Purple Springs

indow blind, and the gasoline lamp grew sickly and pale, the doctor we

his part now to see that the minimum amount of pain would come to Pearl over it. She was young, and had all the world before her-she would forget. He had a curious shrinking from having her know that he had the disease, for like most doctors, he loathed the thought of disease, and had often quoted to his p

it, it all seemed so unnecessary-s

nd such a wonderfully skilful and tender nurse, that he would surely get well. For one blissful but weak moment, which while it thrilled it frightened him still more-he allowed himself to think it would be be

nt, and he was but a poor liar anyway. What could he tell Pearl? He would temporize-he would stall for time. She was too you

ng warmth that just for a minute filled him with gladness and a sen

lephon

he seized it

erday, and you need a long sleep-so don't disturb yourself-I'll be in about two o'c

arl," he answered,

, and Mary has to have another hank of yarn to finish the sweater she's knittin

pa

shed, "and we'll have the meeting which we a

said, "and good

tch, it was just te

one, he called long dis

greenhouse

use he got

rican Beauty roses on today's train, without

wisting his mouth. "The frosted ones are mine," he said to himsel

e her to come at the exact hour she had stated in her telephone message-and to the man who sat

t Pearl's gray coat and furs just needed the touch of crimson which her tam o'shanter and gloves supplied, an

ad shaved and dressed himself with the greatest care, telling himself it did not

ach detail, from the way his hair waved and parted back; the dull gold and purple tie, which seemed to bring out the bronze tones in his hair and the

he felt it, warming his heart and giving him the sense of well-being which P

Pearl had seated herself, at his invitat

ne day, Mi

ichest brogue, which he had often to

years old now," he s

on nineteen," she

between us-without witnesses, that we would defer all that was in our minds for three ye

d, withou

ally, I have thought of myself and my belongings. I wish to draw your attention to them-I am twenty-nine years old-I've got a ten

ling to get h

epeated, with her eyes on h

wn boots, and discusses politics with the retired farmers who gather in the hardware store. I catch myself at it quite often. Old Bob Johnson and I are quite decided there will be a war with Germany before many years. We don't stop at Canadian affairs-the world is not too wide for us! Yes, Pearl, here I am, a country doctor, with an office in need of p

tness of her eyes just for a mo

but there's not enough of me-I'm

he looked him up and down, and

t me, you make me forget what I was saying-I can't

ead away, but he could still

art with tenderness-"a long fight-and it is not over yet. I'm selfish enough to want you--that is about 99.9% of me is selfish, the oth

ned her head around

said-you cared-I have no right to think you do. I should remember

e been thinking-all the time-I've never stopped

e hates to utter. All the color had gone from his voice, all the flexi

. in ten years from now, when you are a woman grown, you might hate me for taking advantage of your youth, your inexperience, your chi

ry in them that smote his heart with pity. He had seen it in the fac

doing now, and know the sacrifice I am making, and come to me of your own free will-no, I did not intend to say tha

up and looked at him, with widely opened eyes. A girl of smaller soul might have misunderstood him, and at

ppose I remind you that you are not only a doctor, but the one that settles their quarrels and puts terror into the evil-doer. Who was it that put the fear into Bill Plunkett when he blackened his wife's eyes, and who was it that brought in the two children from the Settlement, that were abused by their step-father, and took the old ruffian's guns away from him and marched him in too! That's a job for a second-r

rs in a place and have every one depending on you, praising you-loving you-and being able to advise them and lead the young fe

I don't know whether it is love or not, it's something very sweet. It has made me ambitious to look my best, do my best and be my best. I want to make you proud of me-I will make you proud of me-see if I don't-I want to be with you, t

yes had the light in them, the tender, glowing light that seemed to flam

ent buried his face in her warm, white neck,

hard girl to give up-you make me forget all my good resoluti

rt with a sudden fear. Mothers know the different notes in their

ring, there was a bar between them-fo

s this-her mother's pessimistic way of looking at life was right-there were things too good to be true-she had been too sure of her happiness. The thought, like

now I like to be with you-and--all that-but I'm too young to be sure-and I'll get over this all right. You're right in all you say-and it's a good thing you are so wise about this-we might have made a bad m

s quick as she, her words deceived him, and t

I'm thinking of going North to teach-one of the inspectors wrote me about a school ther

nt of the glass, as she spoke. Manlike, he did not see that her hands tremb

are, Pearl," bro

her mask of unconcern broke into a thousand pieces by the pounding of her heart, which urged her to

will have a kindly thought for me, and know I was not a bad sort-you'll remember every word of this Pearl, and you will underst

w moments before she came in, but somehow he could not fr

s goin

"I cannot let you go like this-

lips from quivering. "I'm feeling fine over it all.

to know I was square-and loved you too well to take the kiss, which in after life might sting your face

e down. It was the drawn look in

up and kisse

e that won't leave a sting

was