Clarksville chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 186?-1872, 1870-06-18

quite made her forget how Ill she had
fancied herself just before.
That same becoming flush lit her
cheek rs she made her toilet for the
evening, after the "brisk walk" rec
commended, which had sent her home
with an appetite for dinner. What
with the little cap of muslin and blue
ribbons on her head, and the dainty
apron, and the. bit of work in her
fingers, and bright fire, and oil, she
was a pleasant picture, the doctor
thought when he came In, an hour
later; and, what Is more, he said so.
"Well This looks cheerful. Wom-
en- certainly have have knack Of
making rooms cosy, which men nev-
er get. Now, found out at once
that It was growing cold as sat In
have felt 1t at all in this snug little
bower Of yours. And how are you,
to-night?"
The doctor was shaking hands all
the time he said this. He had warm
cordial way with him which Is so val
liable to a physician; but somehow,
tonight, IL seemed more marked than
usual. Miss Usher withdrew her
fingers with little twitter.
"rake this chair, Doctor; 1t Is
comfortable One."
The Doctor sank, nothing 10th, into
the soft depths.
"Well, did you take the prescrip-
tion ?" The walk? Oh, yes, and
feel much better, thank you.'
"That's right. knew you would.
And how did you like the other?"
"The other ?"--with the deepening
color-"Oh! liked 1t very we'll
that Is, very much."
"Tm glad to hear 1t. 1t was SIM
pie thing, but thought it would suit
you. 1 scribbled u line to go with it
because i wanted to ensure your get
ting out to-day, and now l want a
little plain talk with you 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 have some young person with
you--a bright eyed girl, of Kitty's
age, for instance--wh0 would be an
interesting companion, and not much
of charge, 1t would be the very
thing. It's sitting here, forlOrn and
solitary, and having nobody to keep
you company or urge you to go out,
which is playing the mischief with
your nerves and making you fancy
Yourself 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.
"Its easy to find the person you
want" went on the unconscious doc
tor" I'll see to that. Only say the
word"
~ have been so used to living alone,
that I'm half afraid to try the exper-
iment. But II had you to help me,
doctor -"
"Of course you'll have me-" said
the physician; "that's my business,
you know"
Businessv'
"Oh ! well-pleasure, too, of course;
but it Is business after all. What's a
great, strong man fit for II he cannot
look after little delicate souls like you;
to say nothing of my bieng your doc
tor, and you my poor Mary's school
friend? 'Tis an agreement, then p
In that case, I'll look about me at
once, and begin to make arrange
ments"
"But,n interposed Miss Usher, tim
idly, "are you sure as tn Kitty's and
l Willy's feelings, doctor?"
/ "Iiitty and WillyW %
eyes. Because, you know. even II
you meant every word of that sweet
little letter this morning, 1t would
have to depend great deal upon
that. / couldn't do anything to
grieve their dear little hearts,"
"My letter! What was my letter.
unused the puzzled doctor. "Do you
happen to have it about you? Iwant
to see If / made any mistake in the
quantities"
With deeper bushes, Miss Usher
drew 1t from her pocket.
Here 1t is" she said; 81 think a
J great deal of IL, l assure YOU"
Doctors, by dint of long practice,
acquire great command over the
, facial muscles. Our doctor was mas
ter of his. He surveyed the flOwery
page with outward composure; but
within, his soul was rent with a con.
vulsion of wonderment and mirth
which was terrible.
"How in the world did come by
this nonsensical farrago?" he asked
; himself; "and how ever am ! to ex-
, plain to this poor little soul ?"
And suddenly 1t popped into his
= head, "Why note" What with the
. | hlna rilbnnI tha AnohaI nl,a ,a.lr, tl,a
pleasant room, his full knowledge Oi
her sweet temper and lady-like ways,
the idea was not unattractive.
"Not a bad thing for any Of u.s."
muttered, half aloud.
"What did you say?" inquired Miss
Usher.
~ say" responded the doctor, with
great presence of mind, "that you
have heard enough-quite enough OF
this agitating topic for tonight. You
won't sleep u wink ifI let you go on.
Go to bed Mt once, please, and to-
morrow I'll come again and discuss
it thoroughly Aud after a gallant
leave. taking, he stole out on the pro-
fessional tip-toe, saying TO himself:
'I'll sleep over II, at all events"
need go no further. When a
widower asks himself "Why not 2"
and decides 10 "sleep over It," the
case is settled beyond "A peradventure.
l don't think Miss Usher, now Mrs
Raymond, knows TO this day exactly
how IL was; though the doctor clear
ed himself, sometime later, of the
responsibility Of the verses, Aud
shall never believe to my dying mo-
ment, that the idea would ever have
entered his head had IL not been for
the accident 10 Bob's little venture.
Poor Bob! That cupid, with parti-
colored wings, failed In his duty as
far as he was concerned; but then
he turned around and wove spell
for two other people; and perhaps