The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1898-08-31

6harr's motive in having rera,neo
my services for hin niece. She en-.
Joyed perfect health.
was requested by Mr. Sharp to
call daily, and I did SO most consci.
endously, but that Miss Fairleipb
derived any benefit from my medi.
cines (if che took them) I am not
prepared to admit, though a check
which was forced upon me at an
early date was very acceptable, and
could not afford to quarrel with
my bread and butter.
Three months passed away. was
absurdly happy. suppose must
nave been "gone coon' from the
i1rst 1 know that was now over
head and ears in love with Grace.
and, although ! had not divulged nv
secret to her by an open proposal of
marriage, she was not ignorant as
to how matters stood with me from
q cardiac point of view; neither, as
rightly l gathered a little later, was
her uncle.
l was only waiting for looking
upward" in my practice to plead
my love with fervor and all the elo-
quenca l could command. But the
practice did not "look up" Indeed,
things financial were becoming
worse and worse with mo- Bills
rained down upon me with monot-
onous regularity, and / was becom-
ing desperate.
One evening after I had been din
ing with the Sharps my host invit-
ed me into his study for smoke. I
felt that something was in the wind,
and my surmisal was not incorrect.
"You are looking gloomy tonight,
Hardman. /" he remarked after we
had selected chairs and relapsed in
to comfortable attitudes. "You are
in trouble-in trouble financially,
eh9 I know it, and you will find it
to your advantage to be plain with
me-"
! hardly knew how to express my
self, and confessed lamely enough
chat was more or less on nv last
legs. He continued without COM
ment:
"You are also, think, in love
with Oracle. Is it not so9"
1T is quite true, Mr.. Sharp"
"Then why don't you marry
hera'
My companion gazed into my face,
q comical smile. playing about his
lips. His bluntnees positively
amazed me.
II fear that what cannot support
one would be @ poor living for two,"
said after moments thought. IF
Z could afford to marry your niece,
I would gladly do 80 tomorrow.
"You mean thati"
"Most certainly I do. I love her."
He arose from his chair and stood
beside me. looking into my eyes
steadily.
Listen, Hardman Oracle is a
lady by birth and education. She is
also as good girl as ever breathed.
She has no relations in the world
saving myself, and I may have to
leave her at any time. I have made
inquiries about you, and know
your past to be clean one. Given
o helping hand at the start, you
would succeed at the finish. Tell
me, how much would you require to
buy good practice or to start in
fair way against ordinary opposi-
tions''
1was becoming :noES aaa mere
astonished. Was the man going to
sdopt mes
1T would be possible to do the
thing decently for $4,000, would it
mott" he said presently, for had
felt too taken aback to volunteer
any suggestions. He waited fur a
reply.
81 could go into partnerahip with
an old friend Of my father for less
than that" answered. "Dr. Jor-
dan offered to give me a share for
81, soc When z passed my .anal,'
but I could not find the capital"
Where does jordan lives"
I'm birmingham
"Is the practice q good one and
can you trust himG''
There 10 no doubt about the prac-
tice. and Jordan is an excellent fell
low, an old bachelor, and if he had
not lost a lot OF money when we did
in the same concern would have
been rich man today"
Sharp laid heavy hand on my
shoulder.
go and ask Oracle to marry
you" he said In q low voice. ST am
sure that ahe viii 40 go. On your
wedding day will give her eS, 900,
and I will give you $4,000 tdmor-
row, with which youca ssttle your
affairs here and arrange with Jor-
dan. the condition being that you