Year: 1877

"Only about six months. / should
have remained a year longer, but all my
worldly goods being converted into
dust and ashes one night, it behooves
me to exchange the life of vagabond
for the practice of my profession, which
began here in preference to my native
city,"


The lightly spoken words seemed to
astonish her. "What misfortune"
she exclaimed.


q trust it will not prove so in the
end, he answered, thoughtfully, but
the next dance had already begun, and
the tetc q tete was interrupted.


Later in the evening his hostess said
to him playfully: You should feel
much flattered Miss Gresham has been
asking all about you, and it is not often
she takes so much trouble. OF course
you have fallen in love at first sight"


Perhaps L should If had not, long
since, outgrown such possibility Hal
answered carelessly.


Nevertheless, as he sat next morning
in his modest little office, Laura's beau
tiful face came between his eyes and the
dry reports of the medical works he was
reading, with such persistency, that it
was relief when the bell rang and he
was interrupted by message desiring
his attendance upon Mr.. Rhodes as soon
as possible


Rhodes! ~ thought Hal, as he pre-
| pared to obey the summons, surely l
have heard that name before. Why, it
is the same as that of my crusty old cor
respondent, and this is the city he lived
in. Strange never thought of it be-
fore / should like to see his little niece
again"


But when he reached the handsome
house to which he had been directed, he
found only an irascible, dyspeptic old
gentleman, who made no allusion to
any previous intercourse, and who
proved most exacting and exaspera-
ting patient. 1t was not until q third
visit that he found young lady in the
room, who was introduced as "my
niece, Miss Gresham"


So this was the poor, needy girl he
had succored = this courted belle and
heiress. Truly, circumstances had
changed with both of them since their
first meeting.


| have had the pleasure of seeing
DIR. Burgess BEFORE" she said, with u
slight hesitation; but beyond the sig
nificance that might be attached to those
few words,n reference was made TO any
previous incident in their acquaintance.
Apparently she desired that it should be
ignored, and Hal had far too much tact
and good breeding to betray by word or
j look his own remembrance of it. Yet
the course of several months profession
al attendance he became better acquaint-
ed with herself and her uncle.


The latter was confirmed invalid, to
whom his niece was exceedingly de-
voted, and she found an efficient aid in
the young doctor, who although his
practice was rapidly enlarging, some
how always managed to have considera-
bic time to devote to this special case.


Seeing Laura thus frequently and in
timately, Hal became more and more in
terested in her, and consequently this
persistent reserve, which apparently
arose from false shame of the past OF
shallow pride in the present, vexed and
puzzled him. 1t was the one blemish
he found in her character, and he nei.
ther understand it nor excused it.


1t kept him from falling in love, al
least from ever avowing his affection
one who attached such undue impor-
tance to wealth and position would
hardly tolerate the addresses of a poor
physician ,he reasoned, although Laura's
manner certainly gave him cause to ell
terLain contrary opinion. One morn
ing he met her in the hall.


"Can speak with you a. moment be-
fore you go to my uncle ?" she asked.


Certainly, he replied, following heI
into the reception room. Closing Its
door she came toward him, saying with
smile


:" Have you quite forgotten me Z"


"Surely, Miss Gresham need never
ask question like that he said gal
lantly. " Besides, / saw you yester
day."


i She made a slight movement of inn
patience.


! 81 do not mean that. want tc
know whether youIhave never guessed