Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1902-08-19
OF More
Importance
By JULIA TRulTT BISHOP.
copyrighted by Daily Story Pub. Coy

AD4 10 see you, Ell
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-" 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 / 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 good color"
he remarked. professionally. mo fe-
yer, 1 hope" And he bent forward and
laid cool fingers on her wrist. There
it is again." he added, musingly. II
have often noticed a peculiar Irregular
ity about your pulse-and yet there is
nothing wrong with your heart-not
in the least. However, l am glad you
have no fever"
And he surreptitiously snatched q
glance into the book. Girls with fine
color were plentiful, but this treat
ment for diphtheria, if it should prove
successful
II 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 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 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 ependents-how
could go to them with condolences, or
ask their advice?"
"Not to be thought Of" murmnred
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.
"And so ! have none" 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
ask your advice-your friendly advice
in 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 gla6
TO assist you any way in my power"
And he said it frankly, and cordially
too, leaning forward and looking al
her with eyes that had begun to be un
professional. Really, she did have /.
lovely color.
~ have received an offer of mar
| rage" she said, with her eyes dowr
again. "You know had little money
left me--only few thonsapds-ant
my education and other expenses hay;
almost exhausted that. 1t don't &C
cept this-this gentleman, / must 81
out into the world as bread winner
in a little whle--a very few months
If l should-marry him, l would BIZ
very wealthy--so rich that it would al
most brighten me, think" she added
with 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 tel
me what to do--as you would tell your
sister-or any friend for whom yor
garcia little"
Her fingers were twined together in
her lap, and a man who was not study.
ing out treatment for diphtheriu
R&~