River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1902-07-17
OF More
Importance
By JULIA TRUlTT BISHOP.
copyrighted by Daily story Pub. Coz

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 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"
eyes" 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
Ieaves of the book he had just been
reading.
"You certainly have good color"
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 peculiar irregular
ity about your pulse-and yet there is
nothing wrong with your heart-not
in the least. However, 1 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 very timid manner. IL came
to ask you about some thing-"
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
flashes. 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. 81 have 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
SCENE for weeks at time. The others
are servants. or ependents-how
could go to them with condolences, or
ask their advice?'
"Not to be thought Off murmured
the doctor, looking at the gray eyes
very steadily. Clearly, there was some
hing in the world outside of books
and perhaps an orthodox something
in hearts that he had never found with
the stethoscope.
"hnd so / have none" went on the
degolate girl, with look of timid APP
peal. "And I have-have learned to
know you so well-have learned to
trust you-will you mind very much if
Iaskyour advice-your friendly advice
in a matter that concerns myself
alone?"
The gray eyes drew him on, and made
him saw 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 I'M
professional. Really, she did have
lovely color.
81 have received an offer of mar
rage" she said, with her eyes down
again. ~"You know had a 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, / must go
out into the world as bread winner
in a little while-a very few months.
If l should-marry him, | would be
very wealthy-so rich that it would al
most brighten 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 I know them, word for word. Re
member that l am all alone-and tell
me what to do-as you would tell your
sister-or any friend for whom you
Garcia little"
Her fingers were twined together in