The Elbert County tribune., 1913-05-02

tertain you or nurse you or feed you
or possibly once in a century or two
inspire you; but we're never a match
for you"
For which Heaven be praised!'
calculated the doctor fervently.
Agatha watched him as he fumbled
nervously about the room or clasped
his hands behind him under his long
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 here 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 is.
But If 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 IL
there were dozen ways to turn and
only one 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 It is that causes
Mrs. Stoddard to feel hurt and out
ragged. Is 1t 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 ever,
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 It 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
rofession-serving Satan. she calls
1t. She thinks that's what actresses
and opera singers do. though how she
knows anything about 1t. don't see."
The grim smile shone In the doctors
eyes even while he looked. half
anxiously. to see how Agatha was TAX
ing his explanation of Mrs. Stoddard' IS
attitude. Agatha meditated mo-
ment.
IF it's merely a prejudice in the
abstract against my being an opera
singer. 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 yor
shouldn't have been out In boat witt
two men. and that it's Judgment fol
sin, your being drowned. or next dool
to It, I'm only saying this. my deal
Miss Agatha. to explain to you VIII,
Susan"
But Agatha was enlightened at last
and reused suffi cient to cause two rec
spots. brighter than they had eve
been in health, to burn on her cheeks
She sat up very straight. facing Doc
tor Thayer's worried gaze. and inter
rupted him in tones ringing will
anger
DO you mean to tell me, Docto
Thayer. that your sister, the sister o
my mothers lifelong friend, sits II
her house and imagines scandalou
| xtrho ha L.
nothing at all about the facts or abou
me? That she thinks / was out in
boat alone with two men? That sh
is mean enough to condemn me with
out knowing the first thing about thi
awful accident? oh. have no words! !!
And Agatha covered her burning fac
with her hands. unable. by mer
speech, to express her outraged fee
ings Doctor Thayer edged uneasil
about Agatha's couch. with manne
resembling that OF whipped dog.
why, my dear Miss Agatha, Susal
will come round in time. She's not g
bad. really. She'll come round In time
only just now we haven't any time t
spare Don't feel so badly: Susan /
too set in her views"
-'Seti'" cried Agatha. 'She's
horrid. unchristian womanl"
"Oh, no." demonstrated the doctor
"Susan's all right. when you once ge
used to her. She's trife old-fashior
ed In her views"
But Agatha was not listening to tn
doctors feeble justification OF Susar
She was thinking hard
Doctor Thayer." she urged. do yo
want that woman to come here to TAX
| care Of Mr. HambletonY Isn't ther