Mountain Democrat. [volume] (Placerville, El Dorado Co., Cal.) 1854-1860, 1859-05-21
DR. BOULDmG's LOVE STORY.

and had an air OF comfort too, thai, ,tOld.its lux
uries were made for use, and not merely to b,
looked at
BY the fire, in his easy chair, sat the doc
tor; seated on . low stool at his feet, hel
check resting on his knee, was Louisa. Their,
had been little gentle chiding on the part o
the doctor, apparently, for . tear stole dowr
the young girls rosy cheek. Louisa's cheekl
were always rosy, but they assumed deeper
hue a., glanCing shyly at the doctor, she said
Indeed, uncle, love William as well II
ever did, but I cannot help thinkink he die
me great injustice in falsely accusing me O
flirting with Lionel Renfrew."
stop. Louisa, " interrupted the doctor, "dC
not say falsely. watched the whole atfail
that has offended your lover 80 much, and
do not think his jealousy Is without Q cause.
Then, changing his voice TO one Of deepei
sadness, and laying his hand upon the iiii
head before him, Br. Bouidiug said -" You
LOuisa, just now used the phrase, 9 'littl,
harmless flirtatiOn.' Listen my child, while
tell you how q harmless Irritation crushed
my hopes and embittercd my life.
1t must be twenty-five years ago, tho t
me it seems as yesterday, that !, thin, ner
Vous young medical student, passed my exam
inatiOn, and obtained my certificate as sur
gcon. Before ] established myself as prac
tti0ncE, ] resolved to have 9 weeks holiday
and therefore went down to Wallington tc
visit n cousin had residing there. Ii was q
lovely country village, and to me, who had
been studying hard for months-Scarcely in.
dulging myself in walk to sniff the fresh air
beyond the boundary Of the city in which
livcd-prcsented charming picture of rural
beauty and an endless variety Of rural pleas
ureR
~ had been all my lfe 40 closely tied Ia
school, to college. to books, and to lectures
that felt quite proud Of my sporting skill,
when, on a second eveGing Of my visit, I re.
turned home with my cousin, bearing single
partridge brought down BY the gun.
We were walking down shady lane
remember it was called Vineyard Lane
smoothing and adiniring the soft plunagc oil
my bird when, Fred, my cousin, directed my
attention to q small cottage standing on the
icfI-hand side Of the lane.
There. Charles said he, lives Mrs. Col
Inns; she is a widow, and has two daughters,
Mary aud Geraldine. II you like, We will
call; they are pretty girls, and you will be
pleased with them '-'--"
Tie opened the little gate and we walked
towards the cottage. thought it the lowell.
est place had ever seen. Roses were every
where, China roSes covered the walls, pceped
in at the windows, and coquettcd with the
chimncyS. As we nearcd the cottage, the
door opened, and Geraldine ran out She was
very pretty, lively SAucy style Of beauty that
you could not be offended with, let her Use
that sharp tongue Of hers with ever such pert
satire. But at the moment when first saw
Geraldine, she looked far more dolorous than
saucy, aS, running 10 nv cousin, she said,
'Oh, Mr.. Maynard, we had such an accident /;
Mary was training the rose tree, when her
foot slipped, and fell of the ladder. Mamma
thinks she has broken her ankle, for she is in
such dreadful pain
for my cousin here-Mr Boulding, Miss Geral-
dine COllins-my cousin, who is q surgeon
will sOOn examine the injured member
80 That il fortunate. / am 30 glad you
called, said Geraldine, as We followed her into
P"rlor-such tiny parlor, half filled by the
sofa which stood opposite the door Il had cause
to remember that sofa upon which Mary Law.
The moment saw her felt inclined to quar-.
rel with Frcd-T should have liked to knock
him dOwn-for daring to call her q pretty
girl Pretty! she xas divine one of those
marvellous creatures whom to look at was to
look forgot everything around all / saw
was the pretty face now drawn with rain be.
fore mc believe an old lady in black silk
came in, and spoke to inc; that she placed in
my hand her daughters injured foot. have
sOme indistinct idea that asccrtained it to be
merely q sprained ankle; that ordered ban.
dages and lamentations; upon which the love.
ly patient prOlcssed herself relieved. l also
think made some remarks about the weather,
and ended by entreatIng MaFy'S acceptance OF
the partridge had shot
"After that, as long as | remained in the
country, called regularly every morning at
the cottage to inquire how the ankle was pro-
crossing. NY morning visits usually lasted
until dinner time, but never found courage 10
speak to Mary of the great love growing up
towards her In my heart. Instead Of making
love, was wondering what she thought ol
my long nose and ugly month. or thinking il
she disliked the spcctacles ! always was OBJ
ligcd to wear, and whether shc quizzed me
after / WAS gone.-I Was also very uneasy in
the presence Of q certain Walter Harburv at
the cottage much moro frequently than tho't
necessary, and who was for more familiar
with my Mary than exactly pleased me.
However, tho last morning visit made,
summoned all my courage and declared nv
love for Mary-not to herself but to her moth.
er.
Mrs. Collins was very willing. She could
not have chosen, she said, q more desirable
husband for Mary. She should be thankful
to see the dear child marry with such good
prospects. Mary was called. stnmmered
out something about the great affection | en-.
tertained for her. She smiled, blushed, and
we were engaged.
went up 10 town and worked like slave.
| started in my profession, and wrote every
other day to Mary accounts Of how was get.
ting on she sent me in reply several little
notes, on rOsc tinted paper-thc most aifrc.
tionate and charming imaginable. took o
small house and furnished It from cellar 10
garret.
Sometimes gave myselfa treat and spent
the Sunday with nv Mary-delicious days
Shall ever forget the exquisite pleasure oi
sitting near her, watching the play of her
beautiful features, or listening to the lively
chat that fell from her hswitching lips!
I'VE had been engaged three months, when
circumstance occurred that resulted in my
being suddenly subpenaed TO attend as wit.
ness IN case that was 10 be tried In the cOun.
~ town near to which Mary lived. It was
only eight miles from Walington, and resOl
we'd after the trial was ended, to walk over
and give Mary delightful surprise.
~ thought the trial never would have
ended. The counsel was the most prosy, the
witnesses were the most stupid and slow In
giving evidence thati ever was my lot 70 lis
ten TO.
The moment was out OF court started