The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1871-06-22

wos Id not look as curly us fondy
fanc.ed it did, whenever | took the pre-.
caution of w0ttins it well over uight,
and brushing it up against the grain.
Come, come, Gwyune, make haste,
at last sounded from below.
ran down to obey the doctors call,
and soon after. proceeded up the town to
Mrs. Gordon's. After | had couyersed
with the lady for few miuutes-that
is to say she talked and listened-she
ushered me into morning room to see
my patient.
We are quito anxious about dear
Hetty," she said; "she has had very
bad cough for some time past, and our
home remedies seem to be of no avail "
Two girls rose as | entered, and re
turned my very nervous bow. | saw
that one Was tall aud graceful, with IA
mass of black hair loosely drawn from of
her face, large, soft black eyes, clear
complexion, and regular features; grand
beauty | thought. The other was diff
iereut, evidently two or three years
younger, with sunny chestnut hair, that
tossed in loose waves down her back,
blue eyes, little pou,ing mouth, most
bewltching nee retr0asse, and a short
slight figure A more complete contrast
could hardly exist than between the two
sisters. The dark one looked about
twenty, the little one about eighteen.
AS said, bowed nervously and ccughed
two or three times, because | did not
quite know what to say
This is our dear invalid, said Mrs.
Gordon, patting the youngest on the
shoulder.
Oh, We'll soon cure her, Mrs. Cor.
don," | said with an alarming cheerful.
ness, and coughed ugain.
Physician, cure ihyself," | heard
the invalid remark, in u mischievous
uudertoue.
"Oh, I've no cough, thanks, only u
little tickling" said, stupidly, though
the whisper had not been for me.
However, | plucked up courage, and
proceeded to make my professional iu-
quirics, which were diverscly answered;
the mother making out the case to be
"very bad" "quite serious" and sug.
gesting the South Of France; the daugll.
ter quizzing everything, and turned it
all into joke. Iwound up my visit by
again rcmarkiug, as | shook hands,
You've got bad cough, Miss Cor.
don, but we'll soon cure you"
Pert little thing r. | mentally ejac
ulated as | left the house. The dark
one seems nice How beautiful she isl
After this paid many moro profes
sional visits at the Gordon's, and soon
found myself on very pleasant famil.
lar footing at their house. So, from
professional began to make friendly
visits, aud often joined the girls in leis-
ure half hours, at game OF croquct or
archery, or would take them for quiet
row on the river on warm summer days
Had | been cheeky fellow, very likely
| might have become far mere intimate
than was--might have called them
Aliceand Hetty, as everybody else in the
house did. But | was far too nervous
and too shy, and so to me they were
always the Misses Gordon"
When the autumn tints we're begin.
ming to appear 10 the woods Of Duufeld,
| discovered that | loved Alice, the
dark one, and that If she would like to
live on three hundred year, in snug
little house Of her own, | should like il
too; but | dare not to tell her. could
laugh and joke with llctty; but with
Alice | was always shy aud nervous.
Time went on. perceived that with
Mr.. aud Mrs, Gordon | was a favorite
| could see that Hetty, too, liked me,
aud l hoped Alice did; but she was SO
quiet and matronly ] could not judge
SO we'll
When Christmas approached there
was good deal of sickness about, and
| could not go home as | had intended
SO Mrs. Gordon kindly begged mo to
come aud dine with them.
$50, go, my dear fellow, said friend.
ly Dr. Thompson, when l demurred at
leaving them. "Go and enjoy yourself,
and look out for the mistletoe.h So /
gladly accepted the invitation.
Gu Christmas Eve | met the girls
out walking, and they kindly said they
were very glad / was coming.
"Cousin Willie is coming too" cried
Hetty, aud she glanced shyly at Alice
"Who is Cousin WillioY" l asked,
wishing | might mix pill for him.
"Oh, he's our only cousin aud papa's
ward,' was the reply. Ale always
comes at Christmas.
"Pll come early" l said, making
mighty effort, ''as | want to speak to
MIR. Gordon"
"0h, do, come early as you can"
said Heity.
"Old Thompson wants me to look out
for the lnistle,oe," said foolishly, by
the way Of saying something.
:" Oh, we've got plenty OF that ready
-ch, Alice 7" said Hetty.
How tiresome you are, IIetty r
said Alice warmly, and blushing pain.
ful crimson.
6 Well, it was silly Of Hetty; and
before me, too /! But | was SO glad TO
SEQ the blush that did not notice the
little show of temper. Between you
and me, reader, she had once or twice