Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1900-04-27

said to the girl. For the next two
hours you must be entirely under my
orders. Will you promise?"
'Yes," she answered, mechanically.
'Then, first of all, get a hat and wrap,
and rejoin mo here as quickly us you
can"
Without question she obeyed, return
ing to find me equipped with pipe and
tobacco-pouch and awaiting her. We
passed through the gate, and turned
into the road leading to the village.
with your permission I'll light this
pipe" observed.
She nodded absently, though doubt
If she understood word had said.
Tobacco" I resumed, after pause,
in the course of which pleasant glow
had been created in the bowl of the
pipe, 'is wonderful agent of comfort.
1t surprises me sometimes that only
one sex hereabouts enjoysits blessings.
Both of us have seen or heard of coun-
tries where the ladies blow clouds with
I'LL the grace imaginable. Why not in
troduce the fashion hcre?"
She looked up at the question, but
made no reply.
There was preceptor of mine," l
went on, "who made study Of the eff
fects of nicotine, and who wrote some
very able pamphlets on the subject.
Among other things, he proved, to his
own satisfaction, that even the moder-
ate use of tobacco impaired memory,
injured the vision, and caused various
other ills. He got to be an extremist
Mt last, putting the weed undera sweep
ing ban. But all through his life no
factory chimney smoked more indus
triously than he. Finally some of his
associates cornercd him, and demanded
why he didn't follow his own advice.
lid be stultifying myself if did,
said he, coolly.
How3' asked the inquisitors in
chorus.
Isn't 1t the first duty of q man to
obey his physician?'
Certainly they admitted. But
you won't Let your patients smoke
"'Of course / WON'T said he. 1T
isn't good for 'em. But Jimmy Bangs
Is my doctor; at least he's called in
when anybody's sick ut my house.
"'Well?' said they.
so he's my family physician, you
see. quoth the specialist; and he
doesn't believe that tobacco ever hurt
anybody
Come" I persisted, after waiting in
vain for her TO speak. what do you
think of my old preceptor?"
Il hardly understood the story" she
answered, with an effort.
We'll, it's true tale" said ], "and
therefore I'll repeat it,"
This time she heard it all.
DO doctors often reason SO logical
ly?" she asked.
Sometimes they do. Did you know
that many specialists die of the diseases
they've studied most carefully? Ply
sician, heal thyself'-that's advice they
find 1t difficult to follow"
Again she fell silent.
For Il summer night, this is good
one for star-gazing," l ventured. do
you keep up your astronomy"
I'm afraid not"
Zone really should; it's worth the
WHILE" SAID /; but she let the topic
drop.
by the way, Miss Gray, do you
think that, in any circumstances, black
may appear white?" i asked.
She turned to me, with quick, i'm
patient movement.
why do you ask such questions ?''
she demanded. allow Gun you speak of
trifies, after that-that-" Her voice
gave way, and thought heard a sob.
Listen" said I, earnestly. I'm that
lies the reason for my rambling talk.
hadn't intended to tell you so, but it's
the fact. Now you might as well hear
all. When you finished your ride YOU
We're Worn out. Apparently you hadn't
been run away with, but evidently the
horse had kept you at work. Then
came the call for you to help us. 1t
braced you up, of course, but the strain,
coming after the first one, left YOU
bundle of exposed nerves, so to speak.
1t wouldn't do to let you go to your
room in such state. Why. you would
have had a night of horrors, lying
awake for hours, tossing, turning, try
ing to shake off the nervousness which
held you prisoner. Ii you fell into {.
doze 1t would be to wake as suddenly as
II under shock of electricity, to wake
70 ind your muscles rigid and your
heart pounding like q hammer. And
even when physical WEAKNESS overcame
you at last, your sleep would be broken
by dreams dozen times more terrible
than the experiences you've gone
through. know what you are think.
Ing, and tell you your thoughts must
be turned into another channel. It's to
try to turn them that I've brought you
out here, that I've gabbled about moth
ings."
! understand" she said, softly. ~
understand, and I thank you from the
bottom OF my heart. If 1 spoke irrita-
bly,, won't you pardon me? I'm sorry,
SO sorry, now that understand"
There's nothing to pardon, unless
it is the brusqueness with which I've
Diurted out my reasons TO-. getting you
away from the house."
GU are not brusque," she said, and
walked on in silence. l could guess
now She was striving to dismiss the
scenes of the evening from her mind. At
lastshespoke of her aunt, expressing re.
gret that she had left the invalid to seek
her couch unassisted.
Don't worry" said l. Mrs. Clark
VIII be only too happy TO take your
place tonight. Besides, it is probably
just as well that Mrs. Loring should not
have an immediate opportunity to over
whelm You with questions. That
would he had fc,. 81.