The democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1868-1874, 1871-09-25
.TEE nAMILTON RRoTnERS.

F "
!, l.. LOVE STORY.
ave sat and talked in the lirelight, my
tI,ahcr Frank and |, Just as we had sat
SV talked hundred times before in the
=, w. backward years which we two
.'oihcrs had spent together.
suddenly looking up, Frank met my
ies fixed upon his moody face, and run.
Ilng his fingers lazily through his curly
asir, he laughed but his laugh bad not its
bll warm, careless ring.
/, &" How well Bent seems to be getting on
bit in Melbourne, Max" he SAID, "IIis
letter to you is filled with his own pros
ierity.'
alt seems TO me merely written to ask
II we could send him out an ASSISTANT |
answered, speaking lightly.
"Of course you do not know any assist
ant to send out to Bcnt,n Frank said.
1.-THE poorest young surgeons Of your
acquaintance are ourselves, the Hamilton
Brothers, and, thank Heaven, we have not
fallen quite so low rs to exile ourselves
voluntarily as drug mixers to Bent. |
would not change quarters with him for
any consideration, but | fear | envy his
success. You must own, Max, that it is
lard fighting hcrc.n
80 it is anywhere, in any profession,
just at first" I answered, quietly. "Therc
is bu one thing we can do. However
small our income, we can live down to it,
and work hard to increase it. That, take
j., is the secret Of success, Frank. We
canvassed our prospects, and then Frank
told inc how anxious he was TO succeed,
that he might win Lettice for his wife. 1t
was Lcttice's birthday and we were going
T. pay our respects to her OF this eventful
occasion. Frank told me how great n trial
it was to him, waiting and struggling for
success that he might marry, and asked:
Frank, do you feel that the waiting is
a trial, too, lor-her2"
81 know what you mean, /" he answered.
slightly pausing. ayes, Max, ! think
so.n
"Do you know it7" questioned, in a
low voice, whose sadness touched my own
heart. And he answered, with no pause at
all.
AYES, Max, know it."
We had just finished dressing. when
startled Frank by saying, very quietly:
al have made up my mind to go out to
Bent.
"To-what ~
"Simply what said-to 60 ont to Bent
I want change, and change holding out
some prospect Of success. Why should |
not seize this opportunity ~
"But-you take inc so fearfully by sur
prise" stammcrd Frank. "Why, you
are a far cleverer surgeon than Bent; you
go and be bis servant.n
We stood under the bare old lilnc-tree,
which in summer shaded the doorway, and
my hand was on the bell, when Frank
stayed it, andspokc few words in unusual
enrnestncss. "Tell me one thing, Max,
before we go in. You do not decide to
leave here for my sakc-becausc have so
often complained that our practice is not
sufficient for two and because YOU know |
want to marry, and can not do so as we
nrc2 You would not leave your home and
your friends, and me, and 90 out to drUdc-
cry for that reason, MAXI | shall not be
comfortable unless you tell me that you do
It for your own sake.n
Knowing that my going would spare Inc
one great pain which, in my cowarlice, ]
Shrank from, | answered him with quick
@ Yes.n
We had a very pleasant evening with
Letticc. | did not feel very happy, and
my detected appearance was referred to
more than once during tho evening. Frank
made some remark, when ! in reply said:
"rhe fact is, Lettice, Frank can not un-
derstand my last new whim-which is to
60 out to Melbourne to join an old friend
Of ours"
And this was how told her; on her
birthday night. I, who had worked, and
hoped, and waited, for the fuliilmcnt Of
that one brightdream which now lay shat
tered into fragments in the pretty, cheer
ful room. H ..
"What do you think, l.etticc Of this
new project Of Max's ln asked Frank,
laughingly, as she moved by the tea
table.
She simply said: ~ do not like it but
If Max thinkS It is best, suppose he does
well to carry out his project"
MAX" said I,ettice's father, as he came
in, looking curiously at me, "whats this
the little one tells mel You are surely
not thinking, in any seriousness, Of going
abtoadn
al have decided tn do 80, indeed, rs soon
as Frank and can arrange matters hete."
al can not believe It. Why, II my own
daughter had suddenly told me she was
going ! could not have been more aston
ished, What can have decided you Z"
IL have learned by experience" said,
trying to force a laugh, "thRt Redbury is
unfortunately too healthy place to sup,
port so many doctors"
Frank and | walked home that night
very silently, think we had never before
passed along the narrow, quaint old streets
after an evening spent with Lctticc, with
out talking Of her, and of the home she
made 50 bright and happy, But when We
entered our own silent room We both hCsi
tated, as II unwilling to separate so.
"MaS,n began Frank at last, stoopinE
down to push spill into the smOuldeIinl