The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-04-10

The Eperine Story

(By Louise Alice knox.J

| vUhen flaa eminent nerve spectansls
mr. j. Mead Ferguson. opened his OF
NC door and stepped into his waau9e
room he experienced q decided snocA
There, sitting among the, otne1 pau's'el
.:Moily." he cried in surprised
araaxenent, starting forward Whars
the matter-feel sinck?'
The anxiety in his face changed to
an expression Of utter blankness q
Good morning, DIR. Ferguson! No
rm no sicker than these other pa
tients-I can wait my turn very eas-
ilyi"
'wait your turn!" he repeated the
phrase dazediy. He started down into
Molly's calm lace with Gasping IN
credulity.
molly, what does this meanT' he
demanded under his breath.
But he received only a smile Tor
answer.
Plainly, Molly did not intend to ex-.
plain her strange visit until her turn
came. After q moment Of waiting, DR..
Ferguson turned ana beckoneo tho
patient next In line.
As he took the nervous patient into
the inner office and began q test OF
her heart, he puzzled over the cause
Of his wife's visit.
ITS the newspaper work." he de-
around me by. pleading nervous. con-
ditions brought on because she can't
have her own way. Oh. you sly little
Mollyi"
Yet, though it amused him to see
the girls clever slyness. his will was
az firmly set as ever against the idea
OF Molly's taking up newspaper work.
Not only would her social friends hold
| up their hands in horror at such q
move; a step Of that sort would re-
fleet upon him. AS If the wife Of DR..
J. Mead Ferguson had to work!
So when Molly at last came into
the inner ONCE aud took the chair by
the great f1at-topped desk. although
her husbands eyes twinkled at the
entirely feminine method to get around
him. - stqwe4 in Grey ilne him
AN iron Opposition.
cease OF nerves because you can't
do newspaper work. he anticipated
Molly's hands dropped Imply into
her lap. She looked long and re-
proachfuily into his amused face.
Then she dropped her eyes. A tear
| slipped out from under long lashes.
| II thought you could do for me as
much as you do for other patients
hear them out with an unprejudiced
said sadly. II guess I'd better go"
But as she rose. he stopped her.
Something IN her manner touched the
deepest chords in his nature. He look
q feeling OF genuine contrttiOn. She
looked SO pretty and childish standing
there!
Come, sit down again and TIL treat
/ you as a patient" he said. 1eniently.
| why, Of course, I'll treat you as
treat other patients, IL you want me
tO-aS IL couldn't do that much for
4 my wife! This shall be just a profess
l stonal visit If you wish it. 1t was mean
Of me to take that stand"
''It was" she said simply. sitting
down again. II mean to pay you for
Il this. want it to be a real profession
al. call. For although it may not seem
to you that have nerves. have! Oh,
i I've been miserable for weels!"
Il DR.. J. Mead Ferguson settled him.
self back in his swivel chair. He put
his finger tips together as he did when
Il other patients sat before him, and
tried to imagine that tho beautiful.
troubled girl in the big chair was not
his wife at all, but an absolute stran-
ger. It was an unusual role for q hus-
band to assume. but, after all, was not
} as much as he would do any other
patient7
you've been feeling miserable" he
repeated judicialiy. We'll. that GER
, tainly looks like nerves. Nerves are
the result Of worry"
without looking at Molly, he knew
that she had Strengthened and wa
noting thankfully that he meant ia
; deal with her tmpersonally.
Nov, what are you worrying about
Mrs. Ferguson? There must DO q
cause for your worry"
He congratulated himself on his sell
control; It had taken no small effort
to say mrs. Ferguson!"
! To his surprise. Molly Jumped to hel
feet and began to pace the floor
Seeming to forget him entirely. she
passed up and down before his desk
His eyes took on shade Of alarm
: as he noted that her hands were
clenched and her step had that catlike
clinging quality which he had seer
only in extreme cases of nerves.
He leaned forward and stared u
] her In surprise. Had he, then, beer
blind to this side Of his wife? Wa
she in reality a moro highfy-stfunl
p creature than he had always believed
. He listened tensely, whom her voice
. tsuddenly rose in an outburst Of re.
. bellion:
"oh, I've always worried!' she cried
vibrantly, seemingly to herSelf. y
. member when it first began. ThA,
wanted to teach music then. had
: 1 studied and studied with that hope IL
+ my heart. wanted to spread beaut,
in the World by helping other girl. +
) seemed to be the most beautiful fhinl
one could do I saw NO shame II
3 Teaching. I don't see any now! Blu
my mother forbade It. She seemed Il
Z spreading beauty i'm the world. She
: told me that our social friends Wouli
Be ohocked-thAt' they wouldn't b
able to understand my earning m,
~And. q. she ended bitterly. I'm,
2 dreaMa were Arugtrnted- Ny aznbd
ktten was killed. rave MP music ~
eeEoay. 1omeAoWs nMnan oeoDod e