Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1901-11-28
CHAPTER w.

Listening, Mr.. Blair? A strange
occupation for an English gentleman
SURELY
Well" we'll" stammered |. taker
aback by the unexpectedness and The
violence OF her attack IL couldn't
help it. was sitting here and--and
you happened to be close by. That's
ALL"
Dick Mulion, was surprised to see
semed inclined to take my part.
We had only just begun to talk" he
said to Miss Atkinson Mr. Blair
could scarcely have got away in time to
avoid hearing the few words we did
say"
Oh, yes. he could. if he had wished
TO- said pretty Jenny with spirit. You
were eavesdropping, Mr. Blair"
NOW. there are different sorts OF
courage in the world, and | am not
without some Of them. So | looked
her full in the face. and answered, tc
her establishment and Dicks:
We'll, yes, | was, | suppose And
| don't ever mean to be prevented from
doing anything Eve set my heart on
doing, or from hearing anything I've
set my heart on hearing, because OF any
preJudices as to what an English gen
tleman may do What other English
man may please to do is their affair:
and what | please to do is mine"
And ! looked at her deiantly. She
didn't care for me, she didn't mean to
try. So why should | mince matters ?
l never have gone in for belonging to
very elevated class of humanity, so
her scorn did not wither me up as it
was meant to do.
| had thrown down the glove Both
my hearers looked at me with astonish-
ment. but in Dick Mullion's case it was
mingled with some evident amusement
as well as what suppose was contempt.
AS Miss Atkinson was again about to
give expression to her feelings about
my conduct, he said to her in a low
voice.
"Never mind him, If you'll come up
the deck little way I'll tell you what
| was thinking about
She allowed herself to be led away
without giving me any further attention
except disdainful look. But | didn t
care. | should never be one of those fell
lows who worry themselves into skele-
tons because of the opinion of one par
t'nular girl there are too many others
in the world
But | own was good deal surprised
when young Mullion showed in the
course of that same day that he seem
ed not only to have forgiven me for
what had passed, but to be anxious TO
press his attentions upon me.
1t happened that afternoon. | was
never robust as have said, and the ex-
elements Of the morning had made me
feel very seedy; so / passed the after
noon in deck chair, as far as possible
away from every body else, with my
eyes shut and my cap tilted well over
my face to hide as much as possible Of a
complexion which felt pretty sure was
not the pest.
But kind old DR.. Mullion found me
out and brought n seat beside me
Hello, hello, This won't dot" cried
he as he seized my hand in spite OF me
and felt my pulse. while at the same
time he ran a professional eye over my
face. with great rapidly. 1T strikes
me, young man, your father would have
done b tier to put you under the care
Of medical man IN the country than
to let you come out, dependent on your
own resources.
And as he spoke he threw a glance of
displeasure at a tumbler containing
whisky and water which was within
NV reach.
"Oh, am all right said l. The
creaking door lasts the longest you
know. Doctor"
but there's no need for you to be a
creaking door" retorted DR.. Mullon
quickly You ought to go back moving
smoothly on the hinges. and that you'll
not do unless you're r-ore prudent. If
| dared, I'd throw that stuff into the sea
for you"
And again he looked at my chosen
beverage ! laughed.
Come, doctor, it's not such a bad
thing, in moderation. We're not all
like your stoical nephew, teetotallers on
principle"
Dr Mullion shock his head
No need TO sneer at Dick said he
Its poverty, not principle, that makes
q teetotallel Of nm He has an idea,
and | can't help honoring the lad for 1T.
that until he's quite independent and
eEtaDllSneH III lHe NOftN ne busnl w puA
some check upon himself in the matter
Of luxuries
Well. that's very nice Of him" said
| rather grudglngly. trying to keep out
Of my voice anything like a sneer.
; did not care to have this Dick al
ways cracked up as my superior. now
by one person and now by another.
"Of course 1t Is. The boys dear dear
fellow"
But the good doctor was more occu-
pied at the moment, with me and my
symptoms than with his nephew and his
virtue. He made me show him my
tongue and answer his questions and
some of these were SO apt that ], who
had unfortunately. good deal OF ex-
perience of doctors knew that ! was in
the hand OF a very clever one He knew
without my telling him that my heart
was weak and told me other things
which convinced me % his capabilities.
Are you taking anything in the way
d. inedicine?' he began. But immedi-
atcly answered his own questions, with
out leaving me time 10 speak. No. OF
course you're not. You prefer the whis-
ky ard water"
As he said this. Hith shrewd smile