The Elbert County tribune., 1900-03-22

enough. do not know who was the
most to blame. God knows. I'm will
ing to take my full share.
Thine passed on. You know the
world soon forgets such things or over
looks them. especially in professional
man with an assured position.
"In my practice and in society l met
many women-pretty, handsome, fasci-
mating and all that. but l never
thought OF falling in love with any of
them. Possibly was on my guard"
"Or. perhaps, doctor. you did not feel
at liberty to fall in love"
"Bosh! Few men are good enough
to question liberty when strongly in
clined to make love or be loved"
Doctor" warningly. you do not
mean what you say"
"Yes l do. You yet judge the world
Ideally. There's lot of talk about
mems unselfshness and nobleness of
purpose. Well. In the abstract it's all
right. We mean to do right. We often
think right, but tell you few men re-
main perfectly unselfish when 1t comes
to dealing with a weak woman, whom
he loves but should not. Not often does
stern path of duty. 1t does happen, of
course, but not one-half so often as
women lead men toward the straight
and narrow way. Every day we find
women uplifting and helping some
poor devil through his trouble. even
though she knows she must thus lose
him forever"
I'm not able to argue the matter
with you now. but how did your case
turn out? The grand finale. doctor.
Proceed"
zone morning | was called to see a
patient, a widow. they told me, who
had to teach for a living. She was an
insignificant little person, dressed In
black, and suffering acutely from a
neuralgic attack. She anxiously in
quired If 1t would keep her from her
work long. and I remember she had
very sweet voice. and felt pity that
one SO frail should have to battle with
the world all alone"
"And PHYS akin to love!"
Don't interrupt my story. / called
the next day and found her much i'm
proved, but palmer In looks than the
previous evening. / was called to the
house again several times profession
ally, and 1 grew to like her quiet ways
and to hear her talk. But as rar as
being seriously affected. that never en-
tered my head. | felt perfectly safe.
All, there's where men make mistakes'
They will laugh and enjoy themselves
in the company OF the popular beauty
or the fascinating coquette, but they
are always on the watch. SO to SPEAK
and leave It to some young, inexperi-
enced fool to get singed because ne
doesn't know the world we'll enough TO
keep at a respectful distance from tne
aliuring flame. The man of the worio
will pass through the galaxy OF VIII anu
beauty without a scar only TO iaii
hopelessly in love with some insignin-
cant person who cannot boast OF gooo
looks or wit. It's her way. her man
ner, and she becomes very part OF
his life ere he is half aware OF 1t. he
does not realize to what extent he is
enslaved until he attempts to break the
chain. But she usually breaks II ior
him. Duty is stronger than love with
such women"
"Oh, doctor. you are moralizins
again. What about your case?'
well, called there nonprofesslon-
ally afterward. She never seemed TO
realize I liked her or 1t was her was
interested in. We were seldom alone.
but one night. o ye gods; how well
remember 1t all. She was looking SO
sweet, but fragile and tired Well,
Just couldn't keep still any longer. So
told her my life. told her all. and
asked her to let me love and take caro-
Of her during the rest OF my life.