“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 evidently has for yourself at least a powerful sentiment of something stronger than mere friendly affection, to leave the other young lady and come hither into the midst of such a deadly peril as Yellow Fever.  He has found out the deception, and has, I suppose, come like a man, to tell you so and ask your forgiveness.”

“That must be it, Doctor, that must be it,” replied Agnes with much warmth, “that’s his disposition, I know.  He has a noble disposition.”

After a short further conversation the physician left, with the same request as before, for Agnes to remain until he sent her a message where to go next.