Prev | Current Page 108 | Next

Parker, Gilbert, 1860-1932

"Wild Youth, Complete"

A sick Chinaman told me only a week ago that Li Choo
was 'once big high boss Chinaman in Pekin.' . . . And so the mandarin
advised you to fly to Orlando, did he? I wonder if it's a way they have
in China."
"But I wouldn't go. I've come to you--Patsy Kernaghan brought me," Louise
urged.
"Yes, I see you've come to me," remarked the Young Doctor dryly, "and
you've stayed about long enough for me to feel your pulse and diagnose
your case. And now you're going back with Patsy Kernaghan to your own
home."
She trembled; then she seemed to strengthen herself in defiance. What a
change it was from the child of a few weeks ago--indeed, of a few moments
ago! The same passionate determination which seized her when she faced
Mazarine with Orlando, possessed her again. With her whole being
palpitating, she said: "I will not go back. I will not go back. I will
kill myself first."
"That would be a useless sacrifice of yourself and others," the Young
Doctor answered quietly. Seeing that the new thing in her was not to be
conquered in a moment, he quickly made up his mind what to do.
"See," he continued, "you needn't go back to Tralee to-night, but you're
not going to stay here, dear child. I'll take you over to Nolan Doyle's
ranch, to Mrs. Doyle. You'll spend the night there, and we'll think about
to-morrow when to-morrow comes. You certainly can't stay here. I'm not
going to have it.


Pages:
96 97 98 99 100 101 102 103 104 105 106 107 108 109 110 111 112 113 114 115 116 117 118 119 120