The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-07-08
HEROIC TREATMENT.

Yes" said Lieutenant Winston, encour-
! agingly and unblushingly.
| "Oh, don't know" stammered the 9TH
! er man. Are you really serious? II so,
| you must be-pardon me for sayins So
| either the most heartless beggar 1 ever
met or the most absurdiy sensitive
In other words. a knlve or blithering
! idiot-eh, Metford, old chap" said Win
| ston cheerily.
Exactly! 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 pro-
fessional income barely sufficed to pay the
| rental of his rooms in Cover Street Some
day he may discover that it is possible to
be overmodest and that inward self-depre-
citation leads to penury, and then he VIII
remove to Harley Street and begin to make
progress toward affiuence.
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 chum look half so handsome as
when that feeting show OF rosy color tinted
the mans cheeks. nor half SO pathetically
glum as when it vanished.
admit that, Doctor? How many women
would nave taken the risks that she took?
Would any other woman in the world have
sacrificed herself as she dd?"
Amy number OF them!" declared the
doctor, sententiously, although fitting
smile upon his face said, None of them,
bless herr
You medical men are utterly hearuess
cynics." protested Winston, struggling his
broad shoulders.
Utterly admitted Metford. Now, l
am so unromantic as to attribute your re-
covery chiefly to your castiron constitu-
ton, rafting good physician-must sound
my own trumpet II you won't blow II for
me-and Old Nick's merciful considera-
ton Your cup of iniquity is not yet quite
brimful; your liver and all the rest oil
you, including your heart, are as sound as
a bell
II know well what I owe you, Metford,
old chap said the convalescent in
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 u long way the cleverest
medicine man in London, head and Shout
ders above all the rest of EN-. If you
wern't such a confoundedly modest
beast
much confusion. You can't think now l
hate that kind Of talk"
Nevertheless, mean it, old chap! Just
you think the matter over seriously. Well,
10 proceed; my sister Jess says that Miss
Wethered-who, by the way. comes OF toll
erably good stoek-was very different from
the ordinary professional nurse and that,
during those weeks when my very valuable
life hung on a slender thread, she abso-
lutely sacrificed herself to save me. My
recovery. Jess says, is due entirely to her
devotion. Not very complimentary to you,
eh?'
Mrs. Trevalyan is modesty and every
other grace personified.' declared DR..
Metford. so far as could see, she sac
rificed' herself almost, if not quite, as
magnificently as-as the-the paid nurse!
BE that as it may persisted Winston,
Il have chatted the Gatter over very Sc
riously with my sister and she says. i'm
prints, that Mary Wethered is, barring
the wings, an angel; secondly, that the
said angel without wings would make
jewel of wife, and, thirdly and most
troublesomely, that l shall be the most
ungrateful beast on earth and The stupid
est old duffer if j don't straightway let
the lady know | think so. Unfortunately,
as | protested to my sister. and have ad-
mtted to you, / can't honestly say that |
am the least bit in love with Miss Weth-
cred. like her very much you know,
and all that sort of thing-possbly more
than l like any other girl o. my acquaint-
ance-and 1 have reason to believe that
she is not entirely Indifferent to me, and
that If i only
The Doctors lips curved scornfully. in
voluntarily, and a glow of color that was
hardly blush suffused his face.
And jess tells me-" continued the 70 NJ
officer imperturbably. that / might do a
very much worse tling than marry Mary
Wethered. You know, old chap, I've led
devil OF life in India and elsewhere, Ter
rible lot of racketingi We army men, you
know, So, you see, Old fellow, I-er-oh-
you know-I-well-er-lo is for me
dream OF the joyful past, and not a vision
of the future. Miss Wethersi's kno Slei ge
of nursing might be invaluable to me-
Metford groaned audibly.
ut must not be-" he exclaimed indig-
nantly. (''Shall not be,'' ne mutterei in
wardly) You don't love the girl, you
have admitted it; you are not half as fond
Of her as of that newest pup OF yours
(''I would die to save her half moments
pain. and don't suppose she cares a straw
for me-" he reflected bit erly.) 81 feel like
kicking you!''
He looked like kicking, likewise.
Kick me. or thump me, Or do what YOU
viii. old chap! My feeling is just this:
am a worthless sort of fellow, have gone
the pace, and don't deserve the love of any
woman in the world
What man ever did," gIowled Milford !
oh, but you haven't a notion what a |
thorough bad lot I've been Don't look so |
unbelieving," proceeded the kickwof by |
convalescent Il was going to tell yol
something that Jess told me which makes |
me tole ably sure that Miss Wethere d
but you would only scoff. | never knew
such a fellow as you, upon my wofd!'' |
Metford smiled i,iegibly.
The position is very simple one" he |
said. Assuming that from what Your
sister has been-pardon me for saying sol
suggesting to you Mary mean.
Miss Wethered-cares enough for you to |
marry you. worthless and heart ess but |
tolerably good looking chap like you, who, |
as you justly remark, don't deserve the |
love OF any woman, nor, for that matter |
the succession to one OF the Oldest AMI |
wealthiest baronetcies In EIganI"-
He paused, his face white and drawn.
lines visible upon IL that were rot there
when this debate began
You haven't any love to offer her. You
dent know what love is. You merely want
TO cancel supposed debt of gratitude by
Offering her your looks your wealth
everything you have except the only thing
that a woman like Mary Wethered hung .rs
fort
He was becoming eloquent, too eloquent,
and he perceived it.
Love will come later" Winston an
swered. confidently; gratitude is said to
be akin to love. The girl is not quite my