Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1901-08-27
The Doctors Dilemma
By He5ba Stretton


ture TO outrage my mothers memory or
my feelings in such fragrant manner.
1T is possible. for it is true" said Ju-
liza. They have understood each other
for these four weeks. You may call it
an engagement, for it is one; and never
suspected them, not for moment!
Couldn't you take out a commission of
lunacy against him? He must be mad
to think of such a thing"
How did you find it OUTS | inquired.
"Oh, l was so ashamed!' she said.
You see l had not the faintest shadow
of a suspicion. | had left them in the
drawing room to 90 upstairs, and
thought of something l wanted, and went
back suddenly, and there they were-his
arm around her waist, and her head on
his shoulder-he with his gray hairs, too!
She says she is the same age as me, but
she is forty if she is a day. The simple
tonsI | did not know what to say, or
how to look. | could not get out of the
room again as if | had not seen, for
cried, OH at the first sight of them.
Then l stood staring at them; hut think
they felt as uncomfortable as l did,"
Julia" said, Il shall leave Guern-
sey before this marriage can come off. L
would rather break stones ON the high
way than stay to see that woman in my
mothers place. My mother disliked her
from the first"
Il know it" she replied, with tears in
her eyes, ''and | thought it was nothing
but prejudice. 1t was my fault, bringing
her to Guernsey. But / could not bear
the idea of her coming as mistress here.
/ said so distinctly. DR.. Dobree,' l said,
you must let me remind you that the
house is mine, though you have paid me
no rent for years. If you ever take Kate
Daltrey into it, will put my affairs into
a notary's hands. l will, upon my word,
and Julia Dobree never broke her word
yet That brought him to his senses
better than anything. He turned very
pale, and sat down beside Kate, hardly
knowing what to say. Then she began.
She said if l was cruel, she would be
cruel, too. Whatever grieved you, Mar
tin, would grieve me, and she would let
her brother. Richard Foster, know where
Olivia was"
Does she know where she is?'' l asked
eagerly, in tumult of surprise and hope.
why, in Sark, Of course" she replied.
What! Did You never know that
Olivia left Sark before my mothers
! death?' l said, with a chill of disap-
pointment. did never tell you she was
gone, nobody knows whereY
You have never spoken of her in my
hearing, except once-you recollect when,
Martin? We have supposed she was still
living in Tardif's house. Then there is
nothing to prevent me from carrying out
my threat. Kate Daltrey shall never
enter this house as mistress"
Would you have given it up for
OIivia's sake?" l asked, marveling at her
generosity.
Il should have done it for your sake"
she answered frankly.
But" l said, reverting to our original
topic, "if my father has set his mind
upon marrying Kate Daltrey, he will
brave anything"
He is a dotard," replied julia HE
positively makes me dread growing old.
Who knows what folies one may be gull
ty of in old age! never felt afraid of
it before. Kate says she has two hun
dred a year of her own, and they will go
and live on that in Jersey, if Guernsey
becomes unpleasant to them. Martin, she
is a viper-she is indeed. And | have
made such a friend of her! Now 1 shall
have no one but you and the Careys
Why wasn't l satisfied with johanna as
my friend|'
She stayed an hour longer, turning over
this Unwelcome subject till we had thor
oughly discussed every point of it. In
the evening, after dinner, l spoke to my
father briefly but decisively upon the
same topic. After a very short and very
sharp conversation, there remained no
| alternative for me but to make up my
mind TO try my fortune once more out of
! Guernsey. l wrote by the next mail to
! Jack Senior. telling him my purpose.
! did not wait for my father to commit
the irreparable folly of his second mar
riage. Guernsey had become hateful to
me. In spite of my exceeding love for
my native island, more beautiful in the
| eyes of its people than any other spot on
| earth, | could no longer be happy or at
peace there. Julia could not conceal her
! regret, but / left her in the charge Of
! Captain Carey and Johanna. She prom
ised to be my faithful correspondent and
/ engaged to write to her regularly. There
existed between us the half-betrothal to
! which we had pledged ourselves at my
dying mothers urgent request She
would wait for the time when Olivia was
no longer the first in my heart; then she
would be willing to become my wife. But
if ever that day came she would require
me to give up my position in England.
/ and settle down for life in Guernsey.
Fairly. then. l was launched upon the
career Of Il physician in the great city,
as a partner with Jack and his father.
- ~, ctrir oil
me. Nothing here, IN scenery, atmOs-
phere or society, could remind ME of the
/ fretted past. The troubled waters sub
sided into a dull calm. as far as emotional
life went. To be sure, the idea crossed
me often that Olivia might be in Lon
don-even in the same street with me.
| never caught sight of a faded green
dress but my steps We're hurried, and /
/ followed till | was sure that the wearer
was not Olivia. But / was aware that
/ the chances of our meeting were so small
/ that could not count upon them. Even
/ if | found her. what then? She was as
/ far away from ME as ough the Atlantic
/ rolled between US. If l only knew that
she was safe, and as happy as her sad
! destiny could let her be, l would be con-
/ tent.
I Thus l was thrown entirely upon my
! profession for interest and occupation 1
/ gave myself up to it VIII an energy that
amazed Jack, and sometimes surprised
myself. DR.. Senior. who as an old vet
/ eran loved it with ardor for its own sake
vas delighted with my enthusiasm. He
I propheSied great things for me.
/ So passed my first winter in London.
CHAPTER XVIII.
/ Early in the spring | received a.Ietter
/ from Julia, desiring me TO look out for
/ apartments, somewhere in my neishbor-
I hood. for herself and Johanna and Cap
+ tain Carey. They were coming 10 Lon
( don to spend two or three months of the
| season. | had net had any task so agree
/ able since ! left Guernsey. Jack was
f Hospitality anxious for them 70 come 10
our cwn house. but knew they would
not listen 10 such a proposal | found
+ some suitable rooms for them however,