The Delta independent. [volume] (Delta, Colo.) 1886-19??, 1897-05-26

followed slowly in his walle. let.
ting the bay choose his own gait. Dr.
Banks proposition bad taken ne by
surprise; moreover. II had served %
rouse me to . realization of the eon,
pleteness with which my future vas
subject to the caprices Of fate. For the
present, to he sure, there WAS no cause
for anxiety; but . week might change
the situation completely. Suppose
Lamar should choose to depart; there
was no certainty tina: he would not
leave me behind. Suppose he should
die; it was hardly probable that I
should profit by any bequest. Suppose
his enemies should discover his retreat
and descend upon him; the result. 70 far
as I was concerned, would be the .ame.
This last danger seemed to be the leas.
imminent of the three, but II was as
well to reckon il in. I had been in his
pay for the better part of q year, but,
in reality, was my position improved
l had lived in comfort, free from the
cares which had burdeped me in the
city, 1 had accumulated few hundred
dollars, and physically l had been q
gamer by the removal to the country.
That was one side of the ledger. On
the other could be read loss of the lit
tie progress had made in my profes
sion, absence OF settled purposes Of any
sort, and q growth of that often disas.
trous docility which follows unQues-
tioning subjection to another's strong
will. Things could not 90 on - they
were indefinitely. Sooner or later the
end must come. And then? Was /
prepared TO devote myself to the narrow
field of q country practitioner. useful
and honorable as II was? Banks had
done me . great service; he had roused
me in most timely fashion; but the
awakening had been far from pleasant.
From habit my horse came TO u stand
still in front of the village post ofice,
and equally from habit l entered the
place and asked for my mail. Aletter.
. medical journal, and . newspaper
were handed out. and. mechanically
thrusting them into my pocket
walked to the buggy. climbed in. and
turned my nag's head homeward. Still
possessed by doubts and speculstions,
I rode to the farmhouse, and, reaching
1t, locked myself in my Office. there to
endeuyor to arrive at some conclusion.
to choose q way out of my uncertainty.
/ sat there for hours before / achieved
a decision, and it was hardly more than
n compromise. In justice TO DR.. Banks,
TO enter into permanent arrangement
with him. for eventually should seek
a more populous district; IL he cared
for temporary alliance, such terms as
Catching sight Of the Newspaper in
my pocket, I drew IL out, and. ~ did
10. the letter fell from Its folds to the
floor. 1 picked II mp and read the al
dress, written in . feminine hand. all
angles and straight lines, like the frame
work of n house, yet clear and legil,lc.
The postmark was New York. With
waxing curiosity. for my correspond
ence was extremely limited, ! broke the
seal.
MY dear DR.. Norris," the letter vsn.
my aunt, Mrs. Losing. desires - saA1>
whether II will be convenient for you
to receive her rs = patient, snd whether
rooms can b. secured for Us near your
Office. She has tried . number Of treat
ments since the voyage from Rio, but
none Of them has been Of marked bene-
fit TO her. She remembers gratefully
the success attending your ministra-
tions on shipboard, and feels confident
that your skill will bring her the relief
she has sought 10 long. She asks me to
add that this plan was in her mind wien
our chance meeting made II possible TO
secure your address.
"Yours very sincerely.
"D0RorMY GRAY"
Again and again I read these lines.
poring over them as joyously a. ever
did Egyptologistovcrf freshly discovered
mooted point. Out above the rest Of tho
letter stood two words, "for u.s." Mrs.
Loring's niece would hardly leave her,
but here was proof that both Of them
would come to Rodneytown. That !
could succeed In convincing the elder
lady that nothing serious allied her was
hardly possible; IL was quite on the
cards that after . month or two she
would depart in hun; but, in the mean
time-well, I didn't trouble myself
with the details Of that problcmaticai
period. The great central point Of in
terest was that for several weeks, at
least, Dorothy Gray and I would he
thrown together. For the moment
Lamar, Banks, and all my recent wor-
ries were forgotten.
'Mrs. Weston" said ], pouncine upon
. that good woman ~ she passed the
door Of the olncs, "please do me great
favor. l have IN old friend-patient, I
mean-who 10 anxious TO put herself
under my care. must find 4 boarding
place for her. Can't you take her in2''
swell, now, I'd real Ike TO, doctor.
but I amt got the room," she an.
swered. with kindly regret in her tone.
sua she all l,w hepne1fSw