Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1896-11-12
CHAPTER NNIII.
Mysterious Betsey.

withdrew to another part of the room.
For few minutes he busted his mind
with consideration in regard TO the
treatment of his case. With any other
patient in view he would have proceed
ed almost mechanically, for as the
case now stood it presented no especial
difficulties. DR.. Williams, however,
was so anxious that every step should
be exactly right that he seriously con-
templated sending to Marshall for DR..
Morse
1T would be possible" he thought,
Ito get him here by tomorrow noon,
There is no mail to Marshall until
evening. | will send then if it seems
advisable
Meantime there was little to do.
Nature could be counted on TO do most
of the work, and such medicines as
were helpful could as well be admin
istered by his mother as by himself.
He looked across the room to the alcove
and saw his mother sitting on the edge
of the bed holding Amelia's hand.
Il wonder" he reflected, if mother
knows"
And then he thought how strange it
was that two weeks ago he should have
been burning with love for Louise, and
now his whole life centered upon this
invalid. 1t puzzled him sadly, for 1T
reawakened doubts as to his own
loyalty. Was it possible that his ma
ture was so tickle that it might be
stirred by any passing woman, until
Ike a shallow pond disturbed by
light breeze, he should appear to be
moved profoundly?
"A pond" SO his thoughts ran,
might conceitedly imagine itself to
be an ocean when its surface ripples.
Is it right then, for me to foster
love for this girl and lead her to
believe in me when | am so liable to
change
Many and diverse were the consider.
ations suggested by this honest query,
among them, of course, cmparlson
Of the two girls who had affected him.
to Louise, that, without prejudice to
her good qualities, she was utterly I'M
fitted TO be his companion. Closer ac-
quaintance had revealed characteristics
in her that were not in accord with
his own nature. He recalled how,
even when he had no doubt of his love,
she had said and done things that jar
red upon him That love must have
been mistake, one of natures freaks,
in which perhaps, his senses had been
attracted by beauty alone, and having
been aroused to consciousness of at
traction, the emotion had been called
love by himself when others more eX-
pierienced might have found the term
attraction" quite sufficient.
The doctor found the problem pre-
sented by his own character hard one
to solve, as every man does who is
given to rigid sef-analysis. He had,
however, touched upon the ground in
the supposition that his sentiment for
Louise had been an attraction rather
than love. 1t is a remarkably easy
thing for a raightforward, honorable
man 10 idealize the emotions within
him and set himself to act according
to what he conceives they are or ought
to be, whether it Is in matters of love
or the more commonplace affairs of
life; but it is not easy in love Louise
and Amelia were the first young
women with whom the doctor had come
in familiar contact outside the admit
tedly good and admirable but unculti-
waited girls of his native village 1t
Is hardly to be wondered, therefore,
that he should have been influenced by
tn more vivacious and beautiful of the
two, and should have believed that the
general emotion she aroused was cen
sered upon herself as an individual.
This is not to say that the doctor
was in love with Amelia when he
thought he was in love with Louise
the attraction of the second had to
wait for events to develop it, and as
he sat in the sickroom cogitating the
matter the one thing upon which he
could lean with assurance was his
present unmistakable love for Amel-
ia
Later in the day when she aroused
from sleep and seemed brighter and
stronger, he permitted her to talk more
freely, and one or two things she said
were helpful in stilling the doubts that
he permitted to torment him. He went
TO her side the instant he saw that she
was awake.
How now?" he asked cheerfully
He observed the impulsiye move
ment under the coverlet that showed
how her hand had started toward his.
She did not put it out, for with grow
ing strength, self-consciousness was
beginning to manifest itself The
doctor, with a frank smile, reached
under the coverlet and grasped her
hand.
Il wish I were not your physician,
my dear girl" he said though should
be miserable if anyone else were priv
legged to care for you"
Why do you wish you were not my
physician" she asked
Because l am so tempted to depart,
l.