The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1900-04-20

He would despise her for such bold
trick.
The physician looked thoughtful for
a moment.
"What will he say? Oh, wish he
would CO." sighed Helen to herself
IL understand your case, Miss
Clark" he explained; "it is nothing
serious-you will outgrow these at
tacks. l will leave a remedy which
will relieve your headache in few
hours"
He opened his case and began pre-
pairing some powders in 4 very profess
sional way, but slyly watching the girls
all the time.
"There," as he finished the last pow
der, stake these every half-hour; they
are harmless. You are suffering from
an acute attack of what the French
call 'Mechancete,'" and he bowed him.
self out.
"'Mechancete, quick, girls, get the
French dictionary and see what this
terrible malady is that l may outgrow!
Do you suppose he is stupid enough to
think am very ill?''
II believe he saw throughlt. nev-
er felt so mean in all my life," declared
Nettie, as she ran her fore6nger down
the "Mech" column. "Here it is. Oh,
girls" and her face was scarlet; ''just
read that!''
"Give it to me- cried Helen. "'Me-
chancete, roguish trick, naughtiness,"
she read.
"IIe will probably tell this" said
Nettie, "and before night this esca-
pade will be all over town."
"I'll never speak to him again." ex-
claimed Helen. "Mechancete. indeed!
He's as mean as he can be-"
II don't blame him one bit" protest
ed Kate. at shows his spirit"
The following day Helen met the
doctor on the street.
II trust Miss Clark has recovered"
he inquired, smiling.
''Perfectly, SIR" was the naughty
reply.
The winter, with its gayeties passed
and everywhere Helen ignored him.
Once he tried to defend himself, but
she would not listen.
"ltyou were gentleman, you would
not refer to the humiliating circum-
stance" washer reply, "and will new
er forgive you"
"Helen, l think you treat DR.. Hop
kins shametully," said Nettie. IL
used to think he was in love with you
his eyes followed you about and had
such panied look when you snubbed
him"
''Oh, nonsense! If he wants to
make an idiot of himself am not to
blame"
'He won't bore yon any more, my
sweet friend" assured Kate, "for he
is to take Madge Stone to the lawn
party tonight. Aren't you ashamed
to leave him to the mercy of that
freckled little thing, after he saved
your life with his sugar powders?" and
Kate laughed merrily.
All the town was at the lawn party;
it was an annual affair given for the
benefit of the public library and soci-
ETY. attended in its best. Helen was
not her usual merry SELF She sat in
a leafy corner of the arbor away from
the crowd. Why did it annoy her
that DR.. Hopkins should be attentive
to Madge? Why was she unhappy?
She would not allow herself to think of
him. Had she not said again and again
that she hated him?
"Miss Helen," said a voice, which
she knew we'll and whose tones sent
the color to her cheeks. "You look
lonely"
~ am not. l prefer solitude, some
times, at present, for instance"
He sat down beside her.
"Pardon me if intrude; but l in
sist on knowing why you treat me so
rudely. You will not even be friends,
and" his voice was low and tender,
II have even dared hope we might be
more If you will only give me a
chance"
"Excuse me, doctor, l fear | shall
take cold in this corner" and she fed
into the house.
That night the people were reused
by cries oil fire and shrill tones of the |
alarm; the fire service was inefficient
and the citizens lent helping hand.
No one was braver or more helpful
than the young doctor; he feared no
risk and needed no caution.
In his attempt to save child from
the flames he was struck by the fall
ing timbers and they carried his un-
concious form to Judge Clark's home I
nearby.
"Is it fate or Providence?' Helen
thought as she offered to watch beside
him while her father summoned DR..
Goodspeed.
"What if he dies?' she moaned. The |
doctor opened his eyes slowly. What
made him so weak? Why this pain in
his arm? He could not move it Where
was he? Was that Helen Clark? He