Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1871-03-08

words her face suggested" very
woman to make freside bright, and a
husband perfectly happy" which re-
Election had occurred to him perhaps
fifty times before He gave an inau-
dible sigh.
Mrs. Brown was called of, and the
doctor and Lay went on talking Some
how it was easy to talk to May
Suddenly the door bell gave terrific
peal.
"Gracious !" said May, with Jump.
I" What a ring,-What is it Ann % to a
servant who now came into view, spying
about as if in search of somebody.
GA note for you, Miss May, some
body left"
cit may want an answer" May said.
"Wiu you forgive me if open it," She
broke the seal. Her fair face flushed
crimson The doctor inadvertently
glanced that way Horror of horrors /!
He recognized his own handwriting.
There was the seal, the monogram
there could be no mistake. It was the
very valentine so lately penned Oh,
that wretched boy!
If ever luckless lover wished the
earth to open and swallow him up, it
was the doctor at this moment What
had he said 2 or rather, what had he
not said2 The moments seemed in
terminable Would May ever get
through reading, ever look up ?
And just then-'fthe curse of granted
prayer"-did look up; hall glance,
nipped in the bud by finding him look
ing at her; and, blushing deeper, she
again dropped her eyes. But amidst
ali her confusion there was no anger,
no soorn; and, for all his shyness of
modesty and short sight, this fact did
dawn upon our hero, and gave him
courage. Strange to say, he recovered
self-possession first.
The silence became intolerable. May,
with trembling fingers, was trying to
fold up her letter.
Miss Brown he said, very gently
and gravely, "will you allow me to ex-
plain something2"
Certainly" replied May. It was
all she could contrive to utter
" It was impossible for me to help
seeing what you held in your hand. I
wrote those verses
81 knew the hand and initial" was
the answer, in a low tone.
"But didn't mean-pray believe it
that the silly production should ever
meet your eyes. It is all a mistake"
"Whose, then 2" asked May, wonder
ingly, turning her gaze upon him.
"Little Mary Browns, under the
hill The poor child was wishing for q
valentine so [ scribbled that for her
just as was coming out, and left it for
my boy to carry round. 1t is mis-
take of his.n
;, It was very good Of you" said May,
trying to smile. But the smile was
faint and weary, and she had grown
strangely pale.
But, pursued the doctor, with un-
wonted fire, "suppose it had been writ
ten for you; or, rather, suppose in
another form of words-the truest, the
worthiest-I had expressed the same
feeling, had told the love that is in my
heart, May-would you
"Well % said May, with q rainbow
smile
"Would you have been angry -
The rose-fush had swept back again
to the sweet cheeks, the blue eyes met
his confdingly. 'No," said the hon
est-hearted girl, coloring deeper with
the effort to be true-"no; [ should
have been very glad!" Then, as the
enraptured doctor, forgetting all place
and things besides, seized her hand,
she added, hurriedly, "Oh, please, re-
member! These people will think US
crazy We must not stand here any
longer" taking his arm. Then, with 8
| Iitt1n fo1,orh +,
hill, must do without her valentine, I
am afraid. [ can't give it up, though
it did come to me under false pretenses.
But we will buy her the prettiest one in
town tomorrow to make up for 1t,
won't we2" What music sometimes
lies embodied in "We!"
[ need not go on with the story, I am
sure. May and the doctor were mar
ried about six months later. They are
very happy. The doctor was Just the
man to be made or marred according as
some woman said "Non or Yes He
would have developed into a dry, un-
gainly old bachelor enough. AS it is,
thanks to his wife, he makes the most
cE arming of husbands. All his na0u-
raise honte has melted away in the
sunshine of happiness, and he shines
out the manly, excellent fellow he was
meant to be-
| Mrs. Hetley took Bob under her
special protection, and rewarded him
for his lucky stupidity by new suit
and an increase of wages. What the
effect of this immoral proceeding may
be on the doctors future office-boys is
questionable. [ should say, bad; but
that is Mays look-out-not ours.