The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1905-01-19
Lo'<je and
Lunacy
BY Troy .HllIton
CoprIcht, 1901, By Troy Autson

II hope you will remember it has
been my pet scheme for the last FIVE
years." said young DR.. Hilyer, polish
ing his glasses with vigor due less
to necessity than to a desire to avoid
his sisters flashing eyes.
Bettina gave her head q disda1nfu
toss and helped herself to another
chocolate.
81 know 1 shan't even Ike him." she
said, finding it difficult to express dis
approval with any great amount OF
dignity when one cheek was distorted
by a chocolate drop.
"Now, Bettina, that's simply preju-
dice. he was the incest fellow at COL
lege, and he Is the only, man on earth
I would be willing for you to marry"
Bettina's fingers seized candied yio-
let which she discovered in the corner
Of the box.
~Of course know he's wonder" !"
she said. That's the reason ! know !
shan't ike him. he Is probably 80 per-
feet. that he chews his food, regula-
ton number Of times before swallow
ing"
Hilyer laughed
"T've seen him swallow sandwiches
80 fast it would take lightning calcu-
lator to keep up with him. Now, Bet.
tina, please be reasonable! I haven't
seen Dent since we left college, but II
he Is as jolly a doctor as he was med
ical student you certainly Will not have
cause to complain Of his primness. He
Will be here In time for the dance to-
night, and I simply want you to be
hice to him. I don't know what it Is
women do to themselves when they
want to be especially charming, but
you can do 1t when you try, little sis"
Bettina balanced the somewhat de-
pleted candy box on top Of skull that
ornamented the doctors desk.
'Thats to keep the servant from eat
ing the rest Of It." she laughed. Mag
gie wouldn't dare touch it now. Well,
Brother Doctor, I'll see what effect the
new pompadour silk will have on Dr..
Dent. If it is immediate and startling
and you see me sitting in the conserY-
atory holding hfs hand don't be alarm
ed; it may be necessary to take his
pulse"
DR.. Hiiyer smiled as his erratic little
sister fitted from the room.
He had been resident physician at
the Burton asylum for two years,
where 1t was customary to give an oc-
casional dance for the inmates. Bet
tina found something unusual in these
dances that she fairly reveled In, and
she had not been known to miss one
since her brother had been In charge.
She would take the electric car from
the city and arrive at the sanitarfum
triumphantly bearing a box containing
her newest party dress, produced by
home talent. The girls mother en-
couraged her industry by giving her all
the material for party dresses that she
would make up, and her chic creations
were the envy Of her girl friends.
When she had arrived that afternoon
she had shown her brother gay little
blue and pink pompadour frock that he
had vowed would make it necessary
to send all his harmless patients back
to padded cells and leave pauctty Of
dancing men
DR.. Dents train was late. he hur-
ried into his dress suit, and the two
friends started down the hall toward
the ballroom. An attendant came up
hurriedly and whispered that Hilyer
was needed Immediately.
'T'm sorry, old man." he said, turn
ing to go with the nurse. You'll have
to find your way In alone. There's no
hostess, so go In and talk to any one
you like. You'll find Bettina some
where. Look for yellow haired little
girl in a blue and pink dress. I be-
neve the little mink has sprinkled dia-
mond dust In her hair and put a black
patch on her cheek to be In keeping
with her pompadour costume, 80 you
will have no trouble In recognizing
her"
Bett1na was parity hidden by a group
Of palms when Dent entered the room.
She saw him speak to several Of the
patients near the door and finally ask
one dark eyed girl to dance.
Bettina recognized him Immediately
from the photograph In her brother g
room and studied him calmly as he
and his partner passed her.
Certain she was that VIII had not
told her Dent was a perfect Hercules
and that even the photograph had been
misleading. She acknowledged to her
self the improbability Of man Of his
type masucating food according to set
rules and was rather inclined to think
VIII might have mentioned his style OF
dancing as a point In his favor when
be had given a list Of his friends many
virtues that afternoon
When she saw him coming toward
her with the evident intention Of speak.
ing she thought he mistook her for a
patient, and her eyes sparkled with
mischief.
MAY introduce myselfT' he asked,
bowing before her.
Bettna raised naughty little head