The Atlanta constitution., 1900-04-09


two conditions as you please. You can't
injure his character -o., ,,
were to be his herr" ,,r,,,,or
There's many a slip 'twixt cup and lip.
Sylvester. ! verify believe that iincien.
proverb was written expressly to warn
me Still there's no reason why 1
shouldn't be my uncle's heir"
Exactly" reioined Sylvester. Then
the question again arises why so abroad.
Your explanation isn't logical"
Mortimer turned to the portrait once
more. and nodded to ii.
when ! told my Lncle that intended
to make Madge my & miiG; ,boi ne @ made hould MD be
married in a year. he made no reply.
When ] told him that the income or nVe
hundred a year. which | had inherited
from my mother. was lost. my uncle Salu
he was glad to hear it,. ~
IT Thought he rather valued money!
''Worshlps IT, laughed Mortimer. You IL
understand if you've patience to near M, me
parents Death. and thereby established
what he considers a prcprietory riSht TO
direct nv ways. There's a certain Miss
Judith Gutch-but | needn't enlarge Oh
that point, Just at present"
"He allowed you to choose your own
profession at any rate"
"Yes He said it was good thing Tor
n man to have q living at his command,
so | chose To be a doctor. 1t mas made mo
feel Independent, and until that loss CT my
small fortune, | never gave two thongnts
to the prospect of being heir to Whyteieas
Manor. I've thought of nothing else since,
though. I've had il in my mind, what IN
ncriting my uncle's estate would mean
Ii would mean Madges happiness AMI my
own; ii would mean exchanging poverty
for riches. and give me Il position in the
world. ,hat ! may strive after all my me
and never attain. iItterly I've recalled
the time, when | used to So down TO
Whytelcas from oxford. and afterwards
from Guys; the signs and hints that my
uncle used TO give that he liked me well
enough To leave me his property. I've
been remembering all that
And nVw?"
And now-well Sylvester, il means Civ
ing up Madge. if I'm to please my uncle.
There's Miss Clutch"
''Who is rich presume?'
who has five thousand year. and is
as ugly as sir.
relative. ! think you have told me once.
He adopted you an1 looked after your
education. Whom else should he make
his heir?'
''There's a far-awav cousin of mine"
replied Mortimer. living in Australia or
New Zealand. My uncle has been talking
about him lately. ana if YOU only knew
the squiro's disposition. as | know it,
Sylvester. you wouldn't place much re-
Eanca on him."
depend on II, old fellow" answered
Courtney, you're meant TO be heir TO
Whyteleas.'
Cad exclaimed the other ''Tf were
only sure of IT ! should he able TO throw
up this offer Ia go abroad I'm not think
ing so much of myself as of poor Madge
whose hearts nearly broken at the
thought of our separation
you're not certain of your uncle's in
zone can never be certain of them. 1
only judge that he is offended with nc
lie has offered no opposition to my going
abroad, and the last time | was down at
Whyteloas. lie referred to the probable
advent of this distant cousin, in very
pointed manner"
what is this cousins name'"
"Dorman.' replcd Mortimer. "A Mr..
Jarvis DCrnIan; that's all | can tell about
him There was an Artery Clifford, who
married a Dorman. years ago, and went
To the colonies. This is her son, and l
suppose he Is about my own age"
Then there was another lengthy silence.
Mortimer lying back in his chair Watrn-
ing the smoke rings from his pipe, think
ing. The conversation had aroused an
army of fierce hopes and fears in his
breast. for all that he had spoken calmly
enough 9f the future, bitter resentment
ag~>nst the fate that was driving him
from the woman he loved with such pas
Sionate ardor. fillcd his mind. If only
Sylvester were true prophet; If indeed
his uncle meant him to be his heir; what
a change in his prospects would come.
Never until that moment had Mortimer
realized SO fully what riches mean to
man. and the thought of his lost for
tune brought an angry look to his face.
why should he leave England? he 1uSed.
True his earnings from the Westmore
street practice We're scarcely enough for
decent living. but in going abroad, ii were
as though he renounced all hope ard
claim to his uncle's estate. There was
this stranger, too. Jarvis Dormln. no
might possibly be his rival.
WeStmore street was very quiet, an &C.
Casional football alone disturbing II. but
slowly rs il seemed, these gathered in
sound. coming from a distance, ';icrcaSing
i'm volume as they advanced with 1 Gu
rious shuffling noise. and a gruff voice
grating on the still air was heard The
window of the Doctors room was open
and Courtney, rising from his chair, look
ed out into the street, for the confused
tramplinG had reached to the house.
There's something going on below" he
said. 1T looks as If you're wanted, Nor
timer They're carrying something here.
that appears to be a mans body"
VERY likely" ro9lied Mortimer. not
moving. The public houses send me an
occasional patient who pays, or doesn't
pay, according to his sweet will. They're
mostly cut heads that come at this time
of night"
This is worse than that. I fancy" said
Courtney. Here they come" and as he
jerk that threatened To break the wire.
"Brutes" muttered Mortimer. rather
annoyed ut being disturbed. "Nhat do
they ring like that for?'
Urgent case. maybe" said Courtney.
1T must wait until please though"
answered Mortimer. with a grim laugh.
"A W dlWoTlH Skull lSn easily done Ter.
At this moment Mrs. Lipus entered the
room.
you're wanted in the surgery. DR.. Nor
timer, if you please" she said calmly.
Let me have some hot water brought
there" replied the doctor, "and don't al
low more than one sorrOwing friend to
stay. Say I'll be with them shortly
Mrs. Lipus withdrew, and Mortimer be-
gan filling his pipe again.
Don't think I'm unfeeling, Courtney"
he said, but | know these cases so wei
I'll bet you anything the man is more
drunk than hurt. The friend will ASK
for whisky. which I shall give him, ana
in due time. he will assist MS wounded
companion home rejoicing. That's the
regular formula observed in Wentmore
street rows. Come down to the surgery
with me. You're a student of human ma
ture. know, and may find something to
interest you"
The surgery was on the ground floor,
and upon going to ii he and Courtney dis
laid half insensibe upon the couch. his
pallid face blood besmeared. The other
was OF nOndeScript genus, who gesticu-
lated in explanation, and tainted the air
I'VE found the gent" the latter be-
gan. "a-lyin' on the pivement, me an my
mate did an / ses Bill he's a stiff 'un,
which he looked the slime"
Eyes, yes" interrupted Mortimer. begin
ming his examination promptly. "I dare
say you may be perfectly right but kind
ly move out of the way, my friend" ana
with Courtney looking on the doctors
deft fingers were busy at the wounded
mans head.
''BiI was for til1n' m to the 'orsepital
but I ses as 'ow DIR. Mortimer. beggin'
pardon, sir, I ses we'll tike the bloke To
i'm bein' only rhand the corner, as yer
mer sye."