Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1910-11-09

"Have you any engagement Tor To-
morrow afternoonT"
mo"
1.-THE first dose I shall give you Is
fresh air. Will call at and take you
= to drive. Have you seen 'Lohengrin'
with Mime. - rs ElsaT'
81 have not. doctor"
"I viii secure seats for Wednesday
night, and I wish you to continue my
treatment in this respect during the
season. Are you fond Of fowers7"
"Passionately.'
SCI will leave an order at the pharm-
mean the flower shop-for some roses
to be sent in the morning"
How lovely Of you"'
"And now I must leave you to see a
patient 1 was about to visit when your
call came"
"a lady?
"Yes; an elderly lady, a hypochon-
driac who tries me dreadfully. shall
prescribe for her. as in your case. not
drugs. but with view TO build up her
system"
what do you mean by that, doctorr'
anxiously.
ct shall send her or on a long trip"
DR.. Pttman- kept his engagements
with Mrs. Whiting-at least as soon as
he had seen his hypochondrfac patient
safely or on an ocean liner, with
medicine chest made up by himself to
suit her especial case-sent her flowers
regularly, and each day his manner
became more endearing. He was grad
ually leading up to q proposal that the
widow knew was coming, that he knew
she knew was coming. but between
two persons Of such delicate sensfofli-
ties must be made as O male angel
would make IL to a female angel. pro
vided there were marriage and giving
in marriage In heaven.
It came one October evening when
Mrs. Whiting felt that she needed DR..
Pitman's professional services or DR..
Pitman, as the case may be- She was
sitting before a Ere Of real blazing
lOgs-Mrs. Whiting scorned TO use
any Of those devices for Initiating an
open wood fre-dressed in q tea gown
that was extremely becoming to her.
She had been putting or DR.. Pitman's
proposal until she felt exactly In the
mood for It. DR.. Pitman. with exqui-
site tact, aware that she desired to
lead in the matter, left everything to
her. He was no stupid blunderer 10
step in at the wrong moment and was
prepared to speak when he received
the signal. Nor was 1t necessary for
the widow to make that signal tnordi-
nately plain. The doctor could breathe
It In with the perfumed air that sur.
rounded her lovely person.
q. -
was dressed for the evening when he
received a telephone call from Mrs.
Writings maid that her mistress
would like to have him come over n
he could do so at once. In ten min
utes he was with her. though he had
stopped on the way for flowers. His
patient was discernible only by the
freight. without rising she gave him
her hand. and when she looked up at
him there was that in her eyes which
told him the hour had come. He re-
tanned her hand for a moment, return
ing her glance. while with his other
hand he tossed the flowers he had
brought into her lap.
You are looking so well, so charm.
ing. this evening"" he said, that am
sure you have not sent for me to min
lister to your health, and 1 am pleased
| that It is so. for have something to
say to you that have been putting OF
from day to day. But before I say It
promise me, my dear Mrs. whiting.
that whatever It be II shall not break
up that delightful friendship which
has come to be q necessity with me-"
ST promise" she said In a low tone.
Then. bending low over her. he said:
MY whole being is dissoIving In an all
absorbing love for you. May dare
hope that You VIII be my wife?"
The old, old story. told times with
out number. and repeated over and
over again for the last 80 years, but
Il is always a welcome story to those