Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1913-07-11
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BIZ MARTHA bELLINGER
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, MARTHA BEdINGER


a match for US when we're well!
Agatha's humorous smile rewarded
the Doctors grim comments. IL that
was what he wanted.
NO, 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 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 IL you could get her to think that
II 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 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 it simply because I 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 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
il. She thinks that's what actresses
and opera singers do, though how she
knows anything about it, don't see.
The grim smile shone in the doctors
eyes even while he looked. hal
anxiously. to see how Agatha was TAX
ing his explanation of Mrs. Stoddard'
attitude Agatha meditated a mo
ment.
IF it's merely a prejudice in tn,
abstract against my being an oper;
singer, I think she will overcome that
Besides, Mr. Hambleton Is neither al
actor nor an opera singer; he ism
serving Satan"
we'll" the doctor hesitated, an,
then went on hastily, with a grea
show of irritation, "Susan's a littl
set in her views. She disapproves o
the way you came here; says yol
shouldn't have been out in boat wit
two men, and that it's a judgment 70
/ sin, your being drowned. or next doc
to It. I'm only saying this. my dea
| Miss Agatha. to explain to you VIII
. Susan"
81 But Agatha was enlightened at las
] and reused sufficient to cause two re
spots, brighter than they had eve
! been in health, to burn on her cheeks
5 She sat up very straight. facing Do
! tor Thayer's worried gaze, and int
5 rupted him In tones ringing wit
, anger.
DO you mean to tell me. DoctC
e Thayer, that your sister, the sister (
4 my mothers lifelong friend, sits
q her house and imagines scandaloU
a stories about me. when she know
1 nothing at all about the facts or aboV
l. me? That she thinks | was out In
e boat alone with two men? That 81
is mean enough to condemn me wit
!. out knowing the first thing about tn
t awful accident? oh. have no words
l. And Agatha covered her burning IA
with her hands. unable, by me-
e speech, to express her outraged fet
{ ings Doctor Thayer edged uneasi
/. about Agatha's couch. with a mann
}. resembling that of a whipped dog.
/, why. my dear Miss Agatha. Suss
t will come round In time. She's not |
d bad. really. She'll come round In tim
y only just now we haven't any time
n spare. Don't feel so badly; Susan
3 too set In her views"