The Opelousas courier., 1902-11-08

doctor the cause Of her action. At
the base of the castle wall, some sixty
feet above the beach, is a ledge of
rock not mora than a foot in width,
along which the f%oolhardy delight to
pass, ald mistake this madness for
courage, when a single false step or a
moments giddiness will send them to
a certain death upon the rocks below.
Half way along this narrow path,
crawling on hands and knees, was the
figure of a girl, and the Woman's cry
had helped the doctor to recognize the
child as Marjorie Forrest.
n few great strides and the two
men reached the foot of the rock to-
gether; side by side. with the nimble,
sure-footed strength of the days when
rs boys they had climbed the cliffs
around their Highland home, they
dashed up it's prccipitous flank, passed
the struggling woman half way and
reached the top pantingly together.
Even as they turned the corner of
the wall it seemed too late, for the
little one had become frightened, and
was trying to turn back. There was
nc room, however; for a moment she
swayed, then her childish hands Slip
ped from the narrow ledge, and with
a heartrending cry of "Aunty!" she
fell.
But not to death; for the sinewy
form of the doctor shot forward across
the ledge, and his hand caught the
futtering dress in a grip of iron.
They found "Aunty" lying insensi-
BILE at the foot of the rocks, down
which she had fallen in her excite
ment, and, while Marjory kissed her
white face, saying piteously-"Aunty,
aunty! I'll be good now, aunty!" the
two men worked to bring her back to
consciousness.
Presently she looked up, recognized
the little girl with a glad cry, and
made to clasp her to her breast, but
her left arm dropped helplessly, and
she closed her lips as if in pain.
"Ah!" said the doctor, running his
fingers over her arm; you've broken
it. Let me put it right"
tits very good of you to take so
much trouble she said, with a slight
blush, lowering her eyes beneath his
gaze.
mot at all; it's quite in my line;
I'm a doctor, you know"
He had broken his own walking
| c&ialy on1 Tino5o iyto cr1infc 1r5 uoc
bandaging her arm, handling it with
a touch that was tender as a caress;
and, as his friend afterward declared,
taking so long and fumbling so fool
ishly over it as to endanger his pro-
fessional reputation in the eyes of his
patient if she had been less interested
in himself and more in his work.
What a terrible think it would have
been if you hadn't come in time"
she said with a shudder.
I'm glad we were at hand-for Mar
jory's sake. She and l are old &C
quaintances. BY the way, as a mutual
friend she might have introduced us.
My names Ian Fraser. This is my
friend, Jim Grant"
Mine is Mona Forrest. I'm Mar
jory's aunt! I've just come over from
Canada for a three months holiday,
and am going to spend a week or two
with my s~ister-in-law. Marjory's
father vas my only brother. / ar
rived in Ayr yesterday morning"
The doctor had finished his bandag-
ing, and giving her his hand he help
ed her to her feet, only to find that
the fall had twisted her ankle, and
she was now unable to use it.
Half an hour later Jim arrived with
a cab, and the four drove to Fernton
Villa, in Racecourse Road. DR.. Fra
ser's meeting with Mrs. Forrest, COM
ing SO Don after the reception of his
letter. was naturally strained; but
each was more than willing now that
the visits should be renewed, though
for quite different reasons.
There is no need to tell of the weeks
that followed, the daily visits. In due
course the crisis came; and one night
DR.. Fraser turned away from the front
door of Fernton Villa, staggering down
the stairs like a man who is i'll. She
had gone. This fair Canadian girl
VINO lad given him the right to speak
of love, and had become the center of
his every earthly hope and aspiration,
had left him without one word of
warning, one breath of farewell.
III.
Another fortnight mad dragged wear
lily past, ond Dir. Fraser, pale and
hollow-eyed, was crossing the Low
Green when he came upon little Mar
jory Forrest. She was sitting upon a
seat undressing a large doll which she
had already reduced to a state of semi
nudity, and she hailed his coming
with delight.
"Oh. DOCTOR" she cried, gleefully,
come an ~vacksanate : Dolly"
"vaccinate Dolly?"
"Yes; same as everybody"
Smiling at this reference to the
smallpox scare, then at it's height, he
took the doll in his hand, and, as he
turned it over, the stamped corner of
an envelope protruding from under
the solitary garment which it now
wore caught his eye.
He withdrew the envelope, but as
he glanced at the writing the laugh
died from his lips and his face grew
white. It was addressed to miss
Mona Forrest" the writing was his
own, and there was d letter within.
"Mharn did Won nnt thiS2n ho do