Page 4 (2/2)

looks," said Gordon "Clara is perfectly well"

James said no more They walked on in silence under a pale sky Above a

low ht which indicated the

coes James walked

behind the doctor on the narrow blue stone hich served as

sidewalk

"This town hascouples," said

Doctor Gordon suddenly, and to Jaed It was far frohed "Yes, it would be difficult for two to walk ar," he returned

"Just so," said the doctor, "and the funny part of it is that this

narrow sideas intentional"

"Not for such a purpose?"

"Exactly so It was given to the town by a rich spinster who died about

twenty years ago It was given in her will on condition that it should

not be more than two feet wide"

"For that reason?"

"Just that reason She had been jilted in her youth, and her heart had

been wrung by the sight of her rival passing her very here she

sat watching for her lover, arm in arm with him It was in summer, and

the dirt sideas dry Sheshould be prevented"

They had just reached a handso close to the narrow

sidewalk In fact, its s opened directly upon it

"This is the house," the doctor said in corroboration Ja told fish tales Doctor

Gordonthat he resented it He resented it

the low of adoration in his heart for

that older wo about

her: how much older she was He said to hih to be his randmother even, there was no

one in the whole world like her

Then they came to the hotel, the Evarts House It was rather

pretentious, well built, with great colu double

verandas It was also well lighted It was evidently far above the usual

order of a road house Doctor Gordon entered, with Jareat low rooht of the door, which was

the bar-room Behind the bar stood an enor drinks The whole low interior was dim with

tobacco smoke, and scented with various liquors and spices There was on

one side a great fireplace, in which stood earthen pitchers, in which

cider was being

Nobody was intoxicated, but there was a general huusto of life about the place, an aniood cheer and

jollity It was in truth not respectable to get entirely drunk in Alton

It was genteel to becoutter forreater extent than inout Doctor Gordon as he entered Irin of

coiant behind

the bar "Hullo!" he responded "Just step into the other rooht away"

James followed Doctor Gordon into as evidently the state parlor of

the hotel There was haircloth furniture, and a any table, with

various stains of conviviality upon its polished surface There was a

fire on the hearth, and on the lass case of wax-flowers, also a stuffed canary under a glass shade,

pathetic on his little twig Doctor Gordon pointed to the flowers and

the canary "Poor old man lost his wife, when he had been married two

years," he said "She and the baby both died That was before I cah That was her bird,

and sheI suppose if the

hotel were to take fire Georgie K would go for theain?"

"Married again! It's ie K entered, his rosy face distended with a smile of the

most intense hospitality, and before Doctor Gordon had a chance to

introduce Jaentlemen?"

"This is my new assistant, froie K made a bow, and scraped his foot at the saesture "What'll you take?" he asked again That was

evidently his formula of hospitality, which must never be delayed

"Apple-jack," responded Doctor Gordon proie K has gin that beats the record, and

peach brandy, but when it comes to his apple-jack--it's worth the whole

State of New Jersey"

"All right," answered Jaany table with the

two lasses, a bottle, and a pitcher of hot water

Doctor Gordon dealt a pack of dirty cards while the hotel keeper poured

the apple-jack Ja at the elder doctor with

more and more amazes The torone from his face He was

sier

looked even a gentleman He had become of the soil, the New Jersey soil

As they drank and played, he told stories, and roared with laughter at

theed to the soil, they were folk lore, wild,

coarse, but full of huh Doctor Gordon drank freely of the

rich mellow liquor, it did not apparently affect hihtly flushed, that was all

Jaly The stuff seeoddess in the doctor's house He could ih disdain at him should he return under the influence of

liquor Besides, he did not particularly care for the apple-jack

It was ie K went to the door with theain," said Georgie

K, "and the sooner the better, and bring the young Doc We'll ood time"

Until they were near horuous conversation, telling story after story, and shouting with

laughter When they caht of the house Gordon stopped suddenly

and leaned against a great maple beside the road He stared at the

house, two of the upper s of which were lighted, and gave a great

sigh, alroan James stopped also and stared at hione to the doctor's head after all "What is the

, except the race is at a finish, and I aht as I always

auely

"Yes, the race with ht up with me, God help me,

and I am in its clutches The time may come when you will try to race

with self, my boy Let me tell you, you will never win You will tire

yourself out, and ain to-morrow I never learn the lesson, but perhaps you can, you

are young Well, coo

into the house My sister may be asleep She is perfectly well, but she

is a little nervous I need not repeat my request that you do not

mention your adventure with Clemency this afternoon to her"

"Certainly not," said James He walked on beside the doctor, and entered

the house, ht

he heard the faintest little lanced at Doctor

Gordon's face, and it was again the face of the ie K's