The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1850-1873, 1871-01-20

Inc lH0u9Ht Inat anOtneG NouIu
have the sweet privilege of lingering
near his hearts idol all the evening |
while he was banished, caused SEN
sation of peculiar bitterness, aid he
cast about his mind as TO what she |
should do.
Finally bright idea struck him.
lie would send her the loyeliest |
bouquet that could be procured, and
the sweet flowers should repeat to |
her over and over the story that he |
had been whispering into her ear that
morning, and with their bright faces
pleading for him, she could not for
moment lose sight Of his great and
passionate love.
His round of visits over, he had
iust time to step into car, and be
trotted of to Carroliton, where bou-
quet of rare and costly flowers was
procured. While the bouquet was be-
ing made, he managed TO write on a
slip ofpaper few words:
MY darling, | cannot be with you
this evening, but let these lovely flow
ers speak for me. Yours forever,
I'll. A.
Carefully twisting the little missive
into the center of the bouquet, where
il would attract her eye, he was soon
on his way back to the city. =
As lie rode along, he remembcred
with some compunctions that new
patient of his, and warm personal
friend, had requested him 10 call that
day. as she thought she needed medi-
tol oil
in the possession ola beautiful daugh-
ter. who might have captivated the
doctors fancy, had he never met with
the pure and gentle. Edith.
Ills watch told him that he could
spare half an hour for this visit, and
N the end of that time he would carry
his flowers TO Edith and be favored
with few minutes OF her company
before starting.
Acting Oh this suggestion, hc rang
the bell, and was ushercd into the
large, wcll-lightcd parlOr, where a
bright coal fire was burning. render
ing the air as soft and balmy as that
of summer. Ii would never do to
take his flowers into the warm room,
so he carefully deposited them in the
hall, and sat down TO await the CON-
ing of his uaticnt. Presently a rust
ling of silken garments told him OF
her approach, ana before he had time
10 rise and greet her, she sprang for
ward and caught his hand in both of
hers.
ooh. YOU dear, kind, though tful fell
low How good of you TO think of
this being my birthday, What a
lovely bouquet
DIR. Ashton's face expressed the
ycxation that his tongue could not
speak, and indeed the valuable lady
gave him no opportunity to open his
lips.
How pleased my dear husband will
bc with this delicate compliment to
his wife," she continued, still holding
his hands in both her own.
The doctor found his tongue at last.
'Iryou mean the bouquet out in the
hall, madame, | must say to you that
it is intended for young lady, and |
am ashamed to- acknowledge that |
was not aware that this was your
birthday
"Oh, well, it don't matter, my dear
DOCTOR" she replied, smiling sweetly
upon him., II knew who should have
them, and sent them right up to her"
Good heavens, madam, what can
YOU mean? What have you done
with my flowers? 2" cried the young
man, q dim perception of all impend-
ing terrible calamity beginning 10
dawn upon his mind.
The lady put out both hands and
lovingly stroked his hot cheeks.
allow excited you are" she said,
but it is all right. Dear Hattie
blushed like a rose when / gave it to
her; and if you could have seen her
sweet confusion, you would no longer
be in doubt as to her real feelings for
YOURSELF
The doctor was wild.
"Mv dear madam, il is all mis-
take; [ respect and admire Miss Hat
tic very much, but the bouquet was
intended for another: and as il is now
late. ! will thank you TO get it for me,
and will call again and explain mat
tcrs."
"What a pity" said the lady, set
=
what pity that you did not speak
sooner. Dear Hattie has gone TO
spend the evening somewhere with a
friend, and as matter of course she
took the bouquet with her. She has
only lust gone, but is too distant TO
nc recalled. Poor child. How was
she 10 know that il was not intended
for her? Men arc so indifferent Us 10
whether they mislcad a poor girl or
not" and she drew out her handkcr-
chief and wiped her eyes.
The doctor waited TO hear no more,
but strobe out of the house, and in a
few minutes was ringing impatiently
ut Mrs. Alisom's door After some
delay il was opened, and he learned
that the ladies had already gone.
Scarcely had Edith and her mother
seated themselves in their bCX at the
opera house, when Hattie, holding in
her hard a belu,i-Il bouquet, came
rustling in with party OF friends and
entered the adjoining box.
Leaning over 10 Edith, Hattie whis-
pcred. "Sec my beautiful bouquet,
dear Edith. and guess the donor, who
also etHb WIN IL nv T"NN'Sof ii''iS
note imaginable"
The flowers arc lovely" said guile
cess Edith, gazing with admiration on
the costly bouquet, and secretly won
dcring why her lover conld not think
t. send her one.
Lovely indeed, but how can | sin
Gle one from your many admirers as
having sent it,"
"Well, / see must tel you, though
always thought he fancied you more
chan me. Ii was DIR. Ashton who
sent the flowers, or rather, brought
them himself tonight, and the note
was cunningly twisted into the center
Of the boquet, barely visible.
A sickening sensation crept all over
Door Edith, and an awful gray shad-
ow settled down on the sweet, fair
face, as Hattie went Oh.
"Dr. Ashton is considered one Of
the best catches in the city, aud you
may regard the match as settled; and.
dear. while VIC are talking about il, |
NAV as well ask you to be one OF my
bridesmaids. But wouldn't you like
- 10 read this sweet little note" she
continued, watching the almost weep
inc oirl out of the corners of her great
black ewes, and at the same time
handing her the doctors passionate
I;,tlo note that had been written to