The San Francisco call., 1904-08-07


-she-wilI come to me, and shall share
her most trifiing doubts She will be
honored in this house and make ii her
home. Miss Venn, may 1 say this Oh
you?"
Esther cIasped her hands upon her
knees, and regarded the Doctor with a
troubled look. The plain truth was that
while his words should have satisfied
her just doubts, that which she had
seen-and especially the face at the
window-were present in her mind to
perplex and distract her. Nothing that
the Doctor had proposed, she thought,
might not be undertaken by an honest
girl; but he had spoken of failure. Was
it possible that the face she had seen
from the garden was to be connected
with this!
II should be very sorry to appear
ungrateful" she exclaimed suddenly;
but really do not know what to say.
1 am little frightened, Doctor, and
cannot help it. You said something to
me about those who helped you before.
Would it be very dreadful to fail?'
He OWNED her difficulty instantly.
She has seen something in the house.
he thought. He knew that it made it
more difficult.
"Ah,'' he said. II put it clumslly. I
talk of operating rooms, and you think
of a hospital. I speak of failure. and
you imagine personal suffering-per-
haps illness and disease. See how
man who desires to be frank may mis-
represent himself. You believe that
am asking much-ccurage to face
E,,I Iii 1f=frr Taf
me here and now assure you. as / am
a man of honor, that none Of these
things exist. If l fail, you will remain
with me IL you wish, or go to your
friends, the same gentle young lady
that have found you. Others have not
done so, admit; but their own fOllies
were responsible for their misfortunes.
They would not submit, and they suf-
fered for it, Science. Miss Venn, is not
to be trihed with. She demands all or
nothing. Those who have assisted me
would have taken the middle way. For
the time being, they are punished; but
the punishment will pass, and as they
came to me. so, at length, will they
go, neither better nor wiser. For you,
1 fear no such failure. Once your mind
is made up, you will succeed. 1 am as
sure of it as 1 am of myself"
He bent toward her and appeared TO
exert all that indomitable power of his
will which few were able to resist.
Esther decided, she knew not why, that
this man would never harm her. He
compelled her already in some measure
to share .his own enthusiasm. The
quest Of beautiful things, the right en-
3oyment of Gods gifts could never, she
thought. be wrong. And yet she had
so much to ask him. She was con-
vinced that she could never quite ex-
press her doubts.
II wish 1 could believe in myself as
you believe in me-" she confessed at
last. 1T is all so new, so strange. I
would like to say yes but all sorts Of
silly things prevent me. You see, Doc
tor, 1 have not the least idea what you
really want me to do. How can help
your experiments? I have no knowl-
edge except the little 1 have got from
my fathers books; it would seem child
lsh to you. If I were clever. it might
be otherwise. l should be so fright
ened of my stupidity; perhaps it would
spoil everything"
He laughed at this frank avowal, be-
Iieving that he had won her.
When the flowers bud in the suns
Of May" he asked, what cleverness
of theirs helps them? When the sky at
sunset is afame with golden arc, is 1t
Natures gift or mans accomplish
ment? You can help me by submis-
sion, Miss Venn; you can help me by
doing nothing. Come. will show you
the operating room; it will frighten you
braver'
He crossed the room, and drawing
curtain back disclosed a paneled door
of which he held the key already in
his hand. Esther had started up at
the words operating ROOM" for she
half believed that it would justify her
evil anticipation. while, in the same
breath, she could tell herself that she
was silly TO be afraid. The Doctor.
perceiving her hesitation, threw the
door wide open and bade her enter.
Come" he said, cit is not so very
dreadful. I am sure your courage will
be equal to it,
Something in his tone reassured her;
and calling upon her courage she went
over and stood at his side. All. that
dreadful theater! 1t was smothered in
Gloire- de- -Dijon roses from floor to cell
ing. Esther's widest dream could not
have surpassed the surprise Of 1t. A
fragrant perfume, rich and pungent.
came to her through the open door. and
would have been overpowering but for
a delicious spray. like a shower Of
sweet rain, absorbed by the air almost
before the marble fountain cast it out.
Gentle breezes Of the summer day
stirred amid those gold-white leaves
and were sucked in by the silent fans.
Long windows, giving upon the shell
tered lawns, permitted vista of tree
and flower and bush, like a scene re-
mote from men in forests heart. In
deed, a wizards hand might have ere
ated this picture for a fable Of the
splendid ages. Esther could but stand
entranced, fearing to set foot upon that
carpet Of flowers or to disturb the per-
feet beauty of that chamber Of roses.
1t was not real, it could not be, she
thought: while the Doctor, in his turn