Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1900-05-17

lanuSOlne young uOctOr III luke
town like this is an event not to be
overlooked. Henceforth 1 am an
invalid"
''Kate, let you and me become
nurses" suggested Nettie Sanborn.
''Helen, I'll dare you to go home,
make believe sick, tie up your head
and send for the doctor. 1t will be
rare fun" ventured Kate Upton.
"There isn't a soul at the house, so
the coast is clear. I'll do it, if you'll
go with me-"
agreed" responded both girls;
1--WE had no intention Of being left
out"
They were too intent on their fun
to notice the roguish twinkle in the
boys eyes, and he did not consider it
necessary to inform them that the
gentleman under consideration was
sitting in the druggists private Office,
hearing every word:
The doctor was wondering whether
he ought to be angry or enter into the
spirit of the joke.
"I'll 60" he decided as the messen-
ger summoned him to Judge Clark's
residence.
Helen was on the sofa among a pile
of pillows and made a charming in
valid in spite of the wet bandage on
her forehead. Her two friends were
full of sympathy.
''Such fearful headache, doctor; I
am almost wild; can't you do some
thing for it?" aud the blue eyes turned
to him pleadingly.
Every well DONE" was the young
mans mental comment.
He gravely felt her pulse, took her
temp erature and looked at her tongue.
"Your pulse is regular; your tenn
perature is normal" lie observed,
slowly.
"Helen, dear, didn't you say you
had palpitation Of the heart this morn
ing, just dreadfully?" inquired Kate.
This was too much for Nettie; with
smothered laugh she turned to the
window.
Helen did not answer, but sank back
on the pillows, closing her eyes.
The doctor leaned forward and
placed his ear over her heart. The
blood rushed to her face; she felt like
a culprit and was tempted to confess
and beg his pardon. But that would
never do. He would despise her tor
such a bold trick.
The physician looked thoughtful for
q moment.
"What will he say? Oh, I wish he
would co." sighed Helen to herself.
81 understand your case, Miss
Clark" he explained; sit is nothing
serious-you. will outgrow these at
tacks. 1 will leave a remedy which
will relieve your headache in a few
hours"
He opened his case and began pre-
pairing some powders in very pro-
fessional way, but slyly watching the
girls all the time
There" az he finished the last
powder, "take these every half hour;
they are harmless. You are suffering
from an acute attack of what the
French call 'mechancete. and he
bowed himself out.
"'Mechancete, quick, girls, get the
French. dictionary and see what this
terrible malady is that may outgrow!
Do you suppose he is stupid enough
to think L am very ill?"
81 believe he saw through it. I
never felt so mean in all my life," de-
clared Nettie, as she ran her forefnger
into the mech" column. "Here it
is. Oh, girls" and her face was scar
let; ''just read thatp
"Givc it to me-" cried Helen.
'Mechancete, roguish trick, naught-
iness," she read.
He will probably tell this" said
Nettie, "and before night this esca-
pade will be all over the town"
"Pll never speak to him again" ex-
claimed Helen. "Mechancete, indeedl
He's as mean as he can be-"
81 don't blame him one blt," pro-
tested Kate. "It shows his spirit
The following day Helen met the
doctor on the street.
Il trust Miss Clark has recovered"
he inquired, smilingly.
Perfectly, SIR" was the naughty
reply.
The winter, with its gayeties, passed,
anu everywhere Helen ignored him.
Once he tried to defend himself, but
she would not listen.
'If you were gentleman you would
not refer to the humiliating circum-
stances" was her reply, "and I will
never forgive you"
Helen, I think you treat DR.. Hops
kins shamefully," said Nettie. "I
used to think he was in love with you;
his eyes followed you about and had
such q panied look when you snubbed
him. p"
Nonsense! If he wants to make
a. idiot of himself am not to blame"
He won't bore you any more, my
sweet friend" assured Kate, "for he
10 to take Madge Stone to the lawn