Ashtabula weekly telegraph. [volume] (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1853-1873, 1869-12-11


cause by persisting to remain tor lunch,
which Mrs. Gordon thought very imper-
tinent on first acquaintance and so it
was. Now believe that this cough is
more than half to decide If you will do,
or if she must send to Colchester for Dr.
Sims, which will, of course cost her a
great deal more. They IRE good patients,
too good to lose so 90 aud do your best
for us. On no account be sparing of
grave shakes of the head and plenty of
medicine, though it may be as innocent
as you like, provided 1t be judiciously
nasty"
"All right, sir" was my reply; 'T'll
go up at oncc;" and rs spoke, / rose
from my seat aud proceeded up stairs TO
put on a clean collar and better tie,
trying to think l wasn't bit nervous.
But | was; for when was a young man
| was very nervous, and never could, to
save my life, give Il repartce answer or
get ont Of Mess neatly. pushed my
hair up, then patted it down again; it
would not look as curly as | foudlv fan
cied 1t did whenever took the prccau-
tion of wetting it well over night and
brushing it up against the grain.
"Come, come, Gwynnc, make haste"
at last sounded from below.
ran down to obey the doctors call,
aud soon after proceeded up the tOWu to
Mrs. Gordon's. After l had conversed
with that lady for lew minutes, that is
to say she Ia ked and ! listened, she ush.
cred me into a morning room 10 see my
patient.
1--WE are quite anxious about Dear
lIetty," she said "she's had bad cough
for some time past, aud our home rene
dies seem to be of no avail"
Two girls rose as | entered and return
ed my very nervous bow. | saw that
one was tall aud graceful, with mass of
black hair loosely drawn from off her
face; large, soft, black eyes, a clear COM
plexion and regular features; grand
beauty, / thought. The other was differ
ent, evidently two or three years younger,
with sunny, chestnut hair, that tossed in
loose waves down her back, blue eyes, Il
little pOuting mouth, a most bewitchng
Re= retrOuSSe, and Il short, slight tigure
y more complete contrast could hardly
exist than between the two sisters. The
dark one looked about twenty, the little
one about eighteen. As | said, bowed
nervouSly and coughed two or three
times, because l did not know quite what
to say.
"rhis is our dear invalid" said Mrs.
Gordon, patting the youngest on the
shoulder.
"Oh, we'll soon cure her." Mrs. Cor
don," | said, with alarming cheerfulnrss,
and coughed again.
physician, cure thyself," heard the
invalid remark in q mischicvous under
tone.
"Oh, rve no cough, thanks, only lit
tie tickling" | said stupidity, as though
the whisper had been for me-
However, l plucked up courage and
proceeded to make my professional in
quiries, which were divcrSeIy answered E;
the mother making out the case to be
every bad," "quite serious" and sug-
gesting the soath OF Frame; the daughter
quizzing every thing and turning it all
into joke. l wound up my visit by
again remarking as shook hands, "you've
got nasty cough, Mis- Gordon, but
vel soon cure you."
"Pert little thing !" I mentally cjacula-
ted as lett the house. "rhe dark one
seems nice. How beautiful she is ~
After this paid many more protCs-
sional visits at the Gordons,' and soon
found myself on very pleasant, familiar
footing at their house So, from pro
tessional, began to make friendly visits,
and often joined the girls, in leisure half
hours, at game of croquet or archery,
or would take them for a quiet row Oh
the river, on warm summer days Had
| been a cheeky fellow, likely l might
have become far more intimate than |
was, might have called them Alice and
Hetty, as every body else in the house
did. But | was far too nervous and too
shy, and so to me they were always the
"Misses Gordon"
When the autumn tints were beginning
to appear in the woods of Duntield, |
discovered that l loved Alice, the dark
one, and that if she would like to live on
three hundred year, in snug little
house of her own, should like it too ;
but dared not tell her. could laugh
and joke with Henry, but with Alice |
was always shy and nervous.
Time passed on, perceived that with
Mr.. and Mrs. Gordon was a favoritc
| could see that Hetty, too, liked me, and
l hoped Alice did but she was so quiet
and matronly / could not judge so well.
When Christmas approached there
was good deal of sickness about, and
could not go home, as intended SO
Mrs. Gordon kindly begged me to come
and dine with them.
$50, go, my dear fellow" said friendly
Dr. Thompson, when | demurred at leav-
ing them. $50 and enjoy yourself and
look out for the msletoe." So gladly
accepted the invitation. ...
On Christmas eve / net the girls ont
walking, and they kindly said they were
glad | was coming.
"Cousin Willie is coming too" cried
Hetty, and she glanced slyly at Alice.
"Wbo is cousin Willie?" l asked,
wishing l might mix pill for him.
ooh, he is our only cousin and papa's
ward" was the reply. "lle always comes
at Christmas"
an come early" I said making a
mighty effort, "as want to speak to Mr.