The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1913-01-31
1bo g. g 90 a.
STOLEN 9&
@ q SINGER,
By MARTHA BELLINGER,
q CoO>Fy0a7 /au mr. Hass,-~1GeeA4 eonea@T
MARTHA BELEINGER.
caoEfzaaZ ~ a Ao8a1 -lAAea4A oaMezl1y

match for us when we're Well"
Agatha's humorous smile rewarded
the doctors grim comments, II that
was what he wanted
NO, doctor" she said, with fleet
ing touch Of her old lightness, we're
never n match for you We may en-
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 greenlsh-blaclS 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 sisteT-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
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. A. 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 a 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, 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. Stoddards
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"
We'll" 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 a boat with
two men, and that it's judgment for
sin, your being drowned, or next door
tc it. I'm only saying this, my deay
Miss Agatha, 10 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 |
or Thayer's worried gaze, and inter /
'upted him in tones ringing with {
niger. |
DO you mean to tell me, Doctor !
rhayer, that your sister, the sister of |
ny mothers lifelong friend, sits in '
Ter house and imagines scandalous
tories about me, when she knows S
lothing at all about the facts or about t
ne? That she thinks / was out in a
Doat alone with two men? That she .
s mean enough to condemn me with Z
nut knowing the first thing about this s
wful accident? Oh, have no words!" il
md Agatha covered her burning face I
With her hands, unable, by mere A
peech, to express her outraged feel "
ngs. Doctor Thayer edged uneasily
bout Agatha's couch. with manner h
esembling that Of whipped dog. "
why, my dear Miss Agatha, Susan A
I'LL come round in time. She's not so s.
ad really. She'll come round in time, h
My just now we haven't any time to s
pare. Don't feel so badly; Susan is o
20 set in her views" 81