Pike County press. (Milford, Pa.) 1895-1925, 1902-10-03
OF More
Importance
By IULIA mum BIsHoP.
ADY to see you, sir"

The doctor looked up from his
books with 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;
"and 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. mo fe-
yer, hope" And he bentforward and
laid cool fingers on her wrist "There
it is again." he added musingly. 81"
have often noticed a peculiar irregular
ity about your pulse-and yet there is
nothing wrong with your heart-not
in the least However, I am glad you
have no fever"
And he surreptitiously snatched
glance into the book. Girls with a fine
color were plentiful. but this treat
ment for diphtheria, if it should prove
successful
81 didn't come this time for profess
sional advice" he heard the girl say
ing, in a very timid manner. I'll 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, DESC
lately. "Ihave no one really belonging
to memo one in the world My guar
dian, Mr.. Bond, is a good man-but you
know how old he is, and troubled about
many things. Sometimes he doesn't
see me for weeks alta time The others
are servants, or depeudents-ho
could ! 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 kaleidoscope.
"And so 1 have nome" went on the
desolate girl, with,a look Of timid ap-
peal "And have-have learned to
know you so well-have learned to
trust you-will you mind very much if
I ask your advice-your friendly advice
in a 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 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 at
her with eyes that had begun to be IN
professional. Really. she did have a
lovely color
81 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. II don't ae-
cept this-this gentleman, I must go
out into the world as a bread winner
IN little while--a very few months.
II I should-marry him, I would be
very wealthy-so rich that il would al
most frighten me, think, she added,
with a wistful glance at the attentive
face. my guardian has set these two
alternatives before me so many times
that ] know them, word for word. Re
member that am all alone-and tell
me what TO do-as you would tell your
sister--or any friend for whom you
cared-a little"
Her fingers were twined together in
her lap, and a man who was not study
ing out a treatment for diphtheria
would have seen how tight the clasp
was. This, perhaps, would have made
him delay a long time IN his answer.
"These are difncult questions to de-
eide for another" he said at last, ju-
dicially looking out at the window.
"My opinion would be that q would
be wiser TO marry the gentleman
who is a gentleman, i take it for grant
ed-than 10 go out into the struggle
with the world Personally, ] don't
like to see women in business, if-if
it can be avoided in this instance
it seems that it can, he added, with a
swift look at her face.
Al bis first calm words she had
shrunk as If from a blow. and now she
arose and turned toward the door, her
eyes lowered.
'ihanks-you are very kind" she
murmured. lie saw her put out her
hand and feel for the knob, as though
something blinded her, but he was
there before her, looking al the down
dropped face
ff-I emitted to ask one question"