The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1912-08-23

lcappe1 by the old curse OF Eden
Young or old, rich or poor, he had
grown to class them indiscriminateIy
as patients of the Infinite. ever ailing.
These girls were not Of this class.
Every vibrant electric hair on their
lovely heads upheld its own affidavit
as to their perfect health, and even
while the doctor unused, impersonally.
professionally even. out stepped Car
lotta. her tawny curls clinging to her
head, huge turkish towel wrapped
around her shoulders over a dress Of
silk the color Of a lily leaf.
Sunlight and freight mingled, the
doctor thought, watching that radiant
topknot steal the suns glory. She low
cred her head and swept the curling
mass forward, and the doctor knew no
mans eyes had ever seen its like be-
fore.
He moved the curtains back with one
hand, and 10. the four lifted innocent
eyes OF wonderment, and Virginia
asked; Are we disturbing you. doc
tori"
And the doctor was abashed. He
protested that he was not being dis
turbed, but that it was great pleas
ure.
Bah chuckled. The doctor bowed
discreetly and withdrew his head,
seized his hat and went out for walk
to forget the view of the garden dis
closed.
I'm afraid we did disturb the doc
tor, girls" said Carlotta. Maybe he
isn't used to galaxy, girls"
Are we that, earlier" Bah cried
joyously. Something starry and beau
teous! He looked at you the longest"
His eyes were glued to your hair"
pronounced Jo
Carlotta laughed.
That's neat little picture, 10,
must say. Hope they come Off easily.
Remember once at school when a boy
threw chewing gum at my hair, i mean
my ripping curls, and you girls had
to cut it out before mother discovered
it.n
We'll, don't care" said Virginia.
firmly. Il think the doctor is just as
tame and intelligent as he can be-
Intellectual, Gene. Animals are in.
telligent.''
Man is the noblest brute Of all,
saith someone. He has most intelli-
gent face"
Every Saturday afternoon the doc.
tors study hour was interrupted by
what he called in his heart Of hearts
the hair washing festival of the houris
Did he watch for 1T? The doctor was
young and human. and he had an ap-
probation Of the beautiful. Also had
he not come to New York to study life
in all her myriad phases. Most of all
he watched for Carlotta and her
strange red gold curls, tawny as some
fox Of the woods And he prolonged
his weeks Of special study.
One evening he was late from lee
ture- AS he bounded up the stairs.
Mrs. Vernon met him. trifie pale and
worried.
Was there any accident in the sub.
way, doctor? The girls are late, too.''
None in the subway There's a big
fire uptown. stayed to watch them
take away the injured. It's the Wash
ington theater."
THE girls are there, Bah and Car
lotta and 10. Virginia stayed to keep
me company, Oh, doctor, my girls
The doctor became suddenly his pro-
,fessional self.
Get rooms ready. may be able to
bring them home. And keep yourself
steady. They will need you, you know.
Nobody was killed, Mrs. Vernon"
His CHEEKY. strong voice buoyed her
up even after the door slammed be-
hind him. Swinging along Waverly
place, around Fifth avenue, and SO to
the Eighth avenue stand, the doctor
took taxi up to the hospital where
the injured had been taken.
Yes, there was Miss Vernon, they
told him. Her sisters had only minor
injuries in the crush that followed the
fire panic.
He told them he was the Vernon
family physician, and was taken to the
long ward where Carlotta lay with
other girls and women. He drew the
screen around her cot and knelt.
Dear, dear, are you badly hurt ~
he asked huskily. For. the first time
in his career the doctor lost his pro-
fessional calm. Carlotta opened her
eyes and smiled
Not much. doctor, not nearly so
much as most Of the poor creatures.
My shoulder hurts. and-what do you
think-my hair caught fire from fall
ing curtain as we came from the
boxes. Not all Of tt"
It lay on the pillow about her, singed
and shortened. but beautiful as ever
and the doctor pressed his face down
on It.
Il came to take you home to your
mother. Carlotta." he said. DO you
mind?"
Mind what?" asked Carlotta.
Pm awfully in love with you. dear.
and upset. and-oh. don't you know
mhof ~ oil y,nooue -. -, = o,p