrassed.
Mrs. Sinclair all right?' inquired
Lester.
"Oh, quite-er-it's only Winnie:
| a little feVerish Look here, Lester;
YOU know what women are.
''Rather rash to boast"
| You see" Alfred Numbered ON, f
| it were myself it would be different.
| You cant reason with It woman, and
with your wife you should never make
the attempt Mine took it into her
head to have Elenkinsopp-"
NY dear fellow said Lester,
your child could not be i'll better
hands. | hope she will soon be all
right again And he walked along
swiftly with his eyes on the ground.
Depend upon II, =" Rienkinsopp, u
stout, gray beared man OF sixty. WIS
saving us Alfred entered the drawing
room. lit is better TO bca little slow
and quite sure, my dear lady. The
! experience of generations is not to be
upset in a day by few caiIow youth.
~ have Just parted from one Of the
untiedge,i," said Alfred, when Bj"a-
kinsopp had gone and Edna re-en,er.
ed the room.
DR.. Lester did not see. oh, -
cried Gertrude. Il would not have il
happen for the world.
''Gerty hasn't the courage Of her
convictions, said Edna.
DIR. Bleukinsopp says DR.. Lester
has lost nearly all his patients, Ger
trude remarked.
The population of Uppercombe is
$4,000; mostly wise persons - eN-
claimed Edna contemptuously
One night, about a month later, Al
fred arrived home earlier than usual.
Lester is going away, he said.
Has he sold his practice ~ asked
| Gertrude.
He would hardly go without
! Not that there is much to SELL
Edna sat quite silent. Her face was
pale and her eyes We're moist. 1t was
all she could do TO prevent the tears
from falling till she reached her own
room. vt dinner she scarcely spoke.
The following morning she happened
| to he passing Testers house at II
o'clock. and, seeing no sign OF him
turned and repassed the door ten min.
utes later. He was just coming down
the steps.
Don't let me hinder you" she
said, when he stopped.
Il am merely going to the post OF
flee he answered.
IL am going that way, too,
said Edna, and they walked together
as it true you are leaving Upper
combe ," she asked presently.
"Perfectly true.
Then YOU have sold your practice:
We'll, it was principally ques-
ti0n Of getting the house and So fort
off NV hands; but l have every reasol
to believe the matter will be settle
this afternoon
DIR. Lester - Edna exclaimed =,
he halted at the postOilice, IF | Were
YOU II would not run away from Ii
but. perhaps, you have some enticin=
place to fly to"
No" he answered; Il am forum
ate enough to have the wide world tC
choose from-eXcept this one spot
and" lie added, this is the best au'
rha worst on the face of the earth. NJ !
practice is ruined.
But if YOU could only stay yo9I
practice would come back. People
are very tickle 1t isn't every doctor
that can buy practice, vet they man
age. How do they do it?''
He held open Il gate for her to pas
through into q meadow us she SPOKE
The sun shone brightlyand the hedge
were fragrant with wild roses ans
honeysuckle.
'tOh. there are various ways 1t
explained. Some take parish work
but | am too unpopular to attempt t'
get that, even if there We're an open
ing at this moment. Others receiV
resident patients-luuatics hspoctou
driacs and so forth
Then couldn't you take patients
Would not that enable you to-
stay at Cppercombe:
'Oh, yes: only first | should have =
take a wife Miss Sinclair
He turned to look down at her fac
, and at the same moment Edna leang
across the ditch to pluck q spray "
, honcysuckle. No sooner had she +.
covered her balance than she beS&1
: to pun the blossom to pieces.
well. Dir. Lester ?" she said, loo"
ing up suddenly.
( "Ah, that sort of thing is over q
p far as am concerned, he answere
II don't see why, ii it would
p it would really help you.
: He leaned forward eagerly; 81
bent her neck to smell the hone.
5 suckle.
, EDNA" he muttered, you al
tritiing with me y
a She shook her head slowly.
o But you-you said"