The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1913-08-28

Ing touch Of her old iightness. we're
never a match for you. We may en-
terrain you or morse you or feed you
or possibly one In a century or two
inspire you; but we're never a match
for you"
For which Heaven be praised!"
calculated the doctor f~ervently.
Agatha watched him as he fumbled
nervously about the room or clasped
his hands behind him under his Ions
coat'tails. The greenish.black frock.
coat hung untidily upon him. and his
white fringe OF hair was anything but
smooth. She perceived that some
thing other than medical problems
troubled him.
Would your sister-would Mrs.
Stoddard-be willing to come hele to
take care OF Mr.. Hambleton? ?" she ven
tured.
Ask me that" snapped the doctor,
when no man on earth could tell
whether she'll come or not. She says
she won't. She's hurt and she's out
ragged; or at least she thinks she ia.
But IL you could get her to think that
1t was her duty to take care of that
poor boy In there. she'd come fast
enough
Agatha was puzzled. She felt as n
there we're a dozen ways to turn and
only n way that would lead her
Alright; and she could not find the
clue to that one right way. At last
she attacked the doctor boldly.
tell me. Doctor Thayer." she said
earnestly, "just what 1t is that causes
Mrs. Stoddard to feel hurt and out
ragged. Is II simply because / have
inherited the money and the house?
She can not possibly know anything
about me personally"
The old doctor thrust his under Jaw
out more belligerently than eve
while turning his answer over in his
mind. He took two lengths OF the
room before stopping again by
Agatha's side and looking down on
her.
"She says 1t isn't the money, but
that it's the slight Hercules put upon
her for leaving the place. our old
home. out OF the family. That's one
thing: but that isn't the worst. Susan's
orthodox. you know. very orthodox;
and she has a prejudice against your
profession-serving Satan, she calls
II. She thinks that's what actresses
and opera singers do, though how she
knows anything about II. / don't see."
The grim smile shone in the doctors
eyes even while he looked, half
a~nxiously. to e how Agatha was TAX.
Ing his explanation OF Mrs. ~Stoddard's
attitude. Agatha meditated a mo-
ment-
III it's merely q prejudice In the
abstract against my being an opera
singer. I think she will overcome that
Besides, Mr.. Hambleton Is neither an
actor nor an opera singer; he isn't
serving Satan"
well" the doctor hesitated, and
then went on hastily. with a great
show Of irritation, "Susan's a little
set In her views. She disapproves OF
the way you came here; says you
shouldn't have been out in a boat with
| two men, and that It's a Judgment for
sin, your being drowned. or next door
to 1t. I'm only saying this, my dear
Miss Agatha. to explain to you why
Susan"
But Agatha was enlightened at last,
and reused sufficient to cause two red
spots. brighter than they had ever
been In health. to burn on her cheeks
She a up very straight. facing Doc.
tor Thayer's worried gaze. and inter
rupted him In tones ringing with
anger.
do you mean TO tell me, Doctor
Thayer. that your sister. the sister OF
my mothers lifelong friend, sits In
her house and imagines scandalous
stories about me. when she knows
nothing ut ali about the facts OF about
me? That she thinks I was out In q
boat alone with two men? That she
is mean enough to condemn me with
out knowing the first thing about thin
awful accident? oh. I have IL words!'
And Agatha covered her burning facs
! with her hands, unable. by mere
speech, TO express her outraged feel
ings. Doctor Thayer edged uneasil,
about Agatha's couch. with a mannel
resembling that Of a whipped dog.
why. my dear Miss Agatha. SusaI
will come round in time. She's not 81
bad. really. She'll come round in time
only just now we haven't any time Il
spare. Don't feel go badly; Susan Il