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

moors. You must know yourself that it
suits you"
Flossy's peach blossoms turned to car
nations, but she laughed in glee, and said,
merrily: ias 80.
.Nell, you are net far wrong. My
name is Florence"
The doctor started. and flushed with
pleasure.
us it 20, indeed." he said, eagerly.
But I shouid-they should call you
Flora, as pet name. Do they
mo" said his patient. "Fred-snd
Fred is all I have now" the shadow
crossed her face again" calls me always
Flossy." The glow faded from the doc
tors lace likewise, and he bit his lip. He
had forgotten, for moment, that she be-
longed to Fred" and he did not find it
pleasant TO be thus abruptly reminded OF
It. He said, presently, in q quiet voice:
at is . pretty little name. And, now,
here is your medicine, and you are not to
forget that after this we two Highland
folk are to be real friends!"
IT think that we are 90 already, said
Flossy, simply, locking at him with q
clear glance of her truthful eyes, and put
ting her hand frankly into the one he Of
fered, as she rose to 60.
So the days and the weeks slipped by,
and the friendship, sudden as it was,
lost none Of its interest, but rather
grew in strength and nearness, The
visits of 80 sweet and bright
patient were like GASES in the
desert of the doctors daily toll; and
Flossy, without acknowledging it to
herself, passed the happiest hour of her
day at his Office. They somehow suited
each other exactly; and, no matter what
was the topic touched upon in their many
talks, "grave or gray, or lively or
severe" there was sure to be something
which gave unconscious proof of their
harmony Of taste and temperament; and
neither felt so happy, so natural, 30 en-
tirely the best self as with the other.
DR.. Buchanan made some Intellectual
struggle against the growth Of a feeling
which, he knew, could lead to nothing
further Flossy, in childlike unconscious
ness made no struggle, but enjoyed the
present without thought OF her future.
This trial of her eyes, in addition to
the anxiety and suffering it had brought
her, had given her likewise a pleasant
friend and great many charming hours.
She accepted the one with the other, and,
almost without knowing it, found her
chief delight in her visits to his office.
She was really startled and annoyed with
herself one morning, when it rained 80
preposterously that she was positively
ashamed to 90 out, to find that the storm
had brought an actual disappointment;
that she could settle comfortably to moth
ing; and was unable to rid herself OF
sense Of something precious
being lost from her day.
1t set the little lady thinking very &C.
riously, and, when she made her next
visit, the doctors manner was not such
as to lull her back into inconsistencies
The warmth Of pleasure in his greeting
meaning in their jest.
~ generally like q rainy day." he said;
at gives me some relief from the press
Of daily work, and even sometimes per-
mits me peep into q book; but must
confess that yesterday was unmitigatedly
dreary. missed more than one kind OF
sunshine, and am afraid / was sbomina-
bly, cross to the few patients who braved
the storm. Am very selfish in hoping
that the rain disappointed you too, just q
little bit, on account Of your eyes, OF
course, you know
Now Flossy was very innocent and
childlike, but there was something in the
doctors look and tone, despite the play
fitness Of his words, which she felt in
stinctively there should not be, coming
from him to her; which she knew neither
Fred nor the pretty little lady in the next
room would like. At the same time she
felt, with a burning rush of blood to her
heart, that she could like 1t, far, far too
well, If she should allow herself, and her
resolve was taken on the instant. She
answered 90 quickly and naturally that
no one could have guessed what sudden
siege and repulse had been made within
the moment in the citadel of her quiet
seeming breast, nor could the doctor i'm
agine that she had suspected danger or
intended defence.
EYES," said she, lightly; g it was very
naughty in you, both TO wish me to feel
disappointed and to be cross to your poor
patients. You deserve punishment, and
/ shall administer it in the information
that this is my last visit to you. Fred
was complimenting me only last night
upon my eyes; said the violets were no
longer overweighted with dew, and all
that sort Of thing, you know. And. in
deed, find no longer answer to Jere-
miah's woful description of himself; my
head is no longer fountain Of tears, nor
mine eyes rivers of water; can actually
read, write, and work, once more without
weeping, as though had been unkindly
chidden to my task For this blessed con-
summation, / shall be eternally your
debtor, doctor; but it leaves me nothing
to do in the present but to bid you adieu,
with the assurances of my most distin-
guished consideration"
She spoke Rayly, and her lips smiled,
but her hand trembled as she held it out,
and her face dropped, like flower on It's
stalk, beneath the searching gaze of the
doctors clear gray eyes. The news had
come upon him like blow, none the less
heavy because for some time expected.
He read now the answering pain she
strove to hide in her faltering tone and
changing hue, and he felt wild longing
to clasp her to his heart, just for one
moment, and tell Der how it hurt him to
let her 60, and compel the sweet avowal
that the parting was as bitter to her. But
the mad thought was stifed as soon as
born; he felt that she had taken the only
wise, the only right course, and he com:
PEELED himself to answer her in the same
vein.
"Weel, it's an Ill wind that blaws nae