New Ulm review. (New Ulm, Brown County, Minn.) 1892-1961, 1901-02-13


IA doctors left the house together.
They had met over this case many
times now, for it was one which bafflcd
them equally.
At the corner, where their ways
forked, the younger man would have
hurried away, but the old doctor hesi-
tated
Mansfield" he began, with evident
reluctance, 'syou are engaged to Dora
May?"
There was a peculiar insistence in
his voice.
''Why certainly"
s'Well, thank God, my good fellow,
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.''
ooh, naturally, that's what I
Think" admitted Mansfield. But he
spoke as if he hardly heard himself.
81 tell you that woman's demon
DR.. Noodle continued with explosive
irrelevance.
''What woman?"
The two words cut into the end of
the old mans sentence like icicles
fallen from some dim planet million
leagues away.
s'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 I do"
With that the two men melted apart
by mutual consent. Along with
boards and bifurcation, the ability
to say the last word soon enough
may perhaps be reckoned an equally
distinguishing masculine Characters
tic
A few minutes later Dr. Mansfield
+ entered Mrs. Mays drawing-room
The girl, waiting for him, sprang up
+ with a little cry.
"No, I shan't kiss you,'' she fumed
with pretty petulance. GIVE been
waiting
He stopped down to her and, lifting
her chin with one finger, calmly tilted
her pouting lips to his.
sob, Apollo, what superior ca
ress!" she exclaimed, rebellio7lsly,
but she subsidized against his shoulder
with contented sigh, and began to
pull the ends of his moustache with
teasing fingers.
''But where have you been to-
night?" she asked presently.
ooh, visiting a patient he an
swered, carelessly. ''You know, dear,
a Doctors"
eyes, yes, now don't PREACH she
interrupted naughtily. 81 quite I'M
derstand that when I'm your wife I
must never, never expect or even
wish to see you except when nobody
else wants to. But you know I'm
not your wife YETI
NO
'sDora, Dora!'' he protested.
do you know" she said, unexpect-
edly, Il heard to-day that Mrs. Char
ters is dying?"
"Did you?"
'"Yes. Isn't she?"
DR.. Mansfield sat up straight.
Dora, you know [ never discuss
my patients"
ooh, Leonard, I'm not asking you
to discuss her as a doctor. Can't you
speak of her as a man?''
Gas a man?" he repeated, staring
at her. ooh, 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. sit down at once. You look
like an imprisoned tiger, and besides
mamma says you are wearing out a
regular track in the carpet
He sat down silently. The girl
strong hands with timid, ftful fingers.
There was a shadow on her lovely
face.
s'Do you know what I think, Leon
ard? / think that woman is a perfect
fiend"
There was 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.
sGood heavens!" he exclaimed,
vi cNllS away lIOu ucE DIS
if her fingers were thorns, ssthat's the
second time tonight have been told
that
1'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 lot to-
day. / can't understand it. It really
seem as if that woman has quite
enough good in her to know she's
bad. Why, if she was only all good,
she'd be splendid, Leonard"
s'Oh, I don't know, Dora. I'm not
sure but what evils pretty jolly
thing after all. 1t would be insufer-
ably dull down here if it wasn't for
the naughty people
.sOh then II Sl1npoSe voll'd like all