Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1901-11-07

81 fear | am intruding, Miss Muir
dock" he said at last; your maid
| told me she thought you could re-
| ceivc me. Perhaps | would better call
again"
mo, no, Mr.. Spraguc," replied the
young girl. cffusivcly, coming toward
him with outstretched hands; 81 am
SO glad to see you" And then, obscrv-
ing his inquiring glance toward
Chatham, 81 think" she added, cold
| ~, that this gentleman has said all
that he has to say to me-
Chatham's excitement had subsidized;
in the reaction, he seemed i'll and
weak and he nervously clenchcd his
tremulous right hand.
81 will wait to see DR.. Murdock,"
he said, doggedly, in a low voice.
AS you please" replied Agnes, aft
er slight hesitation. MARY. show
Mr.. Chatham to the doctors study"
AS the accountant followed the serv-
ant from the room, blank despair was
stamped in every feature. and it
seemed to Sprague, as the door closed,
| vulsivc sob.
Unconsciously Agnes had chung to
Sprague's hand Now, as the sense of
danger disappeared, she became
aware of what she was doing; and, in
sudden embarrassment. she with
drew her hand from his reassuring
| clasp.
The artist, recalling the object of
his visit, at once became grave and
| formal.
81 am sorry to inirudc upon you at
this unconventional hour. Miss Muir
dock, but | found this letter in my
studio to-day. II was evidently
dropped by You yesterday; and
thinking it might be important, /"
IA letter? What letter." asked
Agnes, puzzled.
Sprague held ont the sealed envcl-
| opc. The young girl tore it open ard
cast hurried glance at it's contents.
Then suddenly understanding, she
tore the paper to shreds and threw
these angrily into the fire which
burned brightly in the large open
/ fireplace.
"Oh. that" she exclaimed con-
temptuously. And then after a pause:
DO you mean to say you thought"
! She stopped short, seized by sud-
den shyness.
what else could | think ?" said
| Spraguc, softly
lie was watching the fragments of
paper as they Jared upon the hearth.
he flame which consumed them
seemed to shed radiant glow upon
his heart.
"Then,' he added, presently, and
lttill more softly. IF there is nothing
between you andt-and him-perhaps-
perhaps | may hopc-Miss Murdock--
hgnc- -
Ills hand sought hers and founu it.
Bur the reaction had come at last.
and the brave girl who had been able
10 control herself in the presence of
n threatening mailman now gave way
to fit of hysterical weeping.
Spraguc. not being Il medical man,
| couI1 hardly have known what rene
hes1o employ in an emergency ofthis
ig words in the young girls ear and
T. Hiss the tears from her eyes But
apparently that was enough. Evident
/ iJfor layman he must have possessed
considerable medical intuition; for,
aftr sobbing awhile upon his shout
der Agnes quoted down gradually and
ren'ined contentedly nesting in his
arm, while the artist. doubtless fear
1ul relapse. continued. for per.
nap an unnecessarily long time. t o ply
the reatmcnt whose effect had pro-
ducd upon his patient so marked, so
rapi and SO satisfactory result.
III attention of the medical profess
sionis respectfully called to n treat
men which, though empirical, may
possibly possess specific virtues.