The Rice belt journal. (Welsh, Calcasieu Parish, La.) 1900-19??, 1913-06-27

ing touch or her old IgntneSS, 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 feryently.
Agatha watched him ~ he fumbled
nervously about the rooln or clasped
his hands behind him under his long.
coat-taiis, The greenish-b 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 II
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, lust 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
Agathas 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
q orthodox, you know. very orthodox;
i and she has prejudice against your
notwithstanding Satan. she calls
q it. She thinks that's what actresses
!. and opera singers do, though how she
o knows anything about 1t, | don't see
q The grim smile shone In the doctors
n ewes even while he looked. halt
n anxiously, to see how Agatha was TAX
. ing his explanation of Mrs. Stoddard'
+ attitude. Agatha meditated a mo
Il ment.
: .If it's merely prejudice In thu
10 abstract against my being an operi
e singer, think she will overcome that
! Resides. Mr.. Hambleton is neither al
10 actor nor an opera singer; ne Ism
d. serving Satan"
in well" the doctor hesitated' an
n then went on hastily, with grea
~ show of irritation, "Susan's litti
~ set in her views. She disapproyes 9
ID the way you came here; says 70
:. shouldn't have been out In boat Wit
Ut two men. and that It's judgment 10
90 sin your being drowned, or next doc
to it. I'm only saying this. my dea
- xie. AGATHA to explain to you WIN
ce Susan
But Agatha was enlightened at las
~ ond reused sufficient to cause two re
mt snots brighter than they had eve
noon in health, to burn on her cheek
M Che sat up very straight, facing DO
70 tor Thayer's worried gaze. ana inte
IN runted him in tones ringing WI
an anger. na.
"Do you mean to tell me. Doct
nhoyor that your sister. the sister
-. INV mothers lifelong friend. sits
"a ber house and imagines scandaio
h,a stories about me, when she knoN
an, nothing at all about the facts or apo
maq That she thinks was out IN
ba heat alone with two men! Inae =
:, ID mean enough to condemn me WI
On out knowing the first thing about u
, . awful accident? oh. ! have no woraa
hat And Agatha covered her burning -
nd with her hands. unable. by me
COO sneech, to express her outraged re
ings Doctor Thayer edged uneas
md about Agatha's couch. with q mann
, hat resembling that Of whipped dog
,on. "Why, my dear Miss Agatha, sua
"ns will come round in time. She's not
he bad, really. She'll come round IN u
sn.t only just now we haven't any time
san spare Don't feel so badly; susan
a.a too set In her Views
Oh, set" cried Agatha. Shes
Igh, horrid. unehristian woman
l sns ooh no." demonstrated the doc'
uhv "susan's all right. when you once
~ used to her. She's trife old-fasni
ems ed in her views"
han But Agatha was not listening to
: Doctors feeble justification OF sus
rsed she was thinking hard,
that Doctor Thayer," she urged, 40