Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-08-04

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side street. MY friend lives on this
street" said she. Thank you very much
don't know what should have done II
80 quickly that James was not at al sure
that she heard his answering goodbye
He thought again how very handsome she
was. Then he began to wonder where shs
lived, And how she would get home from
her friends house. If the friend had q
brother who would escort her. He Won
| dered VINO her friends were TO let girl
which had not the best reputation foi
safety. He entertained the idea OF walt
ing about until she left her friends house,
then he considered the possible brother.
and that the girl herself might resent II,
and he kept on. The western sky was lut-
ting on wonderful tints OF cowslip ard rose
deepening into violet He began consider
Ing his own future again. resegaing the
girl TO the background. He must be rear
ing Alton. he thought. After a tnrSe-nfiie
stretch of farming country. he saw houses
again. Lights were cleaning out IN the
windows. He heard wheels. and the ftgu-
lar trot of horse behind him, then 4 mud
despatched buggy passed bin. SHABBY
buggy, but strongly built one. The team
| or horses was going at a good clip. James
| stood on one side. but the team ana tIggy
had no sooner passed than he heard a
whoal and a mans face peered around the
buggy wing. not at James, but at his medi-
cine case James could just discern the
/ face, bearded and shadowy in me gather
| ing gloom. Then a voice came. 1t shouted
| one word, the expressive patois OF the
| countryside, that word which may be al
| once question and salute. may express
| almost any emotion. "Hallool' said the
voice.
| James understood it, He quiekened his
pace, and came alongside the buggy. The
| face more distinct now. surveyed him, its
| owner leaning out over the side of the
buggy. Who are you? Where are you
1 boundg'
/ James answered the latter question. II
am going to Alton"
ITO Or. Gordon's7''
Then you are Dr. Elliotg'
Yes"
| Get in"
James climbed into the buggy. The other
man took up the reins, and the horse re-
sumed his quick trot
You didn't come by train2" remarked
mo. You are Dr. Gordon, supposeY"
Yes. I am. Why the devil did you
TO save my money" replied James.
| laughing. He realized nothing TO be
ashamed of In his reply.
But 1 thought your father was we'll
TODD"
yes. he is, but we don't ride when It
| If got TO Alton by night il would be soon
enough ! like to walk" James said that
last rather defantly. He began to realize
a certain amazement on the other mans
part which might amount to an imputation
| upon his father. II have plenty OF money
in my pocket he added but 1 wanted
| the walk
Dr. Gordon laughed. "Oh we'll, walk
of twenty-five miles is nothing to a young
fellow like you. of course he said. i
can understand that you may like to stretch
your legs. But you'll have to drive If
you are ever going to get anywhere when
you begin practice with me-
II suppose you have calls for miles
around?''
dogs life l suppose you haven't got that
through your head yet?"
II think it is a glorious profession" re-
turned James, with his naughty young en-
thusiasm.
Il wasn't talking about the profession"
said the doctor; Il was talking of the man
who has to grind his way through 1t. It's
dogs life. Neither your body nor your
soul are your own. oh, well, maybe you'll
like it,
you seem to-" remarked James rather
pugnaciously.
1T What can I do, young man. but stick
to 1t whether like it OF not? What would
they do? Yes. l suppose | am fool enough
to Ike dogs life or rather to be unwlll-
ing to leave 1t. No money could induce
me anyhow. I suppose you know there
is not much money In it?''
James said that he had not supposed
fortune was to be made in country prac-
tice.
s'The last bill any of them will pay is the
Doctor g." said DIR. Gordon. Then he added
with laugh especially when the doctor
is myself They have to pay a specialist
from New York. but 1 walt until they are
underground, and the relatives. md, stick
faster to the monetary remains than the
bark to a tree II I hadn't little private
fortune. and my-sister a little of her own,
I expect we should starve.
James noticed with little surprise the
doctors hesitation before he spoke OF his
sister. 1t seemed then that he was not mar
RED Somehow, James had thought of him
as married as matter Of course.
DIR. Gordon FASTENED to explain, as II
diyining the others attitude. Il dare say
you don't know anything about my family
relations" said he MY widowed sister,
Mrs. Ewing, keeps house for me. live
with her and her daughter. think you
will like them both, and l think they will
like you, though I'll be hanged II ! have
grasped anything of you so far but your
medicine-case and your voice. Your voice
and l always like that"
James straightened himself a little. There
was something bantering in the others
tone It made him feel young and he re-
scented being made to feel young. He him
self at that time felt older than he ever
would feel again He realized that he was
he, with some heat, "a patient can make
out anything by my voice as to what
think 1 miss my guess
his own voice was as II ne put the matter
aside.
ened and they went on in silence.
At last James began to feel rather
ashamed Of himself. He unstiffened. /
had quite an exciting ana curious expert
ence after left Stanbridge," said he
did your" said the other In an absent
voice.
James went on to relate the matter in
detail His companion turned an intent
face upon him as he proceeded. How
far back was ic?" he asked, and his tone
was noticeably agitated.
Just after I left the last house in
Stanbridge. We went on together to
Westover. She mentioned something about
going to see friend there. think Upton
was the name. and she left me suddenly.
what was the girl like?"
Small and slight, and very pretty
Dressed in brown"
Yes"
How did the man look2" Dr. Cor
dons voica fairly alarmed the young man.
II hardly can say. / saw him dis
tinctly, but only for second. The i'm
preston he gave me was of middle
aged man. although he looked young"
Good looking7"
MY God, mol" said James. as the mans
face seemed to loom up before him again.
i.IIe looked like the devil"
"A man may look like the devil. and
yet be distinctly handsome
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