The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1900-09-07

young mistress, whose pale face and
frightened eyes had not escaped her at
tention.
Sprague stood on the threshold in
evident embarrassment, looking from
Agnes to Chatham, and uncertain how
to act.
II fear l am intruding, Miss Muir
dock" he said at last; your maid
told me she thought you could re-
ceive me. Perhaps | would better call
again"
"No, no. Mr.. Sprague,' replied the
young girl, elfusiyely, coming toward
him with outstretched hands; 81 am
so glad to see you" And then, observ-
ing his inquiring glance toward
Chatham, 81 think" she added, cold
ly, that this gentleman has said all
that he has to say to me-"
Chatham's excitement had subsidized;
in the reaction. he seemed i'll and
weak and he nervously clenched his
tremulous right hand
81 will wait to see DR.. Murdock,"
he said, doggedly, in "A low voice.
"As you please" replied Agnes, aft
err a slight hesitation. MARY, show
Mr.. Chatham to the doctors study"
As the accountant followed the serv-
ant from the room. blank despair was
stamped in every feature, and it
seemed to Sprague, as the door closed,
that he heard something like con-
vulsive sob.
Unconsciously Agnes had chung to
Sprague's hand. Now, as the sense of
danger disappeared, she became
aware of what she was doing; and, in
sudden embarrassment, she with
drew her hand from his reassuring
clasp.
The artist, recalling the object of
his visit, at once became grave and
formal.
81 am sorry to intrude upon you at
this unconventional hour, Miss Muir
dock, but / found this letter in my
studio to-day. It was evidently
dropped by you yesterday; and.
thiEltng it mich: lie Important. L"
"A letter? What letter." asked
Agnes, puzzled.
Sprague held out the sealed envel-
ope. The young girl tore it open and
cast a hurried glance at it's contents.
Then suddenly. understanding. she
tore the paper TO shreds and threw
these angrily INTO the fire which
burned brightly in the large open
fireplace
"Oh, that" she exclaimed. con
temptuously And then after pause:
do you mean to say You thought"
She stopped short, seized by a sud
den shyness.
"What else could l think?" said
Sprague, softly.
lie was watching the fragments of
paper as they tiared upon the hearth.
The flame which consumed them
seemed to shed radiant glow upon
his heart.
"Then," he added, presently, and
still more softly, "if there is nothing
between you and-and lim-perhaps-
perhaps | may hope-Miss Murdoch
Agnes"
His hand sought hers and found it.
But the reaction had come at last.
ana the brave girl who had been able
to control herself in the presence of
threatening mailman now gave way
to fit of hysterical weeping.
Sprague, not being a medical man,
could hardly have known what rene
dies to employ in an emergency of this
kind. AL hc did was to whisper sooth-
ing words i'm the Young girls ear and
TO kiss the tears from her eyes. But
apparently that was enough. Evident
~ for layman he must have possessed
considerable medical intuition; for.
after sobbiug awhile upon his shout
der, Agnes quoted down gradually and
remained contentediy nesting in his
arms, while the artist. doubtless fear
full of a relapse, continued. for per-
haps an unnecessarily long time, TO ply
the treatment whose effect had pro-
duced upon his patient so marked, so
rapid, and so satisfactory a result.
The attention OF the medical profess
sion is respectfully called to a treat
ment which, though empirical, may
possibly possess specific virtues.
Ns>N'.>' So 80 a. ~ ~.