The Pulaskian., 1915-12-24
BRUNETTE PREFERRED
By HOPE AINsLIE.

lt not any question or sentiment at all, the doctor said with dignity. "A brunette is more reliable and sta ble in disposition, Nelson; that is all. want a girl who can take hold of D cottage and handle it. Put brunette preferred in the ad, and I'll pick her out when they begin to arrive
 Nelson drew sigh and typed the ad to catch the mail Three days later. even while answers by mail were pill ing up for him to select from, the down train from Beauchamp left young woman on the. platform, and after one quick survey of the barren landscape she headed for the low brick factory buildings down near the river.
 She's got red hair, doc," Nelson announced gently, as he hunted up the doctor and told him of his visitor.
 She had. Undeniably red, and her hazel eyes, brimful of determination, overcame the doctors aversion and got her the position.
 She talked little. When she had oc- casion to come to the office. Nelson heard her humming to herself all the way along the corridor
 Now, even Nelson was aware that he was not an ordinary looking young person. He was nephew to old Rath- burn, the owner of the Rathburn Malleable Iron works. It had been his idea and suggestion to take the hospital department out of the build ings and build decent cottage out at the end of the yards, where acci- dent cases could be handled.
 Doctor O'Farrell had backed him up. While he held his own practice in the small manufacturing town he was under contract to the works to patch up the accident cases. Sometimes week went by without any
 Louise Hall was her name. She came from northern New York. Nell son found that much out the day the big belt caught at her dress skirt as she passed it's lower shaft, and he pulled her away.
 Don't use this passageway," he told her sternly. "One of our boys was caught here and landed up against the wall yonder.'
 You ought to have the belt pro- tected," she answered coolly. Where upon, thinking it over, Nelson went to his uncle and had the belt pro- tected. So in one way and another she introduced better and more care full system into the works. Life was precious thing she taught even the doctor, while he smiled and wished her hair were a few shades darker. Red hair was a sign of a preponder-. ance of executive ability he told Nell better than he had expected. Then came the day when Big Kalmuck, the foreman over in the gray iron division, | tumbled over with the heat and when he came to attacked the doctor.
 There was no one in the hospital cottage when it happened but the nurse and a couple of patients, but somehow a cone soaked in chloroform was pressed over Kalmuck's nose from behind and he dropped in a quiet, innocent heap at the doctors feet
 By the time Nelson answered Miss Halls phone call the doctor had slipped down beside him, protesting that he was not hurt, but Kalmuck's knife still remained neatly plugged betw zen his ribs and he became pa tient at the cottage under the com pany's care.
 It was the end of the first week and Nelson was saying good night. The door into the little side room was ajar, but the doctor had been sleeping, and she stepped out for glass of fresh water. There Nelson held her hands in his, and the glass was forgotten while he told her all she had been to him ever since she had first come. And the tears came into her eyes as she listened to the boy.
 I'm sorry, Nelson, know it should be you, but it isn't. You're everything that man should be to win a girl, but that cross, self-opinionated, fault finding, irritable creature yonder"- she brought out each word between her teeth, and each one had a nod from the white cap-"he's the man like best, and heaven only knows why"
 After Nelson had gone she stepped back into the room, and the doctors eyes were open watching her.
 'sI heard every word you said,' he told her, bit brusquely. You should not have refused Nelson. He's fine fellow and will inherit money" ''It's time for your powder" she an swered with professional indifference.
 q prefer brunette" the doctor went on thoughtfully, but with twin kle in his eyes.
 "You are gaining strength said Louise. coolly. You can still rebel"
 "Confound it, don't you know" ex- claimed the doctor irritably, punching his pillow under his head, that I'm going to ask you to marry me? I've been restraining the impulse for days;