The Van Buren press., 1870-07-05
MISCELLANY.
Cupid Astray.

Bob had no idea that the doctor wa,
behind him as he poked the Vaentn,
under the front door. Had he not beer
too hustered to look round, he would
have seen him, and had not the doctor
been too deep in medical reverie about
Jane Todd's collar Uone, be must hay.
spied the dapper figure as it darted away
But as it was, he fumbled for his key q
minute. and then rang the bell, and while
doing so, spying something white under
the doo-. he picked it up and tore it open
Tore it open! that letter! with all its
lavshment of border and blue seal that
letter over which Bob had set up till two
a. m, rounding his periods and curling
the tails Of his = and Qs. Was it foi
this that he hal bestowed so many slaps
on his forehead? . Fate
Bridget, that faithful servitor. answer.
ed the bell. charged with message
which she was bent on delivering with
the least possible delay.
"If you please, sir, Morton Jones
wite's sisters been here, and little
Johnnys fell through the loft and took
up for dead, and they'd like you to come
up this minute, and two Irishwomen call
ed and a baby, and there's little hoy
with fever. it is in Lone Lane, and Miss
Usher sent this n"tn /"
Long Lane must wait" muttered the
doctor. as he threw his instrument ease
and the letter on The table, and took the
note Bridget.held out Morton Jones,
heyl He's that man on the Flats. isn't
hei"
Yes, sir"
~ II go at once. Hum!' (skimmine
the dainty note in hand "Delr Doc
tor: So nervous and depressed--my old
foe nueralgia upon me again-come as
soon as you have leisure, please, and
meantime send that prescription which
did me such good last year" (Prescrip.
ton! Yes, of course, she longs to be
dosing herself-all females do. "Yours
sincerely, MaGaline Usher"
"That comes of being alone and fanci.
ful II she had one earthly thing to do,
she'd be a well woman. III see she gets
nothing to hurt her" And tearing a
scrap from his pocket book, the doctor
pencilled some cabaistic designs.
Here, Bridget, fetch sheet Of pa
per, will you?-or this will answer -
Aud seizing Bobs Valentine, the uncon.
scious doctor wrote upon its back as fol
lows:
MY DEAR FRIEND: I send you some.
thing which think will suit you be ter
than the prescription you asked for. 1t
isn't exactly medicine, but will do you
more good than if it were, and he a great
dead better at this season of the year.
You know ! always told you that more
than half your bad feelings come from
loneliness and want 0foccupation ! wish
| could make You feel this half as strong
~ as do. I'll drop IN this evening, if
possible. Yours truly,
l.. RAYMOND"
"'Poor girl. :" he muttered, " she puts
me out Of patience sometimes, but she's
a good creature. Bridget, see that this
goes to Miss Uushor as soon as Willy
comes from school. | IN in hurry"
And he hnddied the papers into an en-
velope, and was off with n bang Of the
door, leaving the note in Bridgots custo-
dv. The prescription lay on the floor,
where it had fallen unperceived.
Miss Usher, sitting in her parlor by
her bright fire, pale. detected wrapped
in shawl. was no, little amazed when,
two hours later, the missive was put in
her hands. DR.. RAYMOND had written
her notes before, half professional, half
friendly, but this was something unexam.
pied. Silver doves smlrkinv cupid,
with one pink wing and one blue one,
roses, eglantines, AMI what not round the
edges. these howery lines enclosed:
"Oh say not 1t Is wrong TO love,
To love, to worship thee;
The sea yearns for the stars above,
The stars look on the sea;
The hot moon woos the scented gale,
The parched flower the dew -
Their love. their longing does not fail,
And why should mine for your
Like bird. all spent with wandering,
And weary, must roam,
Until turl my restless wing
In the dear nest of Home.
But what were home without thy face,
o farest love of mine?
Then drign that humble home to grace,
And bless your alentine.'
1t was really not 50 bad--considering
that but eighteen short summers hal
passed over Bob's head. and that for
sometime back his restless wing" had
been furled" in the large dry goods
store round the corner, which he hoped
some day to adorn as partner Whether
the doctor would have admired it as ad.
dressed to Kitty" that baby" as he
called her--is questionable. But Miss
Usher quite glowed as she read it. 1t
was $50 poetical, so sweet" The little
confusion Of pronouDs In the first verse
escaped notice altogether. She read and
re-. read. and then turned to tho more
prosaic second page.
mot srdeAy medicine !" o that fun.