The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1902-08-14
OF More
Importance
By JULIA TRUITT BISHOP.
Copyrighted by Daily Story Pub. Coz

y
The doctor looked up from his
hooks with shade of annoyance cross
inc 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
;nterest-''isn't it rather early for
YOU to be out? Youknow told you
"Yes," the girl interrupted, hastily;
aand did stay in the entire time-al-
most"
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 good color,'' y
he remarked, professionally. "No fe-
yer, hope" And he bent forward 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 a
glance into the book. Girls with a fine
color were plentiful, but this treat
ment for diphtheria, if it should prove
successful
Il didn't come this time for profess
sional advice" he heard the girl say
ing, in very timid manner. "I-Icame
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 nv
great loneliness" she cried out. DESC
lately. "Ihave no one really belonging
to me-no one in the world. Ny guar
dian, Mr.. Bond. is good man-but you
many things. Sometimes he doesn't
see me for weeks at a time. The others
are servants, or dependents-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.
sand so have none," went on the
. desolate girl, with 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
Task your advice-your friendly advice
lin a matter that concerns myself
alone?"
The gray eyes drew him on, ind 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 l 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 un-
professional. Really, she did have a
lovely color.
~ have received an offer of mar
riage," she said, with her eyes down
again. "You know had little money
left me-only few thousands-and
my education and other expenses have
almost exhausted that. IF I don't ac-
cept this-this gentleman, must go
out into the world as bread winner
In little while-a very few months.
II | should-marry him, 1 would be
very wealthy-so rich that it would al
most frighten me, think" she added.
with wistful glance at the attentive
lace. "My guardian has set these two
alternatives before me so many times
that know them, word for word. Re
member that l am all alone-and tell
me what to do-as you would tell your
slster-or any friend for whom you
cared-a little"
Her fingers were twined together in