Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1901-02-21
CHAPTER I.

CHAPTER L.
Doctor Francis Brodnar rapidly
paced the richly carpeted floor of his
spacious parlor Office, his brow clouded
and his massive jaw clenehed. His.
countenance, usually Serena and trust
inspiring. had for the moment lost its
kindness, and was forbidding almost
to responsiveness. A patient viewing
him from the operating table would, it
is likely, unless possessed of superior
nerve, have succumbed to heart fail
ure; at best he would have demanded
another appointment; for by some
atavic reversion the good doctor had
apparently returned to savagery of
vifulent type. When he, paused alb
ruptly before the clock and suffered
his jaws to relax, the spectacular re-
suits were even worse. He glared vim
dictively at the placid timepiece and
gnawed fiercely his heavy mustache.
.'Four o'clock! four o'clock" he ex-
claimed, land this is her last day!"
The sentence ended in something like
groan.
WELL" replied voice near at hand,
"there must be last days fol. everybody
and everything" The voice was full
and musical, with shading of melan-
choly. The speaker stood in the door
way, hat and cane in hand. IF this
were my last day of bachelorhood, L
don't think could have stated it so
woefully, nor have | put as much despair
Mt n tho WI
Frank? Why, what is the matter?"
he continued, entering the room slowly
as the other remained motionless, gaz-
ing silently towards him. Don't know
me? Sorry to see me? You are glar-
ing!'
"Dick Somers!" The name burst
from the DOCTORS lips, and he rushed
on his visitor, Selling and wringing the
preferred hand. Again he stopped, his
whole soulSin his face and eyes.
"Well,'' said Somers, cheerfully,
"twhat is on your mind, old man? Five
years is a long time and Paris was q
gay place; but five years and Richmond
are not enough, surely, to effect, such
j change as this! AndtT shall have use
again for that hand, perhaps, bones
and all, So
"The last days of your bachelorhood
You said the last days of your bach
elorhood. did you not? Then you are
still bachelor, Dick?"
Swell. yes and Somers smiled visit
fully into his friends face. 'The same
old Brodnar,'' he continued, "headlong,
enthusiastic, impetuous! What new
scheme is afoot now? Do you want to
offer me up on the altar of matrimony
If so, draw the line there. Why, con-
found it, man, what is the matter with
your" he added; for the other, still
retaining his hand, continued to regard
him in deep thoeght.
s'Sit down." said the doctor, drawing
him towards chairs sit down." And
Somers perforce accepted the seat.
Dick the professional man
stood over hint will welcome you
formally tomorrow, but to-day you are
the most welcome man on earth. / sup
pose I am headlong, enthusiastic and
impulsive, but am true, am not p
true to my friends?"
"True? AS truth itself, old fellow
And Somers, who had taken cigar
from box on the table by his side, sus-
pended the lighted match over the
weed as heNlooked up. Anybody been
casting a doubt on that yoint?"
"And honorable?"
"As honor!''
You would take my word unsup.
ported for any amount, would you
not?"
Somers looked affectionately into
the flushed, eager face above him and
grew serious. 81 would take your word
Frank, against the world, except il
one event"
"And that 2"
t'Well, if you speak disparagingly OF
yourself, Frank" Their hands met inn
pulsively.
"Dick, don't laugh at me or think me
out of my senses, but tell me seriously
lis there any reason why you may moi
be married tonight" Somers started
to rise, queer look upon his face.
''Sit down." said the doctor, Will
both hands on his shoulders. Answer
me frankly"
Heavens! man, are you in your righ-
enses?-but yes, this is only the same
old Brodnar."
You do rot answer, Dick You are
treating me lightly, and l am desperate
ly in earnest"
swell, then, old fellow, will answer
you seriously. There is no reason o,
Gods earth why may not marry to
night. No heart will break, no trus
be shattered, no one will care. Yes
one-my mother lie lifted his fin,
face towards his friend. 1t wore agail
the characteristic half-wistful, half
mocking smile.
.You would not care, either, Dick
Not if by marrying you obliged frien,
who loves you? Not if by marryin.
you enabled him to defeat piece o
viliainy planned against the life an,
welfare OF one of his dear friends
Not if it defeated a cowardly enemy
Oh, don't you see my whole soul is il
this NATTER" Theldoctor resumed hi
! agitated pacing.