Omaha daily bee., 1899-11-19

dimly to my failing senses. THAT was my
main object in sending for him."
Dead to irony Mrs Hoskins took this able
stab in good part and with loose motion
of her thumb beckoned me to follow her as
she approached the dainty white bed. For
a full moment as 1t seemed, stood in hang
dog uncertainty, and then, as the woman
glanced back in surprise, l followed her,
with sinking at my heart which seemed
really dangerous to its safety. For a long
time, as 1t seemed, walked and walked. Then
curtain moved aside, someone held up a
smoky lamp at a better angle, and / saw-I
shall never forget it-I saw before me one OF
the most charming women l had ever beheld
or have ever since beheld. do not say that
she was pretty; / did not get that far.
passed the analytical stage at single
bound. But knew she was charming, with
her crisp, dark hair curling about her flushed
cheeks, her spare little chin surmounted
with scarlet lips and the sauciest little nose
that ever dehed humanity In general. How
she was dressed l cannot say, only that 1t
was in something pink much the color of
the bed hangings, and think it was made up
baggy, though that isn't exactly the word for
1t either. Her eyes were closed, for which /
was humbly grateful for had she looked at
me during those first dreadful moments she
Somebody showed a chair under me and
l sat down gratefully, for my knees were
shaking beneath me; and then. feeling that
the eyes OF both Brown and Mrs. Hoskins
were upon me, realized that l must imme-
diately do something to sustain my profess
eional role. / must question them, that was
plain; but what to ask! On the rare occa-
sion when ] had been indisposed, back in
my boyhood days, 1t had always been an
overloaded stomach that had played havoc
with me, and 1t was really the only part of
the human anatomy l felt up on; but was
to hint at indigestion with this fairy-lik
creature before me? Never! 1t was not to
be thought Of Her nerves? Happy thought!
What could be safer topic than the nerves
OF any woman? But for all that my voice
sounded hoarse with embarrassment and |
approached the subject with timid delicacy
that would have admitted me, without
chaperon, into the very heart OF any nunnery
eXtant.
'Has-has the young lady exhibited any
degree Of nervous excitement within the last
few days?" / faltered. mot that | wish to
intrude"-but here. fortunately, the loqua-
cious Hoskins cut me short before the mis-
cradle ending OF my speech had fairly es-
capped my traitor lips.
She had been dreadful Uneasy like" she
broke forth loosely, her eye rolling nerv-
ously at Brown, who was standing, grim
and statuesque, beside us. But young
wimmen is that way, you know, mostly; it's
the mater OF them. / was given to them
spells myself some before"
The doctor will attend to your symptoms
later on Mrs. Hoskins" broke in Brown
frostily. "Please favor my niece's case with
your entire attention at present"
And her appetizer" asked hastily. HAS
It been quite normal; or has she grown
caprice in that also?"
l was getting quite proud OF my cross ex-
animation. and a growing confidence lent me
some majesty OF bearing. 1t was evident
that not the faintest suspicion Of fraud had