Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1896-10-01
|Before We're Married.|
BY HENRY G. PARKER.
By HENRY c. PARKER.


y =
DO, Mason" she pleaded. Il shall
feel so much better to be near YOU"
The doctor was almost tempted to
retreat. There was no doubt that his
mother would worry, and that she
would be more distressed at her own
home than if she remained with him;
but the thought of her staying longer
in the professors house was intoler-
able So he conducted her down stairs,
and said:
Il have told my mother to return
home"
He could not possibly frame any
polite phrases to convey this announce
ment. Mrs. Williams tried to express
her sympathy for the household in
view of the new distress that had
come to at11ict it, but her words were
faltering and incoherent.
Don't apologize. Mrs. Williams" in
terrupted the professor blandly. I'VE
are already under the greatest obliga-
tions to you, and we could not, Of
course, urge you longer to neglect your
own home. | have left the horse har-
messed, and will drive you as soon as
you are ready"
Mrs. Williams turned to her son,
alarm showing in her eyes
There is no need" began the
doctor.
"Oh. | insist upon it, exclaimed the
professor. Il know that Belmont wo-
men are accustomed to walking but
we can't permit it under the circum-
| stances, can we, Lou? Get your things,
dear and go with us
ut will be better to comply, mother
whispered the doctor, who knew that
no harm could come to his mother,
even if she went with the professor
alone. For herself. she felt perfectly
at ease with Louise along, and the de-
parture was, therefore, speedily effect
| ed
The doctor returned to the sick
room. He found Mrs. Appleton sitting
i near Amelia's bed as calmly as if she
! had been installed there as nurse by
his orders. He was surprised and dis
turbed Ihe very slight contact he
had had with her had not been suf-
fcient to give him an insight into the
character that underlay her reticent
demeanor, and it had not been enough
to dissipate sense of distrust that
her presence had aroused. Why was
she here now? The serving women
| had, naturally, been cognizant of
Amelia's disappearance, and they had
lowered about at the first, ready to
assist Mrs. Williams or carry out any
! Instructions of his own. After the
professor had gone with the prescrip-
! ton, they had returned to the base
ment, as it was evident that there was
nothing more required of them up
stairs.
She probably means we'll" thought
( the doctor, trying to disabuse his mind
of prejudice. His reason told him that
it was unfair to distrust everybody be-
cause of his or her association with
Fairview and the professor.
q shall remain with the patient
from now on, Mrs Appleton" he said
aloud.
! He did not care to have her in the
room, and yet he hesitated to ask her
to leave, having no ground for such a
request other than his aversion to her,
and he hoped she would voluntarily
4 leave. Mrs Appleton. however, took
up sock from a basket at her side
and began to darn it, without a word,
l Lo 4 4
night session
! The doctor went to the bedside and
stood there long time, looking at
| Amelia. Her condition aroused his
professional anxiety to an unusual de-
gree. He saw plenty of danger in the
case from natural causes, wholly aside
from any foul acts that might be con
templated by Professor Drummond.
He had done all that a physician could
do for the time being, and, when he
found his thoughts wandering from her
case in its technical aspects to her
strange situation in the professor
household, he withdrew to the further
side of the chamber and sat down.
What was to be done? Was the query
that rose imperatiyely and he recog-
nized that the necessity Of his staying
with the patient was fortunate in that
it gave him time to think.
To his discomfort it proved that he
could not think ahead His mind per
sistently reverted to what had been
and not to the study Of what was to be.
DR.. Williams was well nigh exhausted.
The apprehension with which he
awaited the inquest, the strain of en-
during the proceedings in the court
! room, his subsequent debate concern
ing his relation and duty to Louise,
his interview with her, all these, fol-
lowed by the passionate excitement at
tending the finding of Amelia, had left
him in any but a fit condition to plan
for the future. 1t was well that he was
still competent to think and act for
present emergencies.
Ii seemed TO him that the professor
and Louise were gone long time. His
mother could have walked to her home