."

"Ah, Doctor, you flatter me," laughed Agnes, much pleased at the same
time to hear the flattery, as well because it seemed to have a
brightening effect upon the patients as for any other reason.

"Indeed I do not flatter you at all, Miss Arnold. I really begin to
wish I was a woman myself, so that if I should get the fever I might
have you to nurse me well again."

"O never mind about the being a woman, Doctor," archly rejoined Agnes,
"if you should be so unfortunate as to get it, I'll come and nurse
you."

"Will you? well now that's kind and brave of you, I am sure. And
speaking of a man, Miss Arnold, that reminds me. While inspecting a
train at the first station, we found a young gentleman aboard, who was
coming to Shreveport here, expressly to see you. His name was
Harkness"--

"O, Doctor!" interruptingly exclaimed Agnes, as the color left her
cheeks and lips. "I hope you did not permit him to come into this
danger!"

A far duller observer than the doctor could have seen the intense love
of this beautiful girl for the young man referred to.

"He's out of peril, Miss Agnes," explained the doctor, "for we refused
to allow him to pass in."

No actress ever trod the stage on whose features the emotions of
pleasure and regret portrayed themselves at once, as on the face of
Agnes when heard these words.

"Would you rather have had us permit his entrance?" asked the doctor.

"For my own satisfaction and curiosity I would rather have had it so,
Doctor. But for his sake, no; a hundred times no."

"Ah, Miss Arnold, heart disease is sometimes worse than Yellow Jack,"
remarked the doctor half-seriously.

"Yes, yes, it is always so," said Agnes earnestly.

"I am surprised he allowed you to come here, Miss Arnold."

The doctor was evidently deeply interested in his wonderful and
beautiful nurse, and the artificial twinkle he forced into his gray
eyes could not mask his sincerity from Agnes, who answered:

"Doctor, Mr. Harkness was my intended husband; but a jealous and
mischievous young lady, who envied me I suppose, managed, through
deceit, to estrange us. And so"--

Agnes did not know how to finish the sentence. She studied what words
to utter in conclusion, until the pause became painfully awkward,
seeing which the doctor with much consideration said:

"I can guess Miss Arnold, what you would say, and I fear there has
been too much haste on both your parts for each other's happiness.
But Mr. Harkness