The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-02-26
Just an E pisode.
From Chambers Journal In Four Parts.
PART H.

! Il L .
PART H.
was much disturbed by PrisciIIa's an
nouncement; but when the carriage
stopped resoluteIy put all thoughts of It
away. giving TO my days work the atten-
tion l loved TO bestow. 1t was always
pleasant TO me to see the Frightening o.
a weary face when 1 entered a sick room,
or to give relief when a delicate case of
SUI gerry demanded all my care and skill.
! That morning 1 had large number Of
! patients to visit, and it was past the usual
| time when I turned into the drive Of my
! own house, to see those who, l knew,
would be awaiting me there.
Arrived in the counting-room, glanced
down the list which my man had put on
the table. The first name on it was that OF
General Miller. 1 rang the bell for him TO
be shown in
a few moments later and Harris quiet
step crossed the hall; but instead of an
houncing the general, whom I rose to re-
ceive, he said: Miss Miriam. sir" and re-
tired
And there before me, in defiance of my
strict rule prohibiting members of my
household from intruding on my profess
sfonal time, stood Mimsy, in all the glory
Of full riding costume, her face flushed
with the consciousness of her wrongdoing,
and with eyes sparkling with mischief.
Sure, thin, docther darlint," said she,
with fine Irish brogue put on for the
occasion, its myself that's very i'll. An
will We be prescribin' for me now?"
Then, catching sight Of my face as I
stood silent, severely displeased, she
changed her tone:
'Oh, yes, 1 know. But it's all right. 1
listened for the bell, and bounced on Har-
ris, and made him show me in"
Their she tried coaxing.
4 do want a few moments of your time,
Guardy. And you can make me pay for it,
you know. Send in your bill, as you do TO
your other patients"
I took no notice of this intense rudeness.
People who live in constant daily inter
course with you sometimes permit them
selves to say things which the less init
mate would not say. 1t is the contempt
following familiarity.
well, make haste.'' I said, with more
asperity than | felt, Withdrawing my hand
which she had seized in her slim fingers,
Il have a roomful of people to see, and
my time is precious"
Il hate patients!" she exclaimed en-
phatically. If 1 married a doctor 1 would
offend them all. Everything has to give
way to them-horrid things
] made a gesture of impatience.
Il wonder if you viii ever grow up
Miriam" 1 said. How very young she
was,
Suddenly she went TO the point.
You see, Guardy it's just this. Harry
asked last night if he might ride with me
this morning; and Priscilla says / must
ask you if you approve Of so much scam
pering over the country with Harry, and
so-and so''-lamely. ''WelI. that's all,
GUardy."
All. indeed, I restrained a desire to take
her by the shoulders and put her out of
the room. Wasting my time for this! And
vet, after all, it was right that she should
come to me right, if Harry loved her..
that he should have a chance of telling
her so. And why rot now? Harry was
twenty-four, a fine, honest, straightfor-
ward young soldier, likely TO rise in his
profession, as he said, and devoted to
Miriam
The question is, Do you like Harry to
ride with you?' asked nervously, vague
ly wondering, the while, why ] was so
nervous. I had made up my mind that
morning, most decidedly, that Miriam was
not for me; therefore she might be for
Harry. if they both so chose"
Oh. yes, darling" frankly. 81 am so
-
ful and full Of fun. And we tear along at
such a pace that poor old Jenkins gets
quite pufTed. A gallop with Harry is
perfect delight, Guardy."
Yes. that was it-"so bright and cheer
full and full of fun" just suited to one
another, in fact.
Very well. then, off you go with
Harry" I said, with as much grace as I |
could command; for well 1 knew that, |
with my consent conveyed to him through |
Priscilla. Harry would lose no time in |
coming to the point. l felt instnctively |
that this mornings ride would decide |
NIimsys fate-and mine. Yet why mine? |
had given up all thought of winning her !
myself much as l loved her. l was not |
going to ask her to love an old fogy like |
ne other than as she did already-as !
child would love its father. Had I not /
settled it once for all? And my time being |
wasted like this, too! l must get rid of |
ler at once And yet, as she stood there |
before me, in all the flush of her youth |
and beauty. I would have given worlds to |
nave kept her my little child-ward for |
sver. But it could not be. (Stifle down |
your regrets, you medical man Of middle |
age! Think of marrying some one who |
viii love your parents for the money they /
.epresent. and rule your house with the /
wisdom of the worldD
I took my courage in both hands. I drove
Iimsy from the room and shut the door /
lpon her, and rang the bell for General |
Miller with unaccustomed violence who /
owed quietness and repose. and impressed |
he practice Of those virtues upon my
General Miller was suffering from q poi
;oned finger; and as it had been necessary
or me to perform a slight operation, he
anne now to have the wound dressed. l
urned my whole attention TO the matter
n hand as soon as ne entered the room.
would not allow myself to think of any
hing else And when the horses came
round. past my window and I heard
,IInsy's voice saving, NO, Harry; Jen-
tins will put me up" bent over the poor
Iiscolored finger before me. and touched
t very tenderly. But. though I would not
ook up. ] could not shut my ears to the
halter going on at the han door, and l
vas glad when the sounds grew fainter,
Until at last. in the distance. they grad
tally died away.
Hope For Adam Vet.