St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1900-10-06
: THE WAY OF A CAD
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DON'T agree with you! I see
no obligation whatsoever. To be
quite frank"
He paused abruptly. He was actual
ly blushing; but the faint tinge faded
quickly from his cheeks and left them
unusually pallid.
s'Yes?" said Lieut.. Winston, encour-
agingly and quite unblushingly.
s'Oh, don't know." stammered the
other man. Are you really serious
If SO. you must be-pardon me for
saying so-either the most heartless
beggar / ever met or the most alb
surdly sensitive"
I'm other words. knave or a blith-
ering idot-eh. Metford. old chap?'
said Winston, cheerily.
Exactly. l hope it is only case
Of temporary insanity"
DR.. Metford was one of the ablest
of the younger physicians in the West
Esad of London; but, being also one
of the most stupidity modest of clever
men, his professional income barely
sufficed to pay the rental of his rooms
in Cover street. Some day he may
discover that it is possible to be over
modest and that inward self-deprecia-
ton leads to penury, and then he will
remove to Harley street and begin
to make progress towards affiuence.
Winston did not fail to observe the
Df - Enr
nor its quick disappearance, but he
gave no sign of recognition. Never
before had he seen his old college
chum look half SO handsome as when
that fleeting show of rosy color tinted
the mans cheeks, nor half SO pathet-
ically glum as when it vanished.
"She saved my life. think you will
admit that, doctor? How many wom-
en- would have taken the risks that
she took? Would any other woman
in the world have sacrificed herself
rs she did?"
ANY number of them!" declared
the doctor. sententiously. although q
fitting smile upon his face said:
"None of them. bless her!"
You medical men are utterly
heartless cynics." protested Winston,
struggling his broad shoulders.
"Utterly," admitted Metford.
'Now, / am SO unromantic as to at
tribute your recovery chiefly to your
cast-iron constitution, rafting good
physician-muss sound by own trum-
pet if you won't blow it for me-and
Old Nick's merciful consideration.
Your cup of iniquity is not yet quite
brimful; your liver and all the rest
of you, including your heart. is as
sound as bell!"
Il know well what / owe to you,
Metford, old chap!" said the GONZALES
cent in a grateful tone and with an
affectionate grasp of the biceps of
the doctors nearest arm. "You don't
appear to be aware of it. but you're
. long way the cleverest medicine
man in London. head and shoulders
above all the rest of 'em. II you
weren't such a confoundedly modest
beast"
''Skittles!" interjected his physi-
clan. in much confusion. You can't
think how hate that kind of talk!"
Nevertheless, / mean it. old chap!
Just you think the matter over seri-
cusly. Well, TO proceed: My sister
Jess says that Miss Wethered-who,
by the way. comes of tolerably good
stock-was very different from the or
binary professional nurse. and that.
during those weeks when my very
valuable life hung on a very slender
thread. she absolutely sacrificed her.
self to save me. My recovery. Jess
Eays, is due entirely to her devotion!
Not very complimentary to you. eh?"
Mrs. Trevelyan is modesty and
every other grace personified!" de-
clared DIR. Metford. $50 far as could
see. she sacrificed herself almost, il
not quite. as magnificently as-as the
paid nurse!"
BE that as it may" persisted Win
ston, Il have chatted the matter over
very seriously with my sister, and
she says. imprimis. that Mary Weth-
cred is. barring the wings. an angel;
secondly. that the said angel without
wings would make a jewel of a wife,
and thirdly and most troublesomely,
that l shall be the most ungrateful
beast on earth and stupidest o,d duff
fer it don't straightway let the lady
know l think so. Unfortunately. rs
1 protested to my sister and have ad-
mitted to you, l can't honestly say
that | am che least bit in love with
Miss Wethered. like her verv much.
you know. and all that sort of thing
possibly more than like any other
girl of my acquaintance-and have
reason to believe that she is not en-
tirely Indifferent to me, and that IL
] only"
The doctors lips curved scornfully,
fnvoluntarily. and glow of color
that was hardly blush suffused his
face.
And Jess tells me- continued the
young officer, imperturbably, that
! might do very much worse thing
than marry Mary Wethered. You
know. old chap, I've led a devil of
life in India and elsewhere! Ter
rible lot of racketing! We army
men, you know! So, you see, old fel-
low. l-er-oh-you know-I-well-
er-lo-e is for me = dream Of the
joyful past, and not q vision of the
future. Miss Wethered's knowledge
OF nursing might be invaluable to
me-
Aetford groaned andibly.
1t must not bel" he exclaimed. In
dignaAtly. ('.Shall not bel" he mutt
tered. inwar1ly.) You don't love the
girl. you have admitted it; You are
not half N fond of her a Of that
newest pup Of yourx" (.I would aie