The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1897-06-25

ofconfidencelnm my professional abilities,
but for the services OF my humble self,
John Hardman, VI. d., there seemed 10
be no demand in all the great city.
My melancholy meditations were cut
short by the din of my front door bell,
and presently gentleman was ushcred
into my presence.
"Dr. Hardman, / believer" said the
newcomer. "Allow me to introduce my
self. i am Mr.. Thomas Sharp. of Rose
Villa. live in your neighborhood."
After expressing my pleasure al max
ing his acquaintance, l inquired If /
could be of any service TO him.
You are 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 "A pro-
fessional capacity?"
| informed him that, of course,
could do so.
well, j may tell you at once" he
went on, pleasantly, II 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
/ think. and wants little tonng up.
and as ] happen to know some particu-
lars about you and your career. entire
ly to your credit. am going to place
her under your care
| 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.
You are the only son of the latc
John Hardman, of Blankley Hail." he
interrupted. Il 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. also know
that your father came 10 grief over
the " bank failure, and that il
has been an uphill game for YOU since.
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 information about himself.
but to my establishment revealing no
little knowledge of my history. Our
meeting terminated very cordially. and
he departed after receiving my accept
ance of pressing invitation TO dine
with him at Rose Villa on the following
evening.
Rose Villa turned out to be very
charming and well-appointed domicile
! had made few inquiries indirectly
through Polly poly was my smart
little parlor maid). and it seemed that
Mr.. Sharp was gentleman of means.
with no ostensible profession. who had
been for about two years in his pres
ent abode. His niece. young lady
Of taking appearance. i'm Pollys opin-
ion, was the only other member of the
household. and they were not favored
by many. any. callers. So much for
amateur detective work. My early inn
pressions of Rose Villa and of Grace
Farleigh. my lovely patient. were dis
tinctly pleasing.
Mr.. Sharp made a capital host: he |
was CHEEKY and entertaining and Miss |
Farleigh, fair-haired, blue-eyed. hand |
some girl. was as gracious as she was |
beautiful. She was an accomplished |
musician, playing well and singing |
with voice that for tone and sweetness |
is rarely equaIed in any suburban draw
lng-room. They gave me that pro-
nonnced luxury, really good dinner,
and | spent n most enjoyable evening
afterwards.
Miss Fairleigh and became friends |
almost at once. / 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
% Rose Villa was my inability to fathom
Mr.. Sharp's motive in having retained
my services for his niece She enjoyed
perfect health.
! was requested by Mr.. Sharp to call
uaiiy, and did SO most conscientiously;
but that Miss Fairleigh derived any ben
eht from my medicines (if she took
them), | am not prepared to admit.
though check, which was forced upon
me at an early date, was very accept
able, and could not afford to quarrel
with my bread and butter.
Three months passed away. Twas alb
surdly happy. ! suppose must have
oeen gone coon" from the first.
Know that was low over head and ears
al love with Grace, and. although had
not divulged my secret 10 her by an
open proposal of marriage. she was not I
ignorant as to how matters stood with
Me from cardiac view. neither, as | {
rightly gathered little later, was her ,
uncle.
was only waiting for ''looking up !,
Marus IN my practice, to plead my love
WIN iervor and all the eloquence could |
:. .o'nmand. But the practice did not
'ook up Indeed, things financial ,
ere becoming worse and worse with :
, Bills rained down upon me with I
onotonous regularity, and / was be-
coming desperate.
r' me evening, after / had been dininr
,n I'm ,he sharps, my host invited me !
~, , ms study for smoke. felt that !
N