Mrs. Red Pepper

at dinner, "that shall coincide with mine.

n a matter-of-fact tone, this explanation of his abstraction much as he might h

ll ward, Bob. Bob's six-year-old brain seemed to

doesn't agree it's a prejudice," replied Burns. He forestalled further questioning from

ter. Field's is non-committal. Buller would like to back me up-good old Buller-but is honest

send for it?"

me time-By George! There's Leaver! I heard the other day that Leaver was at a sanitorium not a hundred miles away,-there for a rest. I'll wager he's there with a patient fo

Leaver of Baltim

Do you happen

y reputation-a g

sses ahead of me. I was with him again for a winter in Germany, when we were both studying there. If I can get him over here for a da

tween the salad and the dessert he was summoned to t

the case at luncheon at the Everett, take him to the hospital afterward, bring him out here to discuss things, and give him one of your dinners. Then

d. "He has such a quiet manner, and such a cool, calm way of looking

when he does come to the point of operating,-he's a wonder. Talk about rapidity and brilliancy! And he never turns a hair. I've often wanted to count his pulse at a crisis, when he'd found something unexpected-one of those times that sends mine racing like a

large, comfortable one? Which will appeal to h

ets many of the really homelike sort, living alone with servants, in the old fa

would be quite able to supply a reason," suggested Ellen,

into flame at the sight of a match in the distance. Yet he's by no means a cold-blooded proposition. His heart is as warm as anybod

e Red Pepper had insisted upon having the telephones extended to the upstairs rooms, and during that period two more rooms had been furnished and put in readiness for the guests whom it was a part of Mr

t perhaps he's not above enjoying little softnesses of comfort. I believe I'll have a small fire for him, June though it is. It's a cold June, a

r two became a deluge. In the midst of it she discovered a white-clad figure running across the lawn,

rs to meet her, herself clad in dinner dress of the pale lilac which suit

d, dripping, on the porch outside the office, while Ellen, in the open door, motioned

t's turned ever so cold, as I can feel. It may rain for an

shivering, came inside, and when her clothing had ceased to drip moisture, followed Ellen upstairs. Presentl

for I've been wishing all the afternoon I had asked somebody to make a fourth at our table, to meet Dr. Leaver. And now I shall have the pleasu

n she had which made her for the moment almost pretty and certai

air and put on this simple frock, which I'm confident will just suit you. You're a bit taller, I know, but the dress is long for me, and will be quite the right length fo

d to her guest, smiling so coaxingly that Miss Mathewson yielded without another word of protest. When the h

wanted everybody to think there wasn't much of it? Do let me try dressing it for you in a way I know, which it seems to me would just su

to feel strange, wearing your clothes and staying to dinner. Do you realize how f

ty,' it's home. Now, please keep quite still, and don't distract my mind, while I la

eam of things as they ought to look. When the last confining pin was in place she viewed the fair head befor

ut that distinguished profile that's been obscured all this time. Do you see?

pleaded Amy Mathewson, her cheeks again floodi

. I'll slip the frock over your head without disturbing a hair, and then we'll go down, f

rer recognized or not its perfection of detail, she could but see that it suited her to a nicety, both in hue-a soft apricot shade-and in its absence of

self-appointed lady's maid, merrily, as she led her ch

glass, gave her back a picture such as she had never dreamed could be made by herself

orce her to stare long at such a stranger. It might make it difficult fo

n the friendly way of her own which came still more naturally now that the uniform was gone. Togethe

he tall, distinguished figure she well remembered, with the clean-cut features, the fine eyes rather deep set under heavy brows, the firm yet sensitive mouth. Yet, after a moment, as Dr. John Leaver stood talking with her, she observed a car

ty consultation with her husband, as he dressed with t

e quite well, Red,-

can guess fairly well for myself. I could see, all through our consultation, that he held himself in hand with an effort. The old keenness was there, but not the old command. He's worn out, for one thing,-though there may be

face and put up into that tight coil on the top of her head. Dressing it properly has made tw

's by no means old, and you've made her young,-bless your generous heart! I don't know how you ever managed to get her consent, though. She thinks that uniform

him there," said

nners ought to set him up, and Amy Mathewson won

ay do for her. She will surprise you some time,

game. You can be trusted to bring out every one's

't imagine Redfield Pepper Burns allowi

s to say, won't yo

ld destroy a certain ideal. Stop laughing! One of yo

ar adjusted according to their own notions. Another dream shattered!-Well, here goes for the last time. If I can't get it right now I'll go in and implore Jack to do it for me.

er looked a tall and sombre figure, and the contrast between him and his friend, as Re

icle of superfluous fat, but good, solid structure, I should say. One wouldn't

s keen eyes on his friend's face. "The difference between us is that every inch of you represents con

"That sounds like you," he said. "I suppose many men envy other men the possession of some supposed sour

sedate young woman who was accustomed to hand him instruments and sutures, ligate arteries, and attend to various minor matters from the other side of his operating-table. He wondered why he had never before noticed how much real individuality she possessed, nor how really attractive she was of face and person.

came, perfectly served, upon the table. It was such a dinner as he himself delighted in, unostentatious but satisfying, with certain touches, here a

ndizer. Nobody made any comment whatever upon Dr. Leaver's lack of appetite, but all three noted, with growing concern, that there were moments when he seemed to keep up wit

support than was possible in any other place. After a little he seemed less fatigued, and charmed them all with his pleasant discourse. Burns himself was soon s

rella isn't due at home till the clock strikes twelve," he whispered. "Besides,-the Prince isn't in

triking picture, the woman in her rich and still youthful beauty, her smile a thing to wonder at, her voice low music to the ear; the man, though no older than Burns, worn and grave, yet with a strangely winning personality, and eyes which seemed to see far beneath the surface. In all Amy Mathewson's experience with the men of Burns's profess

end of the davenport, breathing short, his face turning pallid, ashen. Ellen rose to her feet in dismay, but Amy Mathewson sprang toward him, drew

felt his pulse and nodded at Amy, who hurried quietly away. She was back very quickly, handing Burns a tiny instrument ready for use. In a moment more the suppo

in no time. You were too tired to play society m

e easily, and a trace of colour had come back to his

er-ashamed

s coming to her. You're going up to bed in a few minutes, and you're going to stay there till the rest

surprised protest, an

r. Burns, that that

he is, Leaver, the most accomplished of her guild, and my right-hand m

ck, that something more in keeping with the duties of

ill, to speak of keeping him in be

d plainly all the evening. I'm going to run home, Mrs. Burns; my wet things must be quite d

hers. The new fashion of her hair had changed her appearance very completely, and the youthful look it had restored to her remained, to

d carried him upstairs. The exertion made him breathe a little heavily for a moment, but that was all. Leaver was not a l

you," Leaver said, sadly, as

lt, many a time, when I've watched you. But you've been

than to try to argue it out with him just then. Instead, with a warm grip of the hand, he turned his