The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1871-08-24

or other L shall have to marry, and
might us well make up my mind to it q
once. | said to Miss Esther Wagg, tn
other day, The widow Zilpha Thomas i
fine woman a capital manager, too
isn't she ?'''
Manager! you may be sure of that
She managed poor Reuben Thomas int
his grave" said Miss Esther.
''But then, it is of no consequence wha
these spiteful old maids say Most likel,
she has IN eye on the situation for her
selfm
And the doctor drew himself up, in the
proud assurance that when he did take 4
second helpmate, he should leave every
marriageable lady Of his acquaintance in
consolable
"l'll drive around and see the Widow
Thomas next week. don't think it likely
that she could manage men'
And having made up his mind Doctor
llurlburt betook himself to his chamber
But his face was not that of man who is
quite satisfied with his decision and he
stood for long time at the window, and
looked down to the foot of the hill, where
the Widow Cartcr's house was plainly
visible in the moonlight
mo, no, once is enough for q man to
be made q fool Of! And that silly boy
shall never marry her daughter, if can
help t!' he said, at last, turning away
with decided shake of the head. From
which signs an observer would have sup
posed Miss Esther Wagg to be right, and
the Widow Carter an old sweetheart who
had " made q fool of him."
Rose Carter, with pale cheeks and down
cast eyes, sat demurely sewing beside her
mother the next morning, when her uncle,
old Squire Carter, came in. The pale
cheeks had been observed but not com
mentcd on by her mother but the squire
was not so delicate.
BLESS me . what has become of the
red cheeks? Why, they are as white as
snowballs. Too much sewing and mop
ing, and not enough air and eNercise-or
has its sweetheart deserted it, poor little
Rosy ?"
Upon which Roses cheeks grew scarlet,
OF course. But the squire was not salts
fled.
"The child looks really i'll, and something
must be done" he said to Mrs. Carter, as
he went away. ''She hasn't looked like
herself for MONTHS
And the squire, haunted by Roses pale
face, betook himself directly to Doctor
Hurlburt's office.
II want you TO 90 and see my niece,
little Rose Carter, or prescribe something
for her. She says nothing ails her, but
she looks pale and moped. | suppose it
is nothing but want OF exercise; if these
girls would only do as their grandmothers
did, But you know what will help her
it's nerves, suppose" said the squire,
who fanced that ''nervcs' We're at the
bottom of all feminine ailments.
"Ah, yes? I'll send her a prescription,
said the doctor heartily. And thinking it
the heartiness OF interest and good nature,
the squire went on his way relieved.
And Doctor IIurlburt, feeling even less
than on the previous night, sat
down at his desk, and wrote prescrip-
ton for Miss Rose Carter.
just as he finished it his man Barnes
brought him a note. 1t was from the man
who took care of the doctors farm on the
outskirts of the town, near the widow
Thomas wood lot.
"Thc Widow Thomas man Jake wants to
know if YOU will let the widow take Black Bess
to go down to Saugus 10 the quarterly confer
ence meeting tonight. She told him to say
particular that She didn't feel very well, and
thought the ride would do her good. if you
would be so kind as to let her take Black Bess,
which is so very gentle.
SAMUEL lIoDGKrNS."
The doctors face cleared as he read
'Little Sam Hodgkins is waiting for
the answer, if you please, SIR said
Barnes.
And the doctor wrote q few words hur-
ridly, in answer to Samuel IIodgkins,
not without grumbling at the mans stu
pidity in not letting the widow have the
horse without applying to him.
But no matter the widow would not
have to ask for Black Bess again. "With
all my worldly goods | thee endow," he
meant to say to her very soon.
Barnes was entrusted with the two
notes-one for Miss Rose Carter, and the
other for little Sam Hodgkins to carry to
his father
In the mean time Charley had come to
a new resolve He would see Mrs. Car
ter once more, and try to gain her con-
sent to his marriage with Rose. With
out her consent, Rose would never be his
wife.
1t was evidently q hopeless task to try
to overcome his fathers prejudices; but
he was determined that they should not
be allowed to destroy his happiness, and
Roses too, for life. Mrs. Carter liked
him; she would give Rose to him will
lingly, she had told him, if it were not
for his fathers objections; she might be
persuaded to, in spite of It,
MI n IN
two days, he was going away to dis
tant city, to establish himself in business.
He had hoped to carry Rose with him,
but all his pleading had been of no avail
to induce her to marry him against hel
mothers will. All his hopes now lay in
influencing Mrs. Carter. So early that
morning he took his way to the cottage
at the foot of the hill. Squire Carter had
Just left, and Mrs. Carter's mind was
still filled with the anxiety regarding
Roses health which he had aroused; 81
perhaps Charley could not have found q
better time for trying to win her over tc
his side.
But, though she did not hesitate for 6
moment, his pleading was in vain.
"You know there is no one whom
would rather have for son than you
Charley" she said, ''But know your ia
ther. He is a stern man, very sterr
man, and he will never relent. He woul(
never forgive you for marrying agains
his will. | cannot consent to your ruin
ing all your prospects in lite. You anC
Rose are both very young; you may
change. The time might come, Charley
when you would regret disobeying you
fathers wish. You are his only son, ant
so dear to him; and before this, you say
never thwarted your slightest wish. Yor
ought not to disobey him hastily. To be
sure, his prejudice seems unreasona
Bile"
Unreasonable 1t is absurd I" inter
rupted Charley, hotly. "Why he ha
never so much as seen you, to my knowl
edge"'
81 lived here when was girl, yo'
know. l knew your father then. II
has some reasons for disliking me whic
| don't understand"
1T is only prejudice, notion,
am sure" said Charley. "And he ha
no right to dictate me in such matter.
And he was beginning his eager plead
ing over again, when Barnes appeare
with note. There was no address o
the outside, and Mrs. Carter opened il
| while Charley waited in a fever of Sus