Iowa voter. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1867-1874, 1870-04-14


hand, and the doctor seized and held i,
tight. "You will believe" she began,
again steadying her voice, but just then
the same door, whose opening had inter.
rupted them once before, opened again,
and the same sweet voice timidly request
ed "just one word with Alec"
The doctor looked impatient.
Please stay just one moment longer
he begged, darting out of the room before
she had time to refuse. He returned al
most Immediately, and Flossy said, in a
reproachful tone:
II am afraid you have not half listened
to what your wife had to say, DR.. Bu-
chanan. l am sorry you hurried go.
would much rather have waited till she
had finished"
The doctor stared at his patient in blank
~ ~ys! What do you meant" he
It was Flossy's turn now to look sur.
prised.
mean your wife, of course" she said
"the lovely little lady who occupies the
next room, and whom you have just left. y
The doctor stood for q moment silent
and COMPOUNDED, then broke into an ire
pressible laugh. nl III
$50 you thought l was married, did
your" he said, in exceeding amusement.
II must tell Elsie that"
"And are you not, then ?" asked Flossy,
in an eager, faltering tone. "But / saw
you, DR.. Buchanan beg your pardon,
but you left the door open-I saw you
with your arm about that young lady, and
her lips raised to yours"
With much hesitation and many blush
es, Flossy brought forward this terrible
charge, but the doctor only met it with
another uncomfortable laugh.
"And if you did," he said, as soon as
he could speak, "who has q better right
Elsie is my only sister, and was married
six months ago to my partner, whose
house this is. She's such little goose
Is to be still very fond of her big brother,
and every now and then has some won
derful favor to ask Of him, the granting
of which she repays with kiss. Poor
little Elsie how she will laugh when l
tell her that she has been taken for my
wifer'
FlossY laughed too, but it was very
and the crimson flush still
dyed her downcast face, while her heart
beat in great throbs, and her breath came
too brokenly for speech. DR.. Buchanan
looked at her as she stood blushing and
searched her dropping face
with his keen gray eyes, and sudden
great light flashed over his own counte-
nance.
"Great Heaven!' he exclaimed, start
ing toward her, II may have been taking
for granted something equally without
Will you tell me who was
the gentleman who brought you here,
and with whom heard you discussing
various housekeeping matters; the
Fred I mean, OF whom you have SO
often spoken Surely your names are
the same"
Erred ?" said Flossy, bewildered; "of
course our names are the same. He is
the son Of my fathers only brother, and
my own and only cousin and guardian"
"But not your husband nor your
lover" demanded the doctor, much e3-
cited.
"My husband! How absurd" ex-
claimed Flossy, laughing hysterically,
and crimsoning deeper than ever. He
is to be married within the month to the
prettiest girl in New York, and it was for
her we were choosing furniture"
"Let him, and welcomed" cried the
doctor, exultantly, selling Flossy's hands
in his, and bending glowing glance upon
her. my dear little patient, we have
both of US, like pair of simpletons, been
taking it for granted that we each be-
longed to somebody else, whereas. in
reality, we belong to each other, as have
felt from the first ought to be the case.
Tell me, isn't itso? Won't you be my
little patient, and let me be your doctor
forever from henceforwards Don't be
oquettish-answer me, beg Of you"
But Flossy held her face away shyly,
and tried to hide the sudden great rush Of
happiness which had come over it.
at is mutual mistake" she said,
saucily, and shall go directly and tell
Fred about it, Good-morning"
But though she rushed to the door in a
wild, shy effort to escape, she was not
allowed to 60 just yet, nor without pay
ing toll and it was well for her secret
that the doctor had always required her
to wear thick veil in the street l-Apple-
t0n's Journal