The citizen., 1902-01-31

her cash. She had taken no VOW
against q second marriage. and she
looked more lovable than ever The
list Of her admirers Included u widow
er, bachelor. divorced lawyer and
three young men. and their feet kept
her front steps warm. Il looked as if
she would have 10 select one of the
six to protect her from the other five.
but she was in no hurry.
One by one they dropped out until
only the lawyer and the bachelor were
left. People said il was about an even
thing between them. and the lawyer,
whose name was BraXton. must have
argued the same way He wouldn't
have been a lawyer if he had been
satisfied with an even thing.
When two men love the same wom-
an. she is kept pleltifully supplied
with bouquets. books. music and all
else that lover may send. and never
a day passes that at least one does not
long 10 die for her Neither man can
score an advantage. and the case is
finally decided on its merits. The bach
elor Mr.. Dayton. argued it out that this
one would be. but the lawyer didn't.
He began 10 study the widows char
acter with a view TO making & grand
coup. She was not ambitious: she was
not vain: she couldn't be taken in by
fattery; she had just one weak point.
as the lawyer lover decided-she was
u in
and he would build up his case on that.
Ii isn't an easy thing TO be a hero 10
order When Mr.. Braxton had decided
TO take thar line. the trouble was 10
find an occasion There were no mad
dogs running about the streets of Ross
vile. no raging conhasrations. nobody
tumbling into the river TO be pulled
out. no anything He walked around
for a week or two looking for a hero
opening. but as none came he sat down
10 do some hard judicial thinking
History does not state whether he got
through at midnight or was still work
ing when the sun of next morning
shone on his face. but he had got his
plan just the same.
That forenoon at 10 o'clock he passed
the Mason house on his way TO the Of
fee The widow who was working
among her pinks and hollyhocks. gave
him cordial SaluJaJion. He stopped to
assure her Of his undying affection and,
clutchins the fence, cried ont in pain
and finally fell to the ground The
widow cried out in alarm. and when
men came on the run the stricken law
yer was borne into her house and put
10 bed
It was supposed until the doctor
came that il was a case of heart
trouble. but he found no symptoms.
Then the patient feebly explained that
it was infammatory rheumatism and
that h> had felt it coming on for days.
II the doctor had never heard OF
rheumatism knocking a man down
with crowhar on the street. he wasn't
ass enough 20 say so. The lawyer was
able TO pay doctors bill. and the doc
tor was there to make one. If there
was anything queer and mysterious
about the case. he had only to Keep
quiet and charge it in the bill. Thus
the news went forth that Lawyer Brax-
ton had bad attack Of infiammatory
rheumatism and that as he couldn't
be moved for weeks Mrs. Mason would
be his nurse. A few people spoke Of
the trouble il would give her, but
most of them said it was a romantic
incident that must lead TO a happy
marriage.
Infiammatory rheumatism is bad
thing. A doctor should call on patient
once a day at least. and If he calls
twice nothing can be said except in
his praise. In this case the doctor