Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1905-03-17

stret.
II am beginning to detest that Eng
lishman, Maruscha" l say, savagely,
when we are in the corridor. "And may
L be hanged if go back to him at pres
ent! | will go with thee"
Indeed thou must not, Vladimir How
canst thou think of being so rude? What
ails thee? Thou art always cross now"
How long has this wretched old man
to continue to monOpolize all thy time
and thoughts? 1t is preposterous. Save
in fetching thee to and fro, we have
never an hour to ourselves. Is it fair,
| ask theeW
Il thought to do thee pleasure-tO for
ward thy interests, in showing a little
attention to thy patient, Vladimir. And
this is what get" she plants. ALAS
cannot please thee"
There is a stir Of compunction in my
breast. Yet am l aware that for some
unfathomable woman's reason she has
been willfully tormenting me all these
days, notwithstanding that she turns Oh
me the most innocent and guileless eyes,
and assumes the air of an injured mar
tyr. 1t is a strange mystery, this femi-
nine habit Of tormenting the loved one.
Maruscha has ever done so with me,
whom l know she loves with all her
heart and soul
Thou hast not tried to please me,
Maruscha," | say, severely. Thou hast
tried to torment me after thy manner
and thou hast succeeded. But go not too
far; it is enough. Let be now."
We have gained the outer steps, where
is hustle Of strangers arriving. There
is no place for further parley, so l con-
tent myself with pressing her hand and
whispering with a glance of depreciation,
"Be kind"
She replies nothing, but carry back
with me to the Englishman's room the
remembrance of a pair Of blue eyes, in
which compassion and reproach are beau
| tifully blent.
My mood is wonderfully subdued when
/ enter, and | take the seat to which
Mr.. Cough motions me at the foot Of
his couch, with something akin to meek
| ness.
Now, Doctor, | want to talk to you
about yourself" he begins, briskly. You
have already been very frank with me
and told me about the precious mess
you've got yourself into in Russia. Well,
you know my opinion Of that; you've
made fool of yourself and, worse than
that you've acted criminaly."
l draw myself up with dignity. "Ex-
cuse me, sir" | interpose, 'but l neither
want the censure nor the applause of any
man living regarding that action in my
past life. In making you acquainted
with it, | merely wished to avoid coming
into relations with stranger who seem
ed disposed to place confidence in me,
under false pretensions. And l beg"
Just so, my man." he interrupts, put
ting his hand OH my arm. That's what
like about you. You were fair and
square with me, and though l highly
disapprove|"
/ make an impatient movement, and
am about to speak.
well, well, III say no more. Mum
is the word both now and hereafter,
he breaks in hastily, especially as you
already know my sentiments. And what
! wanted to ask you was this, Have you
any plans for the futurei You are en-
gagged to this very nice young woman
who has no one to look to but you, and
you'll have to marry her at once"
"Mr. Gough" l thunder, boiling over
with indignation at what l consider most
impertinent interference.
BLESS my soul, you needn't fire mp
that way. What l say is correct; ism,
it"
"Yet no concern OF yours, sir" re-
tort.
"But I'm making 1t my concern. And
III do it, whether you like it or not
Molly's a fine lass-far too good for
n home over her head Now, don't fly
Oft again"-as l half rise to my feet.
Bottle up that 'fizz' and listen to me.
l mean well by you, and you know you
can't afford to show temper like that"
What this blunt, rough fellow says is
true; l have no reason to he proud, mol
can I afford it. Though his manner is
so offensive, he means well. l compose
mysels and look attentive.
There, that's better" he says, with
an approving nod. Now we can pro.
ceed to business. You know who l am
If you have not forgotten. | am mill
owner and hang out at New Mills in
Lancashire. l am proud to say that !
am self-made man, and give work to
about two thousand men. We require
a doctor-have done so for some time
past, only was 10th to lay the old chap
off, fearing to hurt his feelings; and
now my manager writes to me this morn.
ing that he is down with gout. So ]
have resolved to pension him, and il
you'll have the berth you're welcome to
it. l give five hundred a year for the
job, and there's a bit Of practice to be
picked up in the neighborhood besides. II
'But-but, you do not mean to say
l stammer, that you offer me this-this
very excellent post without any ere.
dentials? How do you know that | am
not an impostorT'
my man, know what am about.
have seen all the credentials l require
and without them l engage no man
You showed me them when you told me
those private matters, which shall hence.