Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1896-09-24
|Before Were Married.|
BY HENRY c. PARKER.
Bv HENRY c. PARKER.

or not, could he be held in subsection
by love, and the doctor, whatever he
knew, would be discountenanced from
any future revelation by the stand he
had taken.
This reasoning, of course, was some
what at variance with the professors
convictions as he returned home. for
he had then dismissed Philbrick as a
probable danger, but as Prof Drum-
mond stood before his daughter and
reviewed the situation rapidly 1t
seemed best to regard Philbrick in that
light, and perhaps after all it was bet
ter that Louise fancied him rather than
the doctor 1t would not do, however,
to proceed to a definite course of action
until he had been able to sound both
men carefully, so he said to Louise:
We'll, my child, much as had
hoped that you We're pleased with At.
Williams, l would not Willingly oppose
, the dictates of your heart. We will
talk no more about it now, but | must
ask you not to take any final step with
out consulting me, The time may come
when | shall want YOU to reconsider
the matter with the doctor"
Il am not exactly displeased with DR..
Williams, papa" responded Louise, i'm
ensely relieved by the turn the con-
versation had taken, Il think he is
very nice, but
Bat" the professor finished for her,
there's somebody else. Wen, let us
wait and See
Yes, there was somebody else and
that somebody was. of course, the en-
tertaining Mr.. Philbrick. But for his
advent the doctor might have won his
suit, for Louise was as near to loving
him as she had ever come to the divine
passion Even when she postponed
her answer to the Doctors question on
the day of Philbrick's adventure in the
/ Miniski, she had done so with trace
of apprehensive regret. Weak natures
love compromises and Louise had been
highly pleased with the compromise
she had effected with the doctor, for
by it she retained her hold on him,
while she also remained at liberty 20
! sport with Philbrick.
/ There had been no seriousness at first
in her regard for him. He was fasci-
mating, it is true; that is, she found him
4 So but it was fascination of the sort
that tempted to Irritation, not to pro-
found attachment. Louise had set her
heart on humbling Philbrick, as she
had humbled the doctor when he told
hnt, ph1 hn Epl oil N,,, .Nf
! ways she had tried to tease him into
some reference to that matter so tnat
she could eXtort confession of his
share in it. She had often pictured
herself calling hot bushes to his
cheeks, and she had cherished many a
day dream of the scene that would en-
sue when at last he would make his
declaration.
Philbrick had not declared. He had
been assiduous in his attentions, and if
1 love needed for its telling no more than
/ languorous signs and admiring glanCes
or even hasty pressures Of the hand in
passing. he had proclaimed his passion
hundred times, but when Louise gave
opportunity for words Philbrick had
them not to utter. There seemed to be
. on ditfdence on his part though Louise
presumed that a trace of that might lie
deep in his nature somewhere; it was
more as if he were determined to make
absolutely sure of his ground before
speaking, thing not so easy when Il
girl is Vivacious pretty, teasing, prob
ably an heiress and a man has known
her less than two weeks.
The upshot of it all was, therefore
that from a mere game of pleasure, the
chase, SO far as Louise was concerned,
had become wholly serious. She loved
Philbrick so much that she admitted
the fact TO herself, and that is saying
a great deal Now she waited with
feversh anxiety for him 10 speak, and
If she had not been more ready in dis
missing the doctor it was because she
had felt that he might be useful to her
some day in stimulating Philbrick to
utterance by pretense of favoring Or.
/ Williams.
Such, then was the situation in
hearts so far as Louise was concerned,
doctor and his mother in the ulning
room. Mrs. Williams had glanced at
her son when he entered. and instantly
bent again over her work
She won't have him. thought the
mother; foolish girl! My unhappy
boy The only comfort is in the future
for 1t is all but certain that Louise
would not make such a man perma-
nently happy"
Shall l call Amelia, papa" ashed
Louise, anxious fer an excuse TO get
out of sight, II only for a minute. Din
ner was ready, and all but Amelia
were at hand.
NO" responded the professor. "I'n
call her myself"
The others sat at the table while he
went ND stairs. The door to Amelia's
/ room was locked, just as he had left
it. Accordingly be turned the key and
knocked loudly.
"Ameliar' he called, dinner is ready