River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1913-03-13
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hands-as if they weren't more than
match for us when we're WE'LL"
Agatha's humorous smile rewarded
the doctors grim comments, If that
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 century or two
inspire you; but we're never 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
it was her duty to take care of that
poor boy in there, she'd come fast
enough"
Agatha was puzzled. She felt as if
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 it 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 prejudice against your
serving Satan, she calls
it. She thinks that's what actresses
and opera singers do, though how she
knows anything about it, l 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' s
attitude. Agatha meditated a mo-
ment.
IF it's merely 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 you
shouldn't have been out in boat with
two men, and that it's a judgment for
sin, your being drowned, or next door
to it. 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 sat 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 at all about the facts or about
me? That she thinks / was out in a
boat alone with two men? That she
| is mean enough to condemn me with
out knowing the first thing about this
awful accident? oh. have no words!"
And Agatha covered her burning face
! with her hands, unable, by mere
speech, to express her outraged feel.
ings. Doctor Thayer edged uneasily
] about Agatha's couch. with manner
resembling that of whipped dog.
why. my dear Miss Agatha, Susan
will come round in time. She's not so
bad. really. She'll come round in time,
only just now we haven't any time to
spare. Don't feel so badly; Susan is
too set in her views