Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1901-02-07

BY lei. A. KEAYs.

E1C G"O
n doctors left tie house together
They had met over this case many
times now,f for it was one which baf7e.I
them equally.
At h corner, where their wovs
forked, the younger man would have
hurried away, but the old doctor hesi-
tated-
Mansfield" he began, with evident
reluctance, "you are engaged to Dora
May?"
There was a peculiar insistence in
his voice.
why certainly"
swell, thank God, nv good feIloU.
that you are, for I'll wager every
hair on my head and go bald through
all eternity if there's another such
girl on this dirty earth"
oh, naturally, that's what I
think" admitted Mansfield. But he
spoke as if he hardly heard himself.
Il tell you hat woman's a Demon
DIR. Noodle continued with explosive
i~rrelevance.
What woman %
The two words cut into the end of
the old mans sentence like icicles
fallen from some dim planet a million
leagues away.
What woman?" There was an
inferno of Indignation in the repeated
question. There is only one such
woman, Mansfield, and you know it
as well as 1 do"
With that the two men melted acart
by mutual consent. Along with
beards and bifurcation, the ability
- co., - -
may perhaps be reckoned an equally
Distinguishing masculine Characters
tic.
\ few minutes later DR.. Mansfield
entered Mrs. Mays drawing-room.
The girl, waiting for him, sprang up
with a little cry.
NO, l shan't kiss you" she fumed
with pretty ~petulance. 1--WE been
waiting
He stopped down to her and, lifting
her chin with one finger, calmly tilted
her pouting lips to his.
"Oh, Apollo, what a superior ca
resi-" she exclaimed, rebeIlioIsIy,
but h subsidized against his shoulder
with a contented sigh, and began to
pun the ends of his moustache with
teasing fingers.
BUT where have you peer to-
night?7 h asked presently.
"Oh, visiting a patient he an
swered, care1essly. ~You know, dear,
a Doctors
Eyes, yes, now don't preach" she
interrupted naughtily. 81 quite un-
derstand that when I'm your wife 1
must never, never expect or ever
wish to see you except when nobody
else wants to. But you know I'm
not your wife vet
NO
"DOra, Doraf" he protested.
~Do you know" she said, unexpect-
eddy. Il heard to-day that Mrs. Char
tiers is dying?"
did you?"
Eyes. Isn't she?"
DIR. Mansfield sat up straight.
"DOra, you know I never discuss
my PATIENTS"
'Oh, Leonard, I'm not asking you
to discuss her as a doctor. Can't you
speak Of her as a man?"
a a MANI" he repeated, staring
at her. ''Oh. as for that" but in
stead OF finishing his sentence, he got
up and began to pace the long draw
ing-room restlessly. As the Girl
watched him her tender eyes glis-
tened.
Leonard, come here" she called
out presently with pretty imperious-
ness. -tSit down at once. You look !
like an imprisoned tiger, and besides
ami says you are wearing out a
regular track in the carpet |
He sat down silently. The girl
leaned towards him and stroked his
strong hands with tinid, ftful fingers.
There was a shadow ON her lovely
face.
do you know what I think, Leon
ard? / think that woman is a perfect
fiend."
There was a passion, unfamiliar to
him in the still intensity of her voice,
and it almost seemed as if the very
words must have turned to stare at
themselves on her fair young lips.
"Good h~eavensi" he exclaimed,
drawing his hands away from her as
If her fingers were thorns, that's the
second time tonight I have been Told
that"
"Ah, then other people talk to you
about her?'
She nodded her head convictingly.
But his lips were steeled to utter
ance again, and he let her talk on in
unresisting silence.
AUNT Belle told me such a lot to-
day. I can't understand it. It really
seem as If that woman has quite
enough good in her to know she's
bad. Why. if h was only all good,
she'd be splendid, Leonard"
"Oh, I don't know, Dora. I'm not
sure but what evils a pretty jolly
thing after all. It would be insufer-
ably dull down here If it wasn't for
the naughty people"
ooh, then I SUPPOSE you'd like all
the women in the world to be like
Mrs. Charters?"
Heaven forbidi I should be sorry
to see wickedness lose its charm from
lack of contrast, Dora" he said, teas
ingly.
eyes, but seriously, Leonard, L al
ways felt as IL that woman was a
kind of 1eper. And she knew I did"
Ibid she?"
"Oh, yes. I remember the first time
she met you-a year ago at the Les
lies ball. She was lovely to you, just
to spite me. Do you remember" +,
Remember?