The St. Mary banner. (Franklin, Parish of St. Mary, La.) 1889-1931, 1909-05-08


man. I've put it all down some
where and you'll get the bill in dEH
time And don. fatter yourself l
have been calling on you merely 10.
exercise, Or because your conversation
is fascinating. Every call, sir, ha-
been a professional one, as you WI.
find when you see the sum total.
The invalid scowled up a. MIN.
Don't make me laugh, doctor. J,
strains my neck. Here, I'll tell YOU
what I'll do. You have been so busy
visiting me-even coming When yoi
were not inviteG-that l., goinS 10
ask you to go to the city and be my
guest for week or two
Il can't get away growled the
doctor.
You'll have what is called tAc
time of your life"
Cant think of it.
And you need the rest and
change"
Nothing of the sort"
And I'll make you acquainted
with John Templeton, who is par
ticular friend Of mine"
Not John Howard Templeton, tao
surgeon"
The same. Well see the town to-
gether."
The doctor hesitated.
Il might get away for Cay Or
two," he growled.
"Of course you might. That's set
tled-even if the bill isn't
The doctors eyes twinkled.
Il make no deductions for an,ici-
pated favors," he said.
Ten days later Creston Gray was
pronounced we'll enough to travel. He
was to eat his farewell dinner al the
Kingston home and then the old doc
tor would drive him over to the sta
ton and see him aboard the night
express for New York.
And right in the midst OF the i'm
porlant dinner preparations, Tommy
Wolf, from across the creek, youngest
of nine Volts, previously coached by
the doctor, came to the door and hur-
riedly told Aunt Hatty that his moth
err wanted to see her " bout some
thin partickler" right away.
1T was cannin'," he guessed. A
reason entirely of his own inventing
that had a weak sound.
But gentle Aunt Hetty brought tbs
bubbling and sizzling preparations
into a quiescent state, and taking her
sunbonnet from behind the door.
trotted after Tommy.
The half hour she was quite SUE tC
be gone was busy one for the doc
Cooper, the eXpressman, and Creston
Gray and dark-eyed Hetty Dawson
the favorite niece.
There was wagon to be backed
to the porch and something bulky
to be unloaded.
everybody tried to help, it was all ac-
complished before Aunt Hetty had
returned. The wagon had departed,
and the three principal conspirators
were standing about the sitting room,
looking as unconcerned as possible.
AuuI I1clly SiduSSo III a. tACAA
presently.
"Oh, here you are" she cried.
Her quick gaze roamed about The
room.
"Why, whers-merciful Martha,
what's that" And she dropped
Imply into the nearest chair.
The old melodeon had gone. and in
it's place stood a modern upright
piano, its white keys cleaning. its
polished case rejecting the old-fas.-
toned objects about ii.
Aunt Hetty," said C-.s:ca Gray a
little hurriediy, "this is gift to yol
from one who has learned to know
your love for music. When the giveI
sent for it he had in mind the fact
that this promising little woman
here" and he laid his hand gently on
the younger Hetty's curls, lis to have
a musical education, and he believed
it would be wise to start her right
that is to say, with all the helpful
adjuncts that modern art can offer"
He might, having caught the ora
torical cadence, have said more, but a
food of tears from Aunt Hetty dis
concerted him. She had turned nec
back and her apron covered her face.
Creston stared at the doctor, and the
doctor suddenly nodded. Al which
Creston quickly nodded bach. And
then, as if by a common impulse,
they strobe to the storeroom Goo-
and quickly emerged bearing the de-
nOcod rno1OdpOn