The Republican journal., 1870-08-18

knowing il, to3tnd her chief delight in her
visits to his office. She was really startled
and annoyed with herself one morning,
when it rained SO proposterou5ly that she
was positively ashamed to 90 out, to find
that the storm had brought an actual disap-
pointmcnt that she could settle comfortably
to nothing; and was unable to rid herself of
q disagreeabe sense of something precious
being lost from her day
1t set the little lady thinking very seriously,
and, when she made her next visit, the doc
tors manner was not such as to lull her back
into Inconsistencies.
The warmth of pleasure in his greeting
was unmistakabe and his word had mean
ing in their Jest
Il generally like rainy day." he said.
sit gives me some relief from the press of
daily work, and even sometimes permits me
Il peep into book but must confess that
yesterday was unmtigatedlv dreary.
missed more than one kind of sunshine, and
| am afraid | was abomnably cross to the
few patients who braved the storm Am
selfish in hoping that the rain disappointed
you, too, Just 4 little bit. on account of your
eyes, OF course, you know ?"
Now ElOSSv was very innOoont and child
like, but there was something in the doctors
look and tone, despite the rlayfuness of his
words, which she felt instinctively 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 q burning rush
Of blood to her heart that she could like it,
far too well, if she should allow herself, and
her resolve was taken on the instant. She
answered so quickly and naturally that nc
one could have guessed what u sudden siege
and repulsc had been made within the mo-
ment in the citadel of her quict-seeming
breast, nor could the doctor imagine that
she had suspected danger or intended de
fense.
eyes" said she, lightly; ''it was very
naughty in you, both to wish me to feel dis
appointed and to be cross to your poor suffer
ing patients. You deserve punishment. and
| shall administer it in the information that
this is my last visit to you. Fred was COM
plmentmg me only last night upon my eyes
said the violets We're no longer overweight
ell with dew, and all that sort Of thing, you
know. And, indeed, | find | no longer an
swer to Jercmiahs woful description of HIM
self; my head is no longer fountain OF
tears, nor mine eyes rivers of water; | cal
actually read. write and work, once mort
without weeping us though | had been un
kindly chiddcn to my task. For this blessed
consummation, shall be eternally your debt
or, doctor: but it leaves me nothing to do in
the present but to bid You adicu, with the
assurances of my most distinguished consid-
eraiOn."
She spoke galy, rs her lips smiled. but
her hand tremblcd rs she held it out, and hen
face dropped, like 4 flower on its stalks be-
meath 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. lie read now the
answering pain she stroye to hide in her tai
terlng tone and changing hue, and he felt a
wild longing to clasp her to his heart for one
moment. and tell her how il hurt him to let
her 90. and compel the sweet avowal that
the parting was rs bitter to her. But the
mad thought was stitled rs soon as born; he
felt that she had taken the only wise, tho
only right course, and he compelled mmsel
to answer her III the same vein.
''Wcel its an i'll wind that blaws nacbody
guide" lie said. in broad Scotch dialect, and
with a mock-mefuI countcnancc Il shall
be left lamentin@, but you will be freed
from my crueltics However, in order that
you may not entirely forget me, | shall be
stow upon You some parting souvenirs
Here is medicine to be taken whenever q
chance cold may bring Il return Of the in
tlammation; here is a lotion to be applied oc-
casionally, and here i>--a leech. | will
screw him up so tightly in this boY that You
may carry him in Your pocket il YOU like
Keep him in Il vase of pure water. and put
him on if any time You should again have
that congestion of the balls. You will give
me thought, perhaps. Us you change his
water daily, and shall think of him feeding
on more blue veined temples. and
"Nonscnscm broke iii Flossy, putting
back from the doctors hand the vase which
| al ~ Il, Il
reptiles ''if | need any more such remedies
| shall come to you again. But | have Nc
such fear that | shall, thanks to your skill
and your great kindness and patience"
Her voice was beginning TO break again
and she added. hastily:
''And now, doctor-fricnd--l must really
say good-by.' She put ont her hand, and
the doctor siczed and held it tight. you
will believe" she began again, again steady
ing her voice, but Just then the same door,
whose opening had interrupted them once
before, opened again, and the same sweet
voice timidlv requested '.just one word with
| Alec"
The doctor looked impatient.
''Pease stay Just one moment longer he
begged, darling out Of the room before she
had time to refuse. He returned almost inn
medatelv, and Flossv said, in Il rcproachful
tone
Il tn afraid yrii have hot half listened to
what your wife had to say, DIR. Buchanan,
am sorry you hurried SO. ! would mucl
rather have awaited till she had tinished.'
The doctor stared at his patient in blank
amazement
"My wife, What do you mean?'' he
asked
1t was Flossy's turn now to look surprs-
| ed.
II mean your wife. Of course,n She said
1.-The lovely little lady who occupies the neXr
room, and whom you have just left. y
| TIE doctor stood for Il moment silent ant,
coufoundcd and then broke into an irrepress
iblc laugh.
$50 YOU thought was married, did you p
he said, in exceeding amusement. II mus
tell Elsie that"
And you are not then ?' asked Flossy
in an eager, faltering tone, "But saw you
DR.. Buchanan beg your pardon, but you
left the door open-l saw You with your arm
about that young lady, and her lips raised t'
yours
With much hesitation and many bushes
Flossy brought forward this terrible charge
but the doctor only met it with another I'M
controllable laugh
"And if you did," he said, rs soon rs he
could speak, "who has u better right? Elsie
| Il =.