Iowa voter. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1867-1874, 1870-03-17

"The othery with deepening color
ooh I liked it very well-that is-very
much"
"Tm glad TO hear it. It was q simple
thing, but thought it would suit you |
scrubbed line to 90 along with it because
l wanted to ensure your getting out to-day,
and now / want little plain talk with
Won on the same point Let me ask, to
begin with, don't you think you have
lived alone long enough?"
"Perhaps So" replied Miss Usher with
maidenly hesitation" but"
"You see,' interrupting. "if we could
make an arrangement by which you could
have some young person with you-a
bright; lively girl, of Kitty's age, for in
stance-who would be an interesting
companion, and not too much of charge,
it would be the very thing. It's sitting
here forlorn and solitary, and having no.
body to keep you company or urge you to
60 out, which is playing the mischief with
your nerves and making you fancy your
self an invalid. You are no more sick
than am. You only need rousing Now,
don't you think so yourself? Couldn't
you bring your mind to like it?"
Miss Usher fluttered, looked up, turned
scarlet, and looked down again.
"It's easy to find the person you want"
went on the unconscious doctor. III see
to that. Only say the word"
81 have been so used to living alone"
faltered Miss Usher, "that I'm half afraid
to try the experiment But if had you
to help me, doctor -"
"Of course you'll have me-" said the
hearty physician that's my business,
you know"
"Business!"
ooh! well-pleasure, too, of course;
but it is business, after all. What's a
great strong man fiji for if he cannot look
after little delicate souls like you; to say
nothing of my being your doctor, and you
my poor Mary's school-friend9 IT'S an
engagement, then? In that case, I'll look
about me at once, and begin to make
arrangements"
But" interposed Miss Usher, timidly,
"are you sure as to Kittys and WHY'S
feelings, DOCTOR"
kitty and Willy"
Eyes. Because, you know, even if you
meant every word of that sweet little let
ter this morning, it would have to depend
q great deal upon that. l couldn't do any
thing to grieve their dear little hearts"
MY letter! What was my letter."
unused the puzzled doctor. "Do you hap
pen to have it about you? want to see
if | made any mistake in the quantities.
With deeper bushes, Miss Usher drew
it from her pocket.
"Here it is" she said. 81 think great
deal of it, l assure you"
Doctors, by dint of long practice, ac-
quire great command over the facial mus
cles. Our doctor was m tster of his. He
surveyed the flowery page with outward
composure but within, his soul was rent
with CONFUSION of wonderment and
mirth which was terrible.
"How in the world did / come by that
nonsensical farrago?" he asked himself;
"and how ever am l to explain to this
poor little soul?"
And suddenly it popped into his head,
" Why not?' What with the blue rib
bons, the flushed cheeks, the pleasant lit
tie room, his full knowledge of her sweet
temper and lady-like ways, the idea was
not unattractive.
"Not bad thing for any of US" he
half aloud.
"What did you say" inquired Miss
Usher.
81 say" responded the doctor, with
great presence of mind, that you have
heard enough-quate enough OF this agitat-
ing topic for tonight You won't sleep
wink if let yon go on. Go to bed at
once, please, and tomorrow III come
again and discuss it thoroughly" And
after gallant leave taking. he stole out
on the professional tiptoe, sayingto him
self: "rll sleep over it, at all events"
| need 90 no farther. When widower
asks himself Why not ?" and decides to
"sleep over it," the case is settled beyond
a peradventure
I don't think Miss Usher, now Mrs. Ray
mond, knows to this day exactly how it
was; though the doctor cleared himself
sometime later of the responsibility OF the
verses And shall never believe to my
dying moment that the idea would ever
have entered his head had it not been for
the accident to Bob's little venture. Poor
Bob! That cupid, with part colored
wings, failed in his duty as far as he was
concerned; but then he turned around
and wove a spell for two other people;
and perhaps that is as much as one can
q