Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1871-01-28
@isttIlaau.
DOCT0R ASHFOS'S BOUQUET.
ri MACDR.


have supposed Lin to have .nddcnly
fallen heir 10 \ rich lGgaoy, he looked
20 proud and Joyous; and good causc
he had to OKnlt. Sweet Edith ALI
son had within the hour given sinil-
Ing approval Of his long and earnest
wOoin2, aud olBented that the hap
py day should not be a distant, one
and Edith Ailis IN Was prize whom
any man might be proud Of winning
Wealthy and winsomc beautiful and |
gentle, 10 wonder thai Doctor Ash /
ton should teel that the world in gen.
ersl had assumed gayey mood to I
celebrate his great good fortune.
| But as he went smiling down the /
street a little remembrance went hirt- I
ing through his mind that sent
| thrill Of disappointment to his heart.
His precious Edith, his new found
treasure intended going that night to
the opera in company with some
friends, and owing to an engagement
previously made with some Of his
medical friends, an engagement which
hiG duty prompted him to keep, he
could not accompany her.
The thought that another would
have the sweet privilege of lingering
near his hearts idol all the evening
while he was banished, caused Icn-
sation OF peculiar bitterness, aid he
cast about his mind as to what she
should do.
| Finally bright idea struck him.
He would send her the loYeiest
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 a
moment lose sight of his great and
passionate love.
His round OF visits over, lie had
just time TO step into u car, and be
trotted ott to Carroliton, where bou.
quet Of rare and costly flowers wai
procured. While the bouquet was be
ing made, he managed to write on ,
slip ofpaper few words:
my darling, cannot be with yol
this evening, but let these lovely flow
erE speak for me Yours forever
.- III. A.
Carefully twisting the little missiv
into the center Of the bouquet, wher
il would attract her eye, he was 500
on his way back to the city.
AS he rode slong, he remombere
with some compunctious that ne'
!. patient of his, and warm person,
1t friend, had requested him TO call thu
!. day, as she thought she needed med
" cal ser, ice. This lady also rejoice
sz in the possession ola beautiful daugl
Is ter, who might have capiivated tn
l. doctors fancy, had he never met wit
= The pure and gentle Edith.
= !, His watch told him that he coul
- y spare half an hour for this visit, an
4 at the end Of that time he would carr
4 his flowers to Edith and be favore
}: with few minutes Ct her compan
sr before starting. ..
Of Acting on this suggestion he ran
the bell, and Was ushercd into til
Il large, weIi.lightcd parlor, where
!, bright coal fire was burning. render
u ing the air as soft and bslmy az tha
Of summer. 1t would never DO +
"a take his flowers into the warn room
i so he carefully deposited them in tn
Il hall, and eat down TO await the com
J. ing Of his uatient Presently rust
!. ling of silken garments told him o
y her appr0Sch, aud before he had tim
y to rise and greet her, she sprsng for
:, ward aud caught his hand in both o
- hers.
: ooh! YOU dear, kind, thoughtful tel
. low How good of YOU to think o
this being my birthday! What I
e lovely bouquet"
q DR.. Ashton's face expressed thu
z vexation that his tongue could no
h speak, and indeed the valuable lady
I gave him no opportunity TO open hi
lips.
9 "How pleased my dear husband vii
. bo with this delicate compliment tt
J his wife," she continued, still holding
. bis hands III both her own.
The doctor found his tongueat last
A "Jf you mean the bouquet out in the
/ hail, madame, must say TO you that
. II ia intended for = Young lady, and
7 am ashamed to acknowledge that
8 was not aware that this was your
. birthday" E.
"Oh. well, il don't matter, my deal
doctor" she replied, smiling swectly
: upon him, "I knew " no should have
them, and sent them right up to her.
"Good heavens, madam, what can
! you mean? What have you done
with luJ fowers1" cried the young
! man, dim perception OF an lmpend-
/ lug terrible calamity beginning 10
} dawn upon his miad.
The lady put out both hands and
lovingly strokcd his hot checks.
"H0w excited you are = she said,
"but II is all right Dear Hattie
] Nushed like 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.
"My dear madam, it Is all q mis-
: take | respect and admire Miss Hat
! tie worry much, but the bouquet was
intended for another; and as il is now
! late, / will thank you 10 get II for me-
snd Twill call again and explain mat
ters7
aWhat y pity" said the lady, set
!. ,ling herself in large easy chair,
!. what a pity that YOU did not speaE
Z sooner. Dear Hattie has gone to
Z spend the evening somewhere with 8
!, friend, and as matter Of course she
/ took tic bouquet with her. She has
B only iust gone, but Ia too distant to
/ bo recalled. Poor child! How wa.
! shc to know that II was not intended
z for herr Men are 90 indifferent Hs to
-.Lo,l or thAv mislead a poor girl OF