Middletown transcript., 1902-01-25

Joe is q fiot-too-elegant abbreviasion fc
Josephine. All mans jealousy, vanit
and pride up in arms. And you woul
marry girl who can put you in tui
MOL like that when she is not bound t
you at ALL If | condemned such folly o.
general grounds, have to now far more
A mole could see the misery you tw,
silly people would be laying up for your
selves. ! consider Dora's stand very sen
sible."
II don't see," exclaimed Appleton
"since am doomed to exile, why
should not put in some of it here in this
awfully pretty town. can find enough
with which to amuse myself"
| You do not need my advice on that
point" Doctor Boynton returned, sar-
castically. making q movement as if to
insinuate that it was time for him to go.
''Will you be kind enough to permit
me to call occasionally The better you
know me, the better you can advise
Dora," he urged, artlessly.
II have given too much of that danger
GUS medicine already. I shall drop the
case, though shall be very much inter-
ested in the outcome. As for our town,
you are not the first to recognize its
charms. The air is good, and might ben
eft you! have no objection to your
calling. Perhaps my young brother can
show you about the place"
The rrsult was that Appleton remained
in the picturesque spot for some weeks.
His acquaintance with the Boyntons-
the Doctor, her brother Ned, boy Of
nineteen, and their widowed mother
developed into an.intimacy almost friend
ship, and quite that after an accident,
which brought both harm and benefit to
Appleton. 1t was this: A fire broke out
in frame house in the poor quarter Of
the town. He CHANGED to be near, and
made his way to it. There the peril an
old woman and her daughter were in
appealed to his really generous nature,
and he showed a reckless bravery and
cool head in their rescue which made the
local press trumpet his glory as hero.
Ned Boynton, with boyish enthusiasm
for this lively, older city man who was so
offhand in his ways and so plucky in his
deeds, enlarged on the topic at home, and
Appleton became far more interesting
parsonage to the whole family. His
hands were severely burned, and when
they heard later, from friend, that he
had contributed largely, but anony-
mously, to the fund raised for the des-
titute women he became an object of ad-
miration to the three alike.
1t was regarded as quite a happy
thought, therefore, on Ned Boynton's
part when he proposed bringing Appleton
to their house, where he could receive
the attention he needed and enjoy
soothing home atmosphere conducive to
his improvement. Accordingly, he was
soon installed in the roomy guest-cham-
Der of the Boynton mansion, and found
himself the recipient of sympathetic ser
vices the best sanatorium could not have
afforded. There we're many beautiful
drives along the tranquil countryside.
Before the fire the four had frequently
taken them as family party. Doctor
Boynton declined to accompany the
young man alone. cit would not be
proper for me to take drives with a man
who is half engaged" she had said, laugh
ingly.
But now, when his injured hands pre-
vented him from holding the lines, as
young Boynton's business did not permit
of his doing SO frequently, the Doctor
gracefully laid aside her scruples and be-
came most efficient whip for delightful
drives through the sweet, gently rolling
fields and meadows. She was gay and full
of diverting talk. Perhaps it was pro-
fessional attitude, for he was actually her
patient now, and very sensible and
winning one. On the other hand, Apple
ton grew more and more pensive, and
sometimes had to be aroused from deep
reveries by his attending physician. 1t
was to be noted, however, that she never
inquired as to the cause of these fits of
abstraction. AS if, by tacit agreement,
the name of Miss Wingate never fell from
their lips. Doctor Boynton had not felt
called on to let him know that soon after
the fire and on his becoming an inmate
of their home she had written very
strong letter to that young woman.
One afternoon, toward twilight, they |
were driving through coister-like stretch |
of woods, cool, aromatic and soothing, |
when Appleton, who had been particu-
larly silent, reused himself and remarked,
"I got a letter from Dora Wingate to- |
day."
"Well?" said the Doctor, brightly. |
"Am 1 to congratulate your" She sat
up, gave the horse smart touch with
the whip, and waited.
'I have not opened it yet," he said.
slowly. 81 want little more of your
excellent advice, Doctor"
Thanks, no! I have given all the
advice l intend to. My views have not
altered, and until you read that letter the
case is the same"
''The case is not at all the same" re.
turned Appleton, with deep breath. II
do not know what you will think of me
when I say that I hope in this letter
Dora"
"Don't say another word,' interrupted
Doctor Boynton, sharply.
II must, for 1 want you to advise me.
I am your patient" he went on, with
boyish querulousness, "and it isn't pro-
fessional to desert case till all hope is
gone. My old trouble is worse than ever
more complicated, more serious. Tell
me if you do not think this the honor
able, manly and most kindly thing