The Columbus dispatch. (Columbus, Miss.) 19??-1922, 1922-01-15

hill game for you since, in conseq.
uence. | am pleased to see how well
you are getting on"
Mr.. Sharp continued to rsRnble on
in this strain for some time, giving
little information about myself, but
to my establishment, revealing no. lit
tie knowledge Of my history. Our
injecting terminated very cordially,
and he departed after receiving my
acceptance Of a pressing invitation to
dine with him at Shreveport on the
! following evening.
His home turned out to be very
charming and well-appointed domi-
cile. had made few inquiries in
directly through Polly (Polly was my
smart little parlor maid who used to
live in Shreveport and it seemed that
Mr. Sharp was a gentleman Of means,
with no ostensible profession, who
had been for about two years in his
present abode. His niece, young
lady of taking appearances, in Polly's
opinion, was the only other member
of the household, and they were not
favored by many, if any, callers. So
much for amateur detective work Ny
early impressions of Grace Farliegh,
my lovely patient, were distinctly
pleasing.
Mr.. Sharp made capital host: he
was CHEEKY and entertaining, and
Miss Farleigh, a fair-haired, blue
eyed, handsome girl, was as gracious
as she was beautiful. She was an
accomplished musician, playing well
and singing with asvoice that for tone
and sweetness is rarely equalled in
any drawing-room. They gave me
that pronounced luxury, a really good /
dinner, and | spent a most enjoyable
evening afterward.
Miss Farleigh and | became friends /
almost at once. | was drawn towards F..
her as much by her half-veiled shy
ness and maidenly manner as by her
rich beauty. That which appealed to
my curiosity in connection with my
visits to her was my inability to
fathom Sharp's motive in having re-
tanned my services for his niece. She
enjoyed perfect health.
| was requested by Mr. Sharp to
call regularly, and | did so most con-
but that Miss Farleigh
derived any benefit from my medi-
zines if she took them) | am not
to admit, though a check
which was forced upon me at an early
/ n 70 y1yac Nya,,y occapto hlo aud I oo,,tJ
not afford to quarrel with my bread
md butter.
Three months passed away. / was
lbsurdly happy. | suppose | must
nave been a gone coon" from the
irst. | knew that | was now head
and ears in love with Grace, and
although | had not diYulged my Sc
ret to her by an open proposal Of
marriage, she was not ignorant as to
low matters stood with me from a
ardiac view; neither, as | rightly
gathered a little later, was her uncle.
| was only waiting for a looking
lpward' in my practice, to plead my
owe with fervor and all the eloquence !
could command. But the practice
lid not look up" Indeed, things ]
were becoming worse and
worse with me. Bills rained down |
pon me with monotonous regular I
ty, and | was becoming desperate.
One evening, after | had been din $
ng with the Sharps, my host invited t
ne into his study for a smoke. 3
off that cop,atbipp mo-. Il, +Lo ,,.;,,l +
nd my surmisal was not Incorrect. c
you are looking gloomy tonight. a
Iardman," he'remarked, after we had |
elected chairs and relapsed into com p
Drtable attitudes. "You are in S
trouble financially, Ell? / o
now it, and you will find it to your ST
dvantage to be plain with me-" n
! hardly knew how to express my y
Elf, and confessed lamely enough 81
nat | was more or less on my last 3"
gs. He continued without com Il
tent:
you are, also, think in love S;
18th Oracle. Is it not so?"
at is quite so, Mr.. Sharp. =.
My companion gazed into my face, u
eomical smile playing about his q
ps.
His bluntness positively amazed
G. al
Il fear that what cannot support al
Re would be a poor living for two" d'
said after a moments thought If "
could afford to marry your niece ! 10
ould gladly do so tomorrow" al
you mean that" m
Most certainly / do. / love her"
He arose from his chair and stood M
side me, looking into my eyes
eadily. Listen, Hartman. Oracle al
"A lady by birth and education; she
also as good a girl as ever breathed. M
he has no relations in the world saw
& myself, and ! may leave her at
" time. ] have made inquiries Sc
out you and know your past to
a clean one. Given a helping hand IT
the start you would succeed at the "a
Iish. Tell me. how much would We
u require to buy a good practice. m'
to start in a fair way against
binary opposition ?" JOG
was becoming more and more as
lished. Was the man going to a
opt me?
1T would be possible 10 do the
ing decently for $4,000. would Il 81