The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1871-10-19

tie poutlng mouth, most beWltchlne
neg retTousse, and a short, slight figure
A more complete contrast could hard
ly exist than between the two sisters
The dark one looked about twenty
the little one about eighteen. As
said, bowed nervously, and coughed
two or three times, because 1 did moi
quite know what to say. =
This is our dear invalid" said Mrs.
Gordon, patting the youngest on the
shoulder. ID
"Oh. we1l soon cure her, Mrs. Cor.
don,'' said, with alarming cheerful.
ness, and eoughed again.
Physician, cure thyself,' / heard
the invalid remark in mischievous
nndertone.
"Oh, I've no cough, thanks; only a
little tickling" l said, stupidity, as
though the whisper had been for me-
However, L plucked ur courage, and
proceeded to make my professional
| inquiries, which were diversely an
swered the mother making out the
case to be " very bad, ''quite serious
and suggesting the south of France
the daug gnrer quIzzing everything, and
turning it all-into joke. L wound
up my visit again remarking, as
shook hands: ..z@-
you've got a nasty cough, Miss
Gordon, but well soon cure you"
isPert little thing ]" mentally ejao-
ulated,. as l left the house. "The dark
one seems nice. How beautiful she
isl" IS ~
After this I paid many more pro-
fessiona1 visits to the Gordons, and
soon found myself on=a very pleasant
familiar footing at their house. q
When the autumn tints were begin-
ming to appear in the woods of Ry e,
/ discovered thatI loved Alice, the
dark one, and that if she would like
to live on fifteen hundred dollars a
year, in a snug little house-of her own
[ should like it too; but. / dared not
tell her. / could laugh and joke with
Hetty; but with Alice Iwas always
shy and nervous. II
Time went on. perceived that
with Mr.. and MIS- Gordon / was a
favorite. 1 could see that Hetty, too,
liked me, and I hoped that Alice did !;
but she was so quiet and matronly 1
could not judge SO we'll. Z
When Christmas approached there
was a great deal of sickness about,
and / could not go home as / had in
tended 80 Mrs. G ordon kindly begged
me to come and dine with them. II
"Ge, my dear fellow said kindly
Doctor Thompson, when 1 demurred
atleaving them" go and enjoy your
self, and look out for the mistletoe." Z"
Sol gladly accepted the invitations.
On Christmas eve I met the girls
out walking, and they kindly told me
they were glad was coming. %
"Cousin Willie is coming, too,n
cried Hetty, and she glanced slyly at
Alice. z
Who is Cousin WilHe?" I asked,
wishing I might mix pill for him.
.1" Oh, he's our only cousin, and
papa's ward" was the reply. /" He
always comes at Christmas" u
.Pll come early" said, making a
mighty effort, as want to speak to
Mr.. Gordon" -7a ~ =
q " Oh, do, come as early as you can,"
said Hetty. ai '''r-at =
Old Thompson wants me to look
out for the mistletoe," 1 said foolishly
by way of saying something. .iE -
"Oh, we've got plenty of that ready
-eh, Alice ?" said Hetty. -olt.ft 4
How .tjresome you are, Hetty !"
said Alice, warmly, and blushing a
painful crimson. Gidiu.f 9af IfD i
1 went home, pondering on the way
what should do. 1 could not dine
there with my heart bursting with my
secret, and feeling is might explode at
any moment. Then here was Cousin
Willie, too. If he should pay my
beautiful Alice any attention i might
not be able to control my feelings. So
l determined to write to her, ask my
fate, and go up before dinner for my
answer. If L were accepted, have a
merry Christmas; if rejected, go
home, and-and-well, nearly die of a
broken heart. I was delighted with
the idea, and almost ran home to put
it into execution. But, how easy to
get out pen, ink and paper !-how
difficult to writeI tore up letter af-I
ter letter; again and again Itried, but
the hopelessness of expressing my
feelings was great. Should I leave it,
and go and say my say in person? No,
no, l could not do that. NY tongue
would cleave to my mouth the very
thought seemed to deprive me of all 4
power of articulation. Here goes, /
said at last. I will write it off at once
and won't read it over. W. 4
"My dear Here was at q full
stop already How was to- begin ?
If were doing it personally, might |
try the effect OF s"lAlice" spoken in al
low, deep tone, but it looks so cool
On paper. Therefore, began again (: |
6 My dear Miss Gordon" 4.iia1a2 4
[ was once more puzzled how to end |
my epistle, but at last decided on-- II
"Believe me, dear, dear Miss Cor
don, waiting in trembling hope and |
fear, yours in life and death, yours on
y, and forever .IvI3 -ne@ildGg95i Il
.l4.-4.is4i aau PHILIP GwYNNE." II
This dispatched to Miss Gordon,
enclosing note to the. young lady's /
papa, to be delivered too at her dis
;retion. You may believe scarcely
closed my eyes ali that night. :
Next day, Christmas Day, was too
busy to attend church but I got clear
bout four O'Clock, and hastily dress
ng myself, started for Mr.. Gordon's.
He met me warmly. de I2a5Ia 7
g Come in here. my dear fellow
aid he &c | can't tell You how pleased
he is-my wife, L mean. And" am
luite satisfied as to money and world
y affairs. Quite. Old Thompson's is
/ good practice. We must have a set
lement, you know; but that will be
IL right. Rather you have her than
N earl. God bless you! am proud
o call you son, I've spoken to her.
,he loves you, my boy-loyes you
learly, she says, and has done so long. I
And now that you are one of the fam
ly, may as well tell you a secret,
Ny youngest daughter is engaged too.
Yes, Alice and my nephew William
re gong to make a match Of it. Don't
ook so astonished. She'll make him
good wife; for, though she is year
'ounger than dear Hetty, she looks
lder, you know, and is more steady /
nd sedate, But Hetty's dear girl, 4
nd will, | am sure, make you happy.
DON'T speak, don't speak There, III
end her in" III
And off the lawyer bolted in his j
sual jerky way before could say a