The evening Republican., 1902-09-30
. THE COUNTRY DOCTOR.

HiI hc" country phSsiNiah, Dh'
l try Starzey, sat one day in his
Turkin's drawing room and listened
first to the hostesp reading aloud hel
own novel, and later to her daughter
Catherine, who played the piano very
noisly. Then the Turkins and the
doctor stepped into the dining-room
where they drank tea. while the host
entertained them with amusing anec
dotes.
Suddenly the bell at the entrance
door rang. The host and the hostess
rose to receive the new visitor, ant
Starzey, seizing the opportunity, sait
to Catherine in a whisper quivering
with cmotion:
For Gods sake, I implore you
don't torture me. ...Lct's go into the
garden...."
Catherine shrugged her shoulders
but rose nevertheless and walked ou,
of the room.
First you play the piano for three
or four hours at a stretch" he said
following her; then you sit close tc
your mother. and | cant say word
to you alone. Grant me Il quarter
of an hour, / brseech you!"
Autumn was approaching. All was
quiet and melancholy in the garden
and the alleys were covered with
withered leaves. 1t was near snndown.
II haven't seen you for a whole
week." went on 'tarzey. 'How | suf.
fercd during all this time! BE seated
pray, and listen" Both of them had
a favorite spot in the garden-the
bench beneath the old spreading
maple tree. They now seated them
selves upon this bench.
well, what is it you wish?" asked
81 haven't seen You for whole week;
] haven't heard your voice so long
] am madly anxious to hear you
speak"
He was bewitched by the naive ex-
preston Of her eyes, and the unusual
simplicity which marked her bearing
appealed to him strongly. Notwith.
standing her naivete, she seemed to
him extremely clever. With her he
could speak about literature, art and
life.
II must speak to you, I must cx'
plain myself" he muttered emotion
ally.
She rose from the bench and looked
a Il 30
something. Then, all of sudden, she
awkardly thrust note into his hand
rushed back into the house and seated
herself by the piano.
"To-night, at II o'clock, the
note-"meet me in the cemetery
near the statue of Demetti."
"Wcl, l call this lunacy," he
thought. when he came to himself al
last. "!Vhat has the cemetery to dc
with all this?"
He felt certain that she was not
in earnest, that she was jesting. For
what sane person would think OF
making an appointment in the GENE
tery at night, since 1t was so con
venient TO meet in some public park
And, besides, how unbecoming it was
for so solid and sensible man as DR.
Starzcy to sigh, and receive love let.
tcrs, and go to the cemetery to meet
his beloved! What would be the re-
suit of this love affair? What would
his colleagues say if they had learned
of it,
Thus thought Starzey as he walked
about in the clubrooms excitedly; but
just st half past ten he called his
coachman, Panteleimon, and ordered
him to drive to the cemetery. 1t
was quite warm for an autumn night
The moon was shining and the dogs
were barking in the distance. Star
zey alighted on one of the deserted
streets and started off towards the
cemetery on foot.
Every person has his own pecu
liarities," thought he. "Catherine
is rather peculiar grl--and who
knows? Perhaps she was in earnest
and she may come after ALL"
He walked about half mile
through the field. All was hushed il
deathlike silence. The stars twinklet
mcekly and mournfully in the sky
and Starzey's heavy footballs sounded
rather strange and out of place.
Nobody was near the statue of De
metti. But Starzey came to halt anc
waited. He sat near the statue fol
some time. then he rose to his fee
and, walking through the alleys
holding his hat in his hand, HI
thought of the numerous beautiful
aud fascinating women buried in thu
graves about him. Starzey felt lik'
crying out that his soul was nov
thirsting for love at any tost-ant
soon the marble stones somehow
seemed to assume the forms Of liv
ing beings, modcstly hiding in thu
shade OF the trees.
Suddenly the moon disappeared be-
hind the clouds, and all was plunged
into darkness. Starzey worked hare
to find the way out. and when hi
reached his carriage 1t was about two
o'clock in the morning.
On the next day Starzey directed
his steps to the Turhins to propose
to Catherine. But this proved impos