Argosy All-Story Weekly, July 7, 1928 — page 124: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

264 called peremptorily for Dr. Vincent to come and relieve him of responsibility, explaining that the girl was ill and in need of attention. Vincent came quickly and conducted the Samaritan and his burden to his own apartment. He listened gravely to the harrowing story of the night, after placing Hetty gently on a couch. “Too bad! Too bad!” he said sor- rowfully. “I can’t tell much about her yet. It’s exhaustion—collapse, you see. How far it will go remains to be seen. “You did the right thing, Tristram,” he added feelingly. “‘ She couldn’t have lived in that place. But pardon me if I ask you what—well, what you propose to do with her. That’s your own per- sonal business, to be sure, but I’m sin- cerely interested. Do you contemplate marriage?” “ Good Lord, what a question !”’ cried Reuel, startled and indignant. “It’s fine to be young, but youth is reckless of consequences,’’ said the doc- tor. “I dare say you have done all this quite impulsively, and have yet to fig- ure out the immediate or the more re- mote future. “ T have often pondered,” he went on philosophically, “the complicated gen- esis of love. It’s a question, whether love inspired by pity, or the love that springs spontaneously from normal mu- tual attraction, is the stronger. “ T’ve known men to lay their hearts and souls at the feet of comparatively unattractive women who were helpless invalids or cripples; I’ve known the most idyllic unions of well-matched, normal persons to come to grief.” “ But—oh, I say, Dr. Vincent, I—” “Forgive me; I was generalizing,” the doctor hurried on. “ I’m quite well aware that Hetty is neither a chronic invalid nor a cripple; yet few persons would inspire more profound pity. “On the other hand, my dear fel- low, I freely admit her natural attrac- tions. It’s not hard to picture her as positively beautiful, in the proper en- vironment. ARGOSY-ALLSTORY WEEKLY. “She is young and has had little chance to develop herself physically or mentally; but you are acute enough to visualize the possibilities, and to your chivalrous soul the beauty and charm are there already.” Reuel exploded in a rage. ** Don’t be an ass, Vincent!’’ he cried. “Tt wonder at the obtuseness of keenly intelligent, educated men like yourself; I can’t help it! Is it so rare, is it so in- conceivable, for a man to do a kind act toward a woman without selfish mo- tives? Should [ abandon a girl toa life of sordid suffering because I do not happen to covet her ?”’ “You young idealists often hood- wink yourselves in your romantic flights,” laughed the doctor patiently. “ Romantic flubdub!”’ growled Reuel angrily. “Can you possibly under- stand that I am sincerely devoted to another lady, while trying to be of some service to this girl? I am betrothed to Miss Reynolds of Washington, and it’s because I love her—if you must know. I'll ask you to take my word that I am not flighty or fickle; ve nev- er been a gay philanderer.”’ “T beg you to accept my apology,” said Vincent, a little stiffly. “‘ I must admit my error; [ stand corrected, sir. “And now, these complex matters being disposed of so completely,” he said, with a return to his natural good humor, “I must help you to provide accommodation for the poor child. “Luther Roberts’s wife arrived here yesterday from the East—came out through St. Louis and is going to live here in the hotel for the present. She’s a fine New England woman, very prac- tical and sensible, and obviously kind. I’ll talk with her at once, and we'll place poor Hetty in her care.” “Please give me credit for being a philanthropist in a small way,” said Reuel, with a touch of sarcasm, “ and don’t be suspicious of my motives when I say that I want to pay for the accommodations. I can afford it, and some one will have to pay.” (EO) _.OoOK i) (C@)