The Madison journal. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1888-current, 1913-06-21
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q match for us when were WE'LL"
Agathas humorous smile rewarded
the doctors grim comments. II tnat
was what he wanted.
mo. DOCTOR" she said. with fleet
ing touch OF her old lightness. we're
never a match for you. We may en-
terrain you or nurse you or feed you'
or possibly once in a century or two
inspire you; but we're never matcn
for you" 49,,
For which Heaven be praised!
calculated the doctor fervently.
Agatha watched him as he fumbled
nervously about the room or ciasped
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 II 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 II
there were a 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, lust what it is that causes
Mrs. Stoddard to feel hurt and out
ragged. Is 1t simply because l 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
4 she says 1t isn't the money. but
that it's the slight Hercules put upon
3 her for leaving the place, our ole
|. home, out of the family. That's one
q thing; but that isn't the worst. Susan's
q orthodox. you know. very orthodox;
D and she has a prejudice against youl
n Notwithstanding Satan, she calls
v II. She thinks that's what actresse!
I and opera singers do, though how sh'
Il knows anything about it, / don't see
? The grim smile shone In the doctor
q eyes even while he looked. hal
e anxiously, to see how Agatha was tab
, ing his explanation OF Mrs. Stoddard'
q attitude. Agatha meditated me
J. ment.
n "If it's merely a prejudice In tn
h abstract against my being an oper
% singer, I think she will overcome tha
10 Resides. Mr.. Hambleton is neither a
ID actor nor an opera singer: he ism
a. serving Satan"
ut well" the doctor hesitated. an
IS then went on hastily. with a gres
show of irritation, "Susen's a littl
m set In her views. She disapproves {
ce the way you came here; says yo
shouldn't have been out in boat wit
nd two men. and that it's a judgment Il
nut sin. your being drowned, or next dot
to 1t. I'm only saying this, my de;
nd Miss Agatha. to explain to you wi
re. Susan"
Do But Agatha was enlightened at lai
an and reused sufficient to cause two r.
spots, brighter than they had ev
nd been In health, to burn on her cheel
as She sat up very straight. facing d.
md tor Thayer's worried gaze, and int
his rupted him In tones ringing wi
ap anger.
DO you mean to tell me. Doct
he Thayer, that your sister. the sister
Of nv mothers lifelong friend. sits
on her house and imagines scandalt
3 q stories about me. when she kno
hat nothing at all about the facts or abb
ard. me? That she thinks ! was out II
see boat alone with two men? That
ia mean enough to condemn me w
md. out knowing the first thing ABOUT
hat awful accident? On. nave no woro
con. And Agatha covered her burning I
and with her hands. unable. by m
be speech, to express her outraged {
sn't ings Doctor Thayer edged unea
san, about Agatha's couch. with man
ase. resembling that Of whipped dog.
ght, why. my dear Miss Agatha. Su
light will come round IN time. snes no
And bad. really. She'll come round IN q
why only just now we haven't any tim
on spare. Don't feel so badly; Susa
ems too set In her views