Warren sheaf., 1897-06-24

- Hce eolnp p!lce. MN
. M By G. H. BENNETT N 1sE
MG@GG@G@g@ G@:g@:@&G&gGM'
+ WAS sitting in MY consult groom
and wondering. I was young !, well
qualified and not wanting in g modicum
of fconidence inn professio a bilities,
! but for the services OF my umble self,
John Hardman, M. D., there seemed to
be no demand in all the great city. u
Ny melancholy meditations were cut
short by the din of my front door bell,
and presently a gentleman was nsheredl
into my presence. ,y N. e. u sss
CDR. Hardman,I belieye:!' % said the
newcomers ssAllow me to iii troduce my
self. am Mr. Thomas Sharp, of Rose
Villa. / live in your neig ghborhood.
After expressing my pleasure at mak-
ing his, acquaintance, inquired ifs I
could be Of any service to him. :5s
You are a busy man, expect, doc
tor" said he, and then paused, whilst
mendaciously limited that such was
the case. "But possibly you will be
able to find me a little time in pro-
fessional capacity 2"
could do so. <.t3 { y. stE-: " h 3 5s
We'll, / may tell you at .once,," he
went on. pleasantly, Il am as sound
as a bell myself, but wish to engage
your good services for my niece. She
is young, and inclined to be delicate,
II think, and wants little toning up,
and as 1 happen to know some particu-
lars about you and your career, entire
~ to your credit, I am going to place
her under your care + B ,ss ],
- put in a few hurried words, ex-
pressive of my pleasure in undertake
ing the charge, and was going on to
make some inquiries as to my patients
health and manner of life. but my vol
uble friend cut me short. ,i is
''You are the only son of & the late
John Hardman, of Blankley Hail, Z he
interrupted. II used to know your
part of the country, and ] know that
you are the only surviving member Of
that good old Hardman stock. Never
mind how came to know it. i also know
that your father came to grief over
the X------ x bank failure, and that it
has been an uphill game for you
in consequence. am pleased to see
how well you are now getting on ~
Mr.. Sharp continued to ramble on
in this strain for some time giving
me little informant ton about himself, !,
but to my astonishment revealing no
little knowledge Of my history. Our
meeting terminated very cordially, and
he departed after receiving my accept
ance of pressing invita- ton to dine
with him at Rose Villa on the following
evening. s5s al 81. 81 s#;s .s38 81
Rose Villa turned ont to be q very
charming and well-appointed domicile.
II had made few inquiries indirectly
through Polly (Polly was: my smart
little parlor maid and it seemed that
Mr.. Sharp was a gentleman of means,
with no ostensible profession, who had
been for about two years in his pres
ent abode. His niece, a young lady
Of taking appearance, in Polly's jopin:-
ion. was the only other member of the
household, and they were not favored
by many, if any, callers So much for
( amateur detective work. My early i'm inn
pressions Of Rose Villa and Of Grace
Farleigh, my lovely patient, were dis
tinctly pleasing. 55ss I'D /
Mr.. Sharp made a capital host; he
was CHEEKY and entertaining, and Miss
Farleigh a fair haired, blue-eyed, hand
some girl, was as gracious as she was
beautiful. She was an accomplished
musician, playing well and singing
with a,voice that for tone and sweetness
I. is rarely equaled in any subur ban draw
I aing-room. They gave me that pro-
nounced luxury, q really good dinner.
and / spent q most enjo oyable evening
afterwards. H 55s5 s.js5
Miss Fairleigh and became friends
almost at once. I was drawn towards
her as much by her half-veiled shyness
and maidenly manner as by her rich
beauty. That which appealed to my
curiosity in connection with my visits
to Rose Villawas my, inabil litys to HON
I Mr.. Sharp motive il hdxingS stained
my services for his niece She enjoyed
perfect health. s{'s5s \. 8s 5ssssS :.
u was requested BY Mr.. Shss,p to cal
daily, and e did 50 most con scientionsly;;
1 but that Miss Fairleig derived an Ben.
eft from my medicines if she took
them am not prepared to admit,
{ though 3 cheek, which was forcedsupon
sglne at an early date, was very accept