Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1899-06-28
CHAPTER XIII

which j. also his surgery, cOmpOundlng
some mixture for the benefit of his pa
tients and thinking deeply the while.
More than once he has spoilt the mix
ture he is brewing by adding wrong
Quantities TO it, and had to throw the
whole mess away. His hrows are con-
tracted. and every now and then he pushes
his glasses up to his forehead and rubs
his eyes in a puzzled and perplexed man.
ner rs though he would make his mental
sight clearer
He is engaged in this way when Ga
brielIc pushes the door open. and. finding
her father alone walks boldly into the
surgery.
"You there, my bird:" says the doctor,
peering ut her above his spectacles; why
are You not off to your convent? 1t is
past nine
YES. papa: know, but I waited to see
yUu: ! thought you might be coming up
stairs again, papa; l wanted to ask you
something very particular-somethins
about Angus!'
Gabrielle. did Angus Moray accom-
pany you home from the convent yes
terdayT'
He did, papa!
"Wcll. you must discontinue the prac-
tice. You must not walk with Angus
any more from to-day. Do you under
stand meF'
''Yes. papa, only-if-if-"
"If what? / cannot have my daughte.
talked about because she walks out with
a young man who is no relation to her"
''Fricite Duprez walks out with Ernest
Haure whenever she feels inclined" says
Gabrielle. in a low voice.
They are fiancees. That makes all the
difference"
But if-if-" falters poor Gabrielle
again. ''if / were fiancee to Angus,
papa
Gabrielle" says DIR. de Blois. walking
up 70 the girl and looking her straight in
the eyes. You will never be fiancee 70
Angus Moray. You must understand that
plainly. / have let you see a great deal
of one another because you have played
together from childhood, but now that
You are growing up it must be altered. l
will not have your name linked with his.
/ have other views in the future for you
Very good. papar' says the poor child,
sorrOwfully, she turns away and COM
mences her walk to the convent.
Meanwhile Angus is walking with a
jauBty. not to saw, ,-rrrti 1ept alrs IN Tue Oh
rection Of the DOCTORS dwelling.
DIR. de Blois is still in his consulting
room as Angus taps lightly at the half
opened door with his cane, and then,
without further preamble, steps into the
room The young man, he stands
there with his handsome features flush
ed by excitement, in light gray suit
almost bridal in his dandyism-and a
rose in his buttonhole, makes so pleas
ant picture that the doctor forgets for
a moment what he has to say to him, and
recalls it with bitter sigh.
7 IN, Snr a "a
see"
Certainly. Angus. You are early this
morning. my boy-anything unusual going
on AT the ofIice?''
NO, everything concerned with it goes
as smoothly as possible, thanks to the
character the good able was pleased to
give me- You have heard, have you not.
that | have been selected to lay the new
line Of railway between this and the Wal
ION: 1t is an excellent appointment, and
will bring me in nearly double pay during
the period it will occupy. DR.. de Blois,"
impetuously continues Angus, "dO not
think me presumptuous; but will you,
who have in your hands the choice of Ga
brieIles husband, choose me to fill that po-
sitiOn: She is not too young to love me
for she has told me so.'
The doctor tries to affect surprise at
this appeal but signally fails to do so.
He is no actor, so he only knits his brows
fercely together and says:
You have mentioned the subject, then,
to my daughter"
Forgive me, / could not help it."
angus" says the doctor slowly, II
cannot give you my daughter
You will not give me Gabrielle" cries
Angus Moray, in real distress.
Il cannot There are reasons, many
and grave which render such a marriage
impossible"
Has it anything to do with my in
Gomez
Nothing whatever! never coveted
riches for my child"
rs it my character, them
mo. Angus. No one has word to say
against that in Bruges, or elsewhere"
What is the mystery. then? 1 am
young, active and healthy, and love her
like my life"
Poor boy! poor children says the
doctor. viping away something very like
tear, Il feel for you both deeply. But
will never give you Gabrielle. l will
shut her up in a convent first"
AT least you might tell me on what
score ! am condemned.''
Ask your mother"
Does she know
'SEn ought to. If not. she cannot fail
to gIrs>. Angus, my dear boy, do not
h'am" H.e too much for this. l am shock
ed, gricved and upset by it all. If. with
clear conscience toward myself, and
Others. | could give you my daughter, l
would do so gladly. There is no one
"onId sooner embrace as a son than your
SELF. But | owe duty to my family,
And To the sainted dead. which"
Enough. DIR. de Blois!' says the young
man, Strengthening himself to his full
neight. Il understand your insinuatiOn,
thouSh | have no notion of the cause of
IT, and my mother have been consid
cred good enough for you to associate
with and make use of when it suited
your convenience to do so; but when it
comes To question of uniting the f;Nni-
ieS hy marriage. You profess to think us
beneath yourselves. because. l presume.
we came to Bruges without our pedigree
IN our hands, and have taken no trouble
10 boast of it since. But l would have
!oh know. DR.. de Blois that the name o.
moray stands as high in its own country
perhaps a great deal higher-than that
vi 'e Blois in Belgium. feel the slight
!ou nave cast upon my mothers connec-
Iohs and my own more deeply still; and
snail never forgive il nor forget it to
my dying dayv
ana with this poor Angus, unable long
er 10 trust his voice or his eyes. rushes
abruptly from the surgery into the open