Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1900-05-08
XVIII.

ing III love, ttuu pEeCculuS tllo CJltlCill
moment when the object of alteration
confesscs her sentiments Of reciprocity
or declares the wooing to have been in
vain, maintain their clearness OF under
standing, their evenness of temper, and
their soundness of Judgment. 1t is
conceivable, Iadmit, thatsuch incentive;
but it has never been my lot to enjoy
the privilege of acquaintance with one
of them. l do not mean that when love
flies in at the window common sense
rushes out at the door; but DO hold
that the newcomer is prone to exert,
throughout that period of storm and
stress, semi-paralyzing influence
over the old tenant, making him sadly
untrustworthy ut times when the de-
mands upon him are greatest. There
fore 1 regard myself as no exception to
the general rule-general, that is, SO
far as my observation goes-in having
followed irrational courses and behaved
erratically during three weeks or more
of dissatisfaction, uncertainty, and
doubt. For one of them made myself
miserable through jealousy Of the man
Dorothy's aunt had been pleased to
make her guest. Without shadow of
proof to support the fabric of srecula-
ton laboriously built up, contrived
to persuade myself that he was a rival,
favored, of course, for his wealth and
position. Even from his hnsty depar-
ture I gained little comfort The buga-
boo, once installed, was not to be over
thrown by such trife. Full OF
gloomy forebodings, waited for news
that he would return, plotting, in my
more cheerful intervals, wild schemes
for turning his triumphant reappear-
ance into a by-word and mockery.
Once / caught myself reading with vast
approval summaries of famous cases in
a textbook on toxicology. The vol
ume had been picked up hap-hazard, but
It's terse account of several noted mat
ters caught my fancey, and read on
until some noise about the house, in
terrupting my recreation, brought me
to realization of the righteousness
of the performance = for there were
still moments when could understand
that was playing the fool. Perhaps,
also, the plea might be entered that at
this time was u victim of recurrence
Of my old perpleNities, recent events
having served again to force them upon
me with even greater vividness than
before.
The jealous fit was ended by y letter
which the late visitor sent from New
York to Mrs. Loring. In 1t he ex-
pressed deep regret that circumstances
his visit. Business, he explained, called
him abroad. and before the mis-.
sive reached her he would be well on
his way to Liverpool. heard the news
with decent effort at an appearance
of regret, and from that moment had
more friendly impression regarding
the gallant colonel.
1t had been my intention to speak of
him to Lamar, rather because of his;
BRAZILIAN interests, of which my client
might know something, than because
of his morning cruise about the chan
nels Oh the marsh or the abrupt termin-
alton of his stay. Mrs. Loring's ac-
count of the colonel's manner of life in
dictated that he was chronic tourist.
with no very active concern in happen
ings in his own country, SO long as they
did not interfere with his sources of
revenue. One thing after another,
however, occurred to preventa mention
of him. One day Lamar was busy
with his experiments; the mex, for
some reason of his own, he cut short
our talk; the next he was back in his
u M
tunity was offered to tel; my bit Of
news, its value appeared to haze been
lost through staleness, and, in the end,
fresher topics took its place when
Lamar showed a willingness to indulge
in brief gossip. So it happened that
he heard nothing of the incident which
had caused me so many hours of un.
necessary perturbation.
Jones, meanwhile, had been making
steady progress, and, while Banks and
saw him daily, there was little need
of our attendance. We learned that
he would leave the neighborhood as
soon as his removal could be attempted
with safety, but he told us nothing
further of his plans. tried OCCASION
ally to lead him to speak of his reasons
for coming to Rodneytown, but he was
reticent, and I had to be content with
the explanation given by Lamar.
Dorothy Gray came often to read to
him, and he manifested much graft
tude for her kindness; but even 10 her
he would say next to nothing of his
history or his projects.
q CT ed, Y
recovery from the sprain had gone far
enough to enable him to circulate in his
old fashion among his patients, and my
duties as bis coadjutor were ended. He
was beginning, though, to renew his
discourses about his desire to secure !;
partner and practically to retire, and ii
was clear that he would soon make me
direct offer. It was only fair that
should prepare to give definite answer,
but l realized that my plans were even
more unsettled than ever. There was
q new disturbing element in the situa-
ton. Could but foretell what Dorothy
would answer were certain question
put to her, then DR.. Banks might be
answered, In turn, SO soon rs he chose
to speak. But what would the young
lady say?
Yes, what would she say? Truly 1
was fur from sanguine. Icould find no
reason for confidence, in spite of many
soulful efforts to discover one. We were
the best Of friends; we were together
daily, sometimes for hours at u time;
we read together, walked together,
and drove together. We had interests