The Monticellonian., 1902-07-18

her lap, and man who was not study l ing out treatment for diphtheria
 would have seen how tight the clasp
 was. This, perhaps, would have made i him delay long time in his answer.
 "These are difficult questions to de l eide for another" he said at last. iu- dicially looking out at the window. My opinion would be that it would 1 be wiser to marry the gentleman who is a gentleman. take it for grant ed-than to go out into the struggle with the world Personally, l don't like to see women in business, Tiff it can be avoided-and in this instance Tit seems that it can" he added, with swift look at her face.
 At his first calm words she had shrunk as if from blow. and now she arose and turned toward the door, her eyes lowered.
 "Thanks-you are very kind" she murmured. He saw her put out her hand and feel for the knob, as though something blinded her, but he was there before her, looking at the down dropped face.
 1T omitted to ask one question" he said. "Do-do you love this man"
 "Does it matter? No!" she replied, as she went out.
 But he had seen her eyes.
 He sat down at the table and looked at the page he had been read ing last-looked at it until the after noon had waned and night had set in. It is a singular fact that while the eyes of the body can go patiently reading lines and paragraphs and pages of learned treatises, the eyes of the mind can be looking steadily at a eray-eyed girl with her fingers twined together in her lap. True, here is this investigation carried OH successfully to this interesting point; but-why was it that she went away should there have been tears there? And she would go away and marry the rich man-he had advised 1t. Well, why should it concern him?
 The doctor suddenly arose, leaving his books scattered on the table, and went out into the street for air his office was insufferable. Where he was going he did not know. He was not conscious of any resolution until he found himself in the door of Miss Willoughby's little sitting-room, and girl with q very pale face rose up from the chair before the fire. Her eyes were wide with fear-what was he going to say? What had he discovered?
 'I was forced to come" he said humbly. 'I know you will be angry perhaps you will be amused at the fact that Ia poor student, physi- elan who has his thoughts on you, when you have an opportunity to make a wealthy and distinguished marriage. l knew at the first that there was no hope-yet l felt that 1 must come. It only remains for you to tell me so, yourself, and then I will go back to my work and have done with the dream
 No, it was a mistake about her having been pale: for when she leaned on the mantel with her face turned to the fire she was as rosy as the morn.
 You are too considerate to teii me outright" he said: but I see what must be. Of course it is in- sane-the idea that you could take poverty, and the struggle for life with me, when wealth and ease are offered you. It would not be possi- ble, unless you loved me so devotedly that your love would set all other consideration aside"
 He paused and gazed at her miser- ably; and without turning she half whispered faint suggestion.
 II might learn" she said
 He turned white and leaned against the table for support.
 "Learn-learn to love me?" he asked, in daze 'It is impossible"
 Ut will be difficult-but I am will ing to try" said the arch-hypocrite with the gray eyes.
 When he went back to the office, several hours later, with the step of one who walks on ar, he found a number of books scattered Tn most unseemly disorder on his table.
 Really, John is growing insupport- able" he said to himself "All these books lying around-but I remember now, was studying about--oh, yes We'll, there's plenty of time for that