The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1907-06-26

| udppClC0, CIV AoN
come that morning for Sophy from
Cambridge, but in an unfamiliar
hand, and this had excited his sus-
picions. There was nothing now OF
novelty that did not excite his sus-
picions. A mind i'll at ease with it
self, and conscious of wrong-doing,
is always more or less in this condi-
ton. Even to the good man, chance
is a thing to be apprehended, "how
much more, then to the wicked and
the sinner" When Adair heard from
his wife that Dr.. Newton had an
nounced his intention of coming up
to town that day, to see little Willie,
his brow grew very dark.
You must have sent for the man."
he exclaimed passionately.
Il told him that Willie was ailing,"
was the quiet reply, land that l
| should be glad of his opinion upon
| the case, as an old friend, and one
in whose judgment I had the greatest
confidence"
When DR.. Newton arrived, Adair
himself received him, and with some
pretense of cordially. He did not
meet his gaze directly-it had never
been his custom to look folk in the
face. but of late he gave his profile
to every n as though he was sitting
for his silhouette-but furtively
scanned him with minutenesS. He
wished to gather from his expression
whether he knew how he had
wronged the canon or not; and the
deduction he drew was that he did
know. AS a matter of fact, the doc
tor did not know. The canon had
kept his secret from all outsiders,
partly, perhaps, for his W sake,
but chiefly for Sophy's sake. The
doctor, however, had no liking for
Mr.. John Adair (and showed it in
his honest face) for another reason.
He had been informed by Miss AL
dred of the accident that had hap
pened to little Willie, partly in con-
sequence Of her fathers ill-judged
| economy; he was aware that Sophy
had had money, and that Adair had
had none, and he looked upon him as
a mean hound.
Some business called me up to
town to-day, Mr.. Affair."" he said,
stif1y, land at your wife's request I
have looked in to see your little girl"
You are very kind, DR.. Newton;
I am afraid, however, you will say
little can be done for her beyond
what we are already doing"
AT all events, there will be no
harm done. I came here only as an
old friend"
Sophy and Jeanette we're both in
the nursery, and Stevie also. When
the boy heard Mr.. Adair's voice upon
the stair, he drew back behind the
heavy curtain that shielded his little
friend from the draught from the
window, and remained during the in
terview unseen. Curiosity, however,
compelled him to form a peep hole,
through which he could see what was
going on.
DR.. Newton entered, shook hands
warmly with Mrs. Adair, and sat
down quickly beside the patient. He
asked a great number of questions,
as to symptoms, treatment, etc., and
presently for the prescriptions.
This is all very right" he said,
looking at one of them; "but I hope
you are very careful about the pro-
portion of water; it is a dangerous
medicine by ITSELF"
"Dr. Bagge warned us of that"
said Sophy. I'VE keep the medicine
in the cupboard, and instead of mix
ing it every time, we keep a portion
in the bottle'here ready mixed. When
it is finished we mix it again, so that
no mistake. can possibly occur
through inadvertence."
"Umph, that's curious" said the
doctor. There are certain symp-
toms here-the very ones that have
given you anxiety, and not without
cause-which I should have attrib-
uted to an overdose. Who admins
tiers the medicine?"
Either Jeanette or myself" said
Sophy, and I mix it, when it is
necessary to do so, with my own
hands"
Well you cant be too cautious.
The limb is better-better than l
could have hoped for, considering the
nature of the accident. 1t is the gen.
eral health that is suffering"
Am l going to die, doctor?" in
| quired little Willie. Il should like
to know because I have got things to
do first"
BLESS my soul, what a strange
child" exclaimed the doctor, whose
practice lay chiefly among infants of
a larger growth-undergraduates.
Why, she reminds me of what little
| Stevie Helford used to be. No, my
dear, you are not going to die; I
hope YOU are going to get well and
strong"
do you think I shall live to be
twenty-one?' inquired the patient,
with great gravity.
All, you want to come of age, and
see the OK roasted whole in Albany
street, do you?" returned the doctor,
cheerily. "Of course you'll live to
! be rwenty-one-live to be a hundred
and one very likely. What a very
funny child. Well, there is nothing
to be alarmed about; but the case
wants watching. How often does
your medical man come, Mrs.
Adair?"
Not very ofter,' said Sophy, firm
~. but avoiding her husbands eye;
"once in three weeks, not more