The Monticellonian., 1902-07-18
Of More Importance
By JULIA TRUITT BISHOP.
Copyrighted by Daily Story Pub. co.)
ADY to see you, sir"

ADY to see you, sir" The doctor looked up from his books with a shade of annoyance cross ing his face. Ladies could be seen at any time, but if he lost the thread of this investigation, now
 "Ah, Miss Willoughby-"h he gave her the chair opposite, and sitting down looked at her with grave professional interest-'isn't it rather early for you to be out? You know told you-''
 "Yes," the girl interrupted, hastily; land I did stay in the entire time-al- most"
 A wave of color had swept over her face. and he became conscious of it, even while he was lingering anxiously at the leaves of the book he had just been reading.
 "You certainly have a good color" he remarked, professionally. No fe- yer, l hope" And he bent onward and laid cool fingers on her wrist. There it is again." he added, musingly. "I have often noticed peculiar irregular ity about your pulse-and yet there is nothing wrong with your heart-not in the least However, l am glad you have no fever"
 And he surreptitiously snatched a glance into the book. Girls with fine color were plentiful. but this treat mept for diphtheria, if it should prove successful
 q didn't come this time for profes- sional advice" he heard the girl say ing. in very timid manner. IT came to ask you about something"
 She seemed to have lost her voice, and paused to regain it. When she raised her eyes. presently. he was aware of their color for the first time. They were gray. and they had black lashes. He had not noticed that before, though he had treated her profession ally for some weeks.
 You must make allowance for my great loneliness" she cried out. deso- lately. "Ihave no one really belonging to memo one in the world Ny guar dian. Mir Bond, is good man-but you know how old he is. and troubled about many things. Sometimes he doesn't see me for weeks at time. The others are servants. or ependents-how could I go to them with condolences, or ask their advice?"
 Not to be thought of" murmured the doctor. looking at the gray eyes very steadily. Clearly, there was some thing in the world outside of books and perhaps an orthodox something in hearts that he had never found with the stethoscope.
 And so I have none" went on the desolate girl, with look of timid ap- peal. And I have-have learned to know you so well-have learned to trust you-wiil you mind very much if Task your advice-your friendly advice in matter that concerns myself alone?"
 The gray eyes drew him on, and made him say things that surprised him. They made him reply, without the least reference to the big books and the treatment of diphtheria.
 Why. surely I will be only too glad to assist you any way in my power"
 And he said it frankly, and cordially. too, leaning forward and looking it her with eyes that had begun to be un- professional. Really, she did have lovely color.
 II have received an offer of mar riage," she said, with her eyes down again. "You know had little money left me-only a few thousands-and my education and other expenses have almost exhausted that. If l don't ac- cept this-this gentleman, l must go out into the world as bread winner in a little while-a very few months. If l sh2nld-marry him, would be very wealthy-so rich that it would al most frighten me, l think" she added. with wistful glance at the attentive face. My guardian has set these two alternatives before me so many times that l know them. word for word. Re member that I am all alone-and tell me what to do-as you would tell yonr sister-or any friend for whom you cared-a little"
 Her fingers were twined together in