The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1871-08-24
DR.. HurIburt's Prescription.
ELIZABETH EIGELOW.

DR.. HurIburt's Prescription.
BY ELIZABETH EIGELOw.
''It's of no use to talk about my being
Your wife, Charley. Your father will
never consent, and mother will never
even let me see you-if she can help it
without his consent No, YOU mustn't
come Il step furthcr,' And pretty Rose
Carter drew her arm out of Charley Ilurl-
burt's very decidedly, when they reached
the end of the village common. ~ ou
know it almost breaks my heart to say it,
Charley, but don't think can ever meet
you again Mother will be sure to find
it out, and it would vex her so. And she
has had enough trouble without my giving
her any-pOor mamma -
Charley IIurlburt shrugged his shoulders
impatently.
"Your mother comes before me, of
course 1t is no matter how feel. You
say coolly that you can never meet me
again; that means, | suppose, that we
are never to see each other again.
''Why, no, Charley, if you will only
have patience to wait. Everything may
come out right"
"Wait. You have been telling me to
wait for the last two years, and things are
no nearer to coming out right than they
ever were.,,'
Il can't think why your father should
dislike my mother so. L think mother
knows, but she will never tell me. Miss
Esther Wagg says that they were lovers
once, and had u quarrel that your father
can never forget. But one can't believe
all Miss Esthcr's gossip"
Il don't think it is anything more than
a notion he has GOT into his head He's a
crochcty, set cid fellow, but he's got 8
good big heart, Rose, If one can only get
at it. If you were only my wife, he would
be sure to come round and think the world
of you. If You would only marry me.
Rose! At the worst-if he wouldn't come
round-hc could only disinherit me, and
l have 4 pair of good strong arms and
some passable brains to fight my way
our way-tmough the world"
The moonlight showed him her face,
and he tancied that there was Il little
shadow of hesitation on it, But she shook
her head firmly after q moment.
"Now, Rose, darling, don't tell me
again to wait"
The rest of the sentence was never
spoken, for u heavy hand was laid on the
young mans shoulder, and an angry voice
mimicked his tender tones.
"Rose, darling! I'll teach you to
darling her, young man"
And there was DR.. Hurlburt's face, red
with anger, looking over Charley
shoulder Rose at the first glimpse of it,
turned and ran, like q little coward as
she was
"Havcn't | forbidden you seeing that
young woman? What do you mean by
sncaking round here with her like q thic
in the night? pursued the doctor furi
ouslv.
at is not my fault that do not walk
with her openly; it is not my fault that
she is not my wife. 1t is only because
she will not consent to be so,n answered
Charley, stoutly
won't consent to be your wife, eh
exactly like rejected lovcrn answered
the doctor.
''Shc would marry me, if she were al
lowed to choose" answered Charley, try
ing hard to keep his temper. ''Hel
mOtnCf VIII not consent.
''IIumph! not consent? that's pretty
wellm gro vled the doctor. $50 sht
thinks my son is not good enough for hel
| daughter -
"She does not object to me. If yol
would give your consent to our marriage
she would give hers.''
"Ah, that's it! Well, my consent you'll
never have, young man, you may rel,
upon that And if ever | hear of you
being with that young woman again, II
turn you out of doors, sir Not penn,
of my money shall you ever have, sir
Remember that! | am not the one t.
make idle threats"
Charley was about to reply, but the.
had reached the house by this time, ant
the doctor went into the office, and shu
the door behind him with bang s.
there was nothing for poor Charley to d.
but take his way disconsolately up stair
to bed.
In the meantime, the doctor seized tn
poker and stirred up the dying fire in hi
CRATE savagely.
''Won't consent, eh? That's like Ros
Shepard! she always was proud piece
Let me catch that boy with her ughte
again ?" And he walked up and dow
the room, brandishing the poker, an
with scowl still on his face, looking nc
unlike a midnight assassin, in spite Of tn
venerable aspect which his gray hair
gave him.
But he cooled down very soon, suff
GENTLY to carry the poker back to its place
and begin search for dressing gov
and slippers, q search which proved long
and served to turn his anger from Charlie
to another.
"Of all the miserable housekeepers the
ever l had, this Barnes woman is tn
~ he grumbled, jerking himself q
last into the dilapidated and comfortles
looking dressing gown, and the slipper
trodden down at the heel.
''Not a drop of warm water, or an.
thing to eat in the house, I'll warrant
And he strobe into the dining room, whic
indeed was cold and void of cheer.
He went into the pantry and munche
hard very dark colored doughnut sa'
agely.
cpd turn her away tomorrow, she ar
her husband, too, only that the next or
' would be sure to be worse. They are a
about of piece. There is nothing wor
to have in the house than a housekeeper-
unless it's wife. And l don't know
Doctor Hurlburt still stood in the pa
try, solemnlY deliberating, after the la
morsel of doughnut had disappeared.
, was so long since he had wife that
f could not decide whether one was wor
than the housekeeper or not. 1t was
question he had been revolving in l