The Scranton chronicle. (Scranton, Miss.) 1897-19??, 1900-10-06


no obligation whatsoever. To be
quite frank"
He paused abruptly. He was actual
1y blushing; but the faint tinge faded
quickly from his cheeks and left them
unusually pallid.
''Yes?'' said Lieut. Winston, encour-
agingly and quite unblushingly.
.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 l 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
End of London; but, being also one
of the most stupidity modest of clever
men, his professional income barely
sufliced 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-
tion leads to penury, and then he will
remove to Harley street and begin
to make progress towards affluence.
Winston did not fail to observe the
tinge of color on the doctors face,
nor its quick disappearance, but he
gave no sign of recognition. Never
before had he seen his old college
ehum look half so handsome as when
that feeting 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
as she did?"
"Any number of them!" declared
the doctor. sententiously. although a
fitting smile upon his face said:
'.None of them. bless heri"
you medical men are utterly
heartless cynics." protested Winston,
Struggling his broad shoulders.
''Utterly,' admitted Metford.
snow, | am so unromantic as to at
tribute your recovery chiefly to your
east-iron constitution, rafting good
physician 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!"
II know well what I 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. If 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 talkl"
Nevertheless, ! mean it. old chapl
Just you think the matter over seri-
ouslyi Well, to proceed: My sister
jess says that Miss Wethered-wh
by the way. comes of tolerably good
stock-was very different from the or
dinary 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
says, is due entirely to her devotion.
Not very complimentary to you, eh ?"
MRS. Trevelyan is modesty and
every other grace personifedl" de-
clared DIR. Metford. $50 far as / could
see, she sacrificed herself almost, if
not quite, as magnificently as-as the
paid nursel"
'Be that as it may" persisted Win
ston, II 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 jewel OF a. wife,
and thirdly and most troublesomely,
that | shall be the most ungrateful
beast on earth and stupidest Old duff
fer If don't straightway let the lady
know | think so. Unfortunately, as
] protested TO my sister and have adj
mitted to you. can't honestly say
that ] am the least bit in love with
Miss Wethered. like her very much,
you know, and all that sort of thing
possibly more than | like any other
girl of my acuuaintance--an / have
reason TO believe that she is not en-
tireiy indifferent to me, and that II
] only
The DOCTORS lips curved scornfully,
involuntarily, and glow Of color
that was hardly blush suffused his
face.
"And Jess tells me-" continued the
young officer, imperturbably, THAT
might do a very much verse thing
than marry alary Wethered. You