Page 24 (1/2)

The confidence which Gordon had reposed in Jaiven him a measure of relief While he never for an instant

appeared like his old self, while the gaie K's

were not resus, which Janized to have been sih the

horrible ordeal of his life and keep his sanity, while he had now

settled down into a state of austere glooain to attend

to his practice and to take interest in it Clemency remained away for a

week

Then Gordon brought her hoht when James returned rather late from a call on a far-off patient

She si! Doctor Elliot," as if he had been the

ave her a

bewildered, half-grieved, half-angered look, which she seemed not to

notice Immediately after dinner she went to her own rooo upstairs Gordon nodded

at Jah the cloud of smoke

"She has taken a notion, my son," he said "She told eive no

reason She wished me to tell you I don't take her seriously She cares

as much for you as ever Girls are queer cattle She has soinable idea in her head, which will run itself out If I were you

I would pay no attention to it Simply take her at her word, and let her

alone for a little while, and she herself will urge you for a

reconciliation

I know the child She sith of time with any one whom she loves, and she does love you;

but she is freakish, and at times inclined to strain at her bit Perhaps

Annie Lipton has been putting ideas into her head against htened her, and they ht Girls hatch ht to be asleep They are queer cattle"

"The trouble began before Clemency went away," James said soberly He

was quite pale

"Trouble? What trouble?"

"I don't know All I know is, that the very day when Cleed to o out to help her off as I should naturally have done"

"Yes, I do re"

"I did not go because I was quite sure that she did not wish it She had

been very curt with me, and had shown me unmistakably that my attentions

were not welcome"

"And you don't knohy? There had been no quarrel?"

"Not the slightest I have not the faintest idea what the trouble is or

was, and why she wishes to break the engagement All I know is that as

suddenly as a weather vane turns from west to north, she turned, and

seemed to have no more use for me"

"Queer," Gordon said reflectively He eyed James keenly "You absolutely

know of no reason?"

"I absolutely know of none Cleht in this way There is nothing in my whole life, past

or present, which I could not spread before her like an open book, so

far as any fear lest it should turn her against me"

"I questioned her," Gordon said, "and she absolutely refused to give eed my mind, Uncle Tom' I asked her if she had seen

anybody else"

James flushed hotly "What did she say to that?"

"She said, 'Whom could I have seen, Uncle Tom? You yourself kno

many men I have seen here, and you know I never see men at Annie's'

There is no one else You may be sure of that, and also sure that she

still cares for you I know that from her whole manner She has simply

taken one of those unaccountable freaks which the best of girls will

take Just let her alone, and the whole will right itself She e itself, for all I know I

still cling to the idea that Annie Lipton has been putting ideas into

her head, in spite of what you say of her coldness before she went

there She may have started herself in the path, but Annie helped her

further on"

"Of course I loomily

Gordon started "Leave here?"

"Yes, of course Clemency will naturally not wish to have s"

"Cle to stay, Elliot"

"I don't feel as if I could, Doctor Gordon"

"Nonsense!"

"It will naturally not be very pleasant for

"Why not?" asked Gordon irritably "You are not a love-sick girl"

"No, I am not," James returned with spirit "I know I a it, like a man If Clemency does

not want me, I a her daily under the altered condition of things I a under a roof when you are an object

of aversion to a member of the household, is not exactly pleasant"

"You are not an object of aversion"

"Iman pitifully "For God's sake, then don't

leave me, Elliot," he said

James stared at him There was so much emotion in his face

"What do you think my life would be without you?" said Gordon "Aside

from your assistance, which I cannot do without, you are my only solace,

especially since Clemency is in this mood Stay for my sake, if it is

unpleasant, Elliot"

"Well, I will stay, if you feel so about it, doctor," Ja you shaht to her own "

"The worst of it is, it is not her mind I tell you I know that"

"I am not so sure"

"Wait and see! You underestihed sadly Then there was a knock on the office door and

Georgie K appeared He looked shyly at Gordon He had a bottle under

his arht do

you good," he stairl's

Gordon looked affectionately at hiie K," he said

"Sit down and ill have a galasses

Eerly He went out to the kitchen, but

Eham apron

"What do you want?" she deo back to the office, and I'll fetch the things," Emma said in a

hostile tone Ja a tray with

the hot water and two glasses, Gordon did not notice the oone out "Why, she only brought two

glasses," he said

Jaain "I don't think I'll

take anything to-night," he said

"Nonsense!" returned Gordon He went to the door and shouted for Eone upstairs so quickly," he said

But when after another shout he got no response, he went hiot a tuone upstairs at once," he reie K did not reard to Doctor Gordon When he left he shook hands with hiood care of himself

"I love that man," Gordon said, when the door had closed behind hiht he found fresh proof of Emma's

inexplicable hostility The room was in total darkness He lit matches

and searched for lamp or candles, to find none He fuot a little laht, and

read, as was his habit, after he had gone to bed, with exceeding