Year: 1870

that she could settle comfortably to moth
| ing; and was unable to rid herself OF q
| disagreeable sense OF something precious
being lost from het day.


1t sst the little lady thinking very Sc
riously, and, when she made her next
VISIT the doctors manner was not such
as TO lull her back into unconsciousness.
The watmth Of pleasure In his greeting
was tnfiiistakatlc, and his words had
meaning in their Jest.


generally like rainy day" he said
IL gives me some relief from the press
OF daily work, and even sometimes per-
mits me peep into book but | must
confess that yesterday was unmitigatedly
drearv. / missed more than one kind of
sunshine, and / am afraid l was abomina-
bly, cross TO the few patients who braved
the storm. Am | very selfish in hoping
that the rain disappointed you too, just a
little Bit on account of your eyes, OF
course, you known"


Now Flossy was very innocent and
childlike, but there was something In the
doctors look and tone, despite the play
fulness of his words, which she felt in
stinctively there should not be, coming
from him TO her which she knew neither
Fred nor the pretty little lady in the next
room would like. At the same time she
felt, with burning rush of blood to her
heart, that she could like it, far, far too
well, If she should allow herself, and her
resolve was taken on the instant. She
answered so quickly and naturally that
no one could have guessed what sudden
siege and repulse had been made within
the moment in the citadel of her quiet
seeming breast, nor could the doctor inn
agine that she had suspected danger or
intended defence.


eyes," said she, lightly cit was very
naughty in you, both TO wish me to feel
disappointed and to be cross to your poor
patients. You deserve punishment, and
shall administer il in the information
that this Is my last visit to you. Fred
was complimenting me only last night
upon my eyes said the violets were no
longer Overweighted with dew, and all
that sort of thing, you know. And, in
deed, find no longer answer to Jere-
miah's woful description of himself; my
head is no longer fountain of tears, nor
mine eyes rivers Of water; | can actually
read, write, and work, once more without
weeping, as though. / had been unkindly
chidden to my task For this blessed con-
summation, 1 shall be eternslly your
debtor, doctor; but it leaves me nothing
to do in the present but to bid you adieu,
with the assurances of my most distin-
guished consideration.


She spoke gayly, and her lips smiled,
but her hand trembled as she held it out,
and her face dropped, like flower on its
stalk, beneath the searching gaze of the
doctors clear gray eyes. The news had
come upon him like blow, none the less
heavy because for some time expected.
He read now the answering pain she
strove to hide in her faltering tone and
changing hue, and he felt wild longing
TO clasp her to his heart, Just for one
moment, and tell her how it hurt him to
let her go, and compel the sweet avowal
that the parting was as bitter to her. But
the mad thought was stifled as soon as
born; he felt that she had taken the only
wise, the only right course, and he com.
PEELED himself to answer her in the same
vein


"Weel, it's an i'll wind that blaws nae
body gude," he said, in broad Scotch
dialect, and with a mock rueful counte-
nance. ~ shall be left lamenting, but
you will be freed from my cruelties.
However, in order that you may not en-
tirely forget me. l shall bestow upon you
some parting Souvenirs. Here is medicine
to be taken whenever a chance cold may
bring return of the Inflammation; here
is a lotion to be applied occasionally, and
here is-a leech. | will screw him up so
tightly in this box that you may carry
him in your pocketif if you like. Keep him
in vase of pure water, and put him on if
at any time you should feel again that
congestion OF the balls. You will give
me thought, perhaps, as you change his
water daily, and | shall think of him feed
ing on more blue-veined temples, and"


Nonsense !" broke in Flossy, putting
back from the doctors hand the vase
which contained several of the blood
thirsty little reptiles if I need any more
such severe remedies, shall come to you
again. But I'have no fear that | shall,
thanks to your skill and your great kind
ness and patience." tt


Her voice was beginning to break again,
and she added, hastily:


"And now, doctor-friend-I must
really say good-by." She put out her
hand, and the doctor seized and held it
tight. "You will believe" she began,
again steadying her voice, but just then
the same door, whose opening had inter.
rupted them once before, opened again,
and the same sweet voice timidly request
ed "iust one word with Alec"


The doctor looked impatient


"Please stay just one moment longer"
he begged, darting out of the room before
she had time to refuse. He returned al
most Immediately, and Flossy said, in
reproachful tone:


IL am afraid you have not half listened
to what your wife had to say, DIR. Blu
chanan. am sorry you hurried so.
would much rather have waited till she
had finished"


The doctor stared at his patient in blank
amazement.


"My rODel What do you meanS" he
asked.


1t was Flossy's turn now to look sur
prised.


al mean your wife, of course" she said /;
"the lovely little lady who occupies the
next room, and whom you have just LETT" "


The doctor stood for a moment silent
and confounded, then broke into an ire
pressible laugh.


$50 you thought l was married, did
your" he said, in exceeding amusement.
I" l must tell Elsie that"


"And are you not, then?" asked Flossy,
in an eager, faltering tone. "But l saw
you, DR.. Buchanan-I beg your pardon,
but you left the door open-I saw you
with your arm about that young lady, and
her lips raised to yours"


With much hesitation and many blush
es, Flossy brought forward this terrible
charge, but the doctor only met it with
another uncomfortable laugh.


"And if you did," he said, as soon as
he could speak, "who has better right ?
Elsie is my only sister, and was married
six months ago to my partner, whose
house this is. She's such little goose
as to be still very fond of her big brother,
and every now and then has some won.
derful favor to ask of him, the granting
of which she repays with kiss. Poor
little Elsie how she will laugh when
tell her that she has been taken for my
wifep


FlossY laughed too, but it was very
tremulously, and the crimson flush still
dyed her downcast face, while her heart
beat in great throbs, and her breath came
too brokenly for speech. DR.. Buchanan
looked at her as she stood blushing and
qpivering, searched her dropping face
with his keen gray eyes, and sudden
great hoht naqhad OVER his own pOuntA.