New national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1870-1874, 1872-10-31

young and innocent maiden," she remarked.
"Oh, Kate" / said, in the usual gushing
fashion, II am so happy can't believe it,
"Oh, well, can. Nobody comes to bed
at this time of night unless something awful
has happened"
81 wonder he did not fall in love with you,
Kate"
$50 do I, but some men have no taste,
you know. They are to be pitied, not blamed.
Besides, as L have said before, he is too aged
for me. He'll be centurion when you're
in your PRIME"
Kate refused to talk all night, as 1 would
gladly have had her, and / did catch an hour
or two of sleep, full of happy dreams.
Twas nearly alone in the world, and there
was no earthly reason for delaying the mar
rage except for wedding garments.
Dovecotes was wonderfully healthy just
at this time, but the Doctors carriage Che
had discarded the old narrow sulky and re-
placed it with buggy might be seen going
at full speed along the avenue often enough
for patient at the point of death.
Wewere married and went into the village,
to live in the very house in which had first
taken possession of its owner.
That former neighbor who had seen me an
old maid, in her prophetic soul said, $50 you
took the doctor after ALL
If this were an ordinary and well-conducteG
story, it ought to end here but being true
history, my life did not at once come to an
end, like that of most herones, with mar.
riage.
l had been Mrs. Gilmore nearly ten years
and had led a very downy life of it. My
love, which had run so smooth from the be-
ginning, kept up the same habit.
mentally carried an umbrella all those
years, but it never rained anything but gooG
fortune.
Three little Gilmores made my life happy
burden, and my old friend Kate Purdy came
constantly to the house to help me bring then
up. Kate was nearly thirty years old, when
her fate was carried into her aunt's house
with a sprained ankle, and came out of it hel
accepted lover.
Many men had fallen in love with Kate in
these years, but they had been without form
or comeliness in her eyes. The mild, color.
less man whom she loved at last with all hel
tender heart, carried her away from Dove
cOtes, and l did not see her again till she
brought with her the transcendent first baby
which was to cast far into the shade all Gil
more babies, past, present, and to come.
One foggy twilight, when our tyrants were
"laid" for the night, We walked toward
DOvecotcs. The long gate opening ON thu
avenue was shut, and we all leaned upon it
to rest a moment before turning homeward
BY the way" said 1, s. it is just like thu
night when / found this ring. 1 wonder i
those lovers ever made up their quarrel, ant
married after all.''
81 am quite sure they never married, ,
said Kate's husband, gravely.
"What do you mean?' Igasped.
"Tell her all about it." said Kate to DIR
Gilmore. eve are all happy now" Sht
kissed me twice, with long look into m,
frightened face, and walked away with he
husband.
"What is it ?"I said with great effort, 81
dry was my throat.
sit was Kate Purdy and who quarrelet
"Allv' l repeated.
Little wife, have We not been happy to
gether?"
have supposed So"
Sand have known it,"
"But the long deceit"
"On my word, there has been none
After you introduced me to Kate, never
spoke word to her that you did not hear
nor looked look that you did not see. She
fascinated me once, but l never really loved
her."
believe men often make this sort of re
mark to their wives touching their youthful
fOlles, but it comfOrted me, nevertheless, as
it has comforted many another wife. l hat
always worn the sapphire ring, the sign O
her betrothal, and as we talked l had beer
slipping it up and down my finger.
AS we turned to leave the gate, saw g
deep crack in the ground where the frost hat
lOosened the post; in an instant 1 had drop
ped the ring into the crack and went on, witt
one bruise less on my spirit.
On the way home we talked of the unyer.
sal preference for moonlight over fog, ant
found Kate waiting alone ON the doorstep
II will not darken your doors again." she
said, "till you say that you forgive me-"
eyes," said the doctor, ''she will let By.
cones be by-gones," and Kate took that fol
her answer.
"You will find your ring where you lef
it," whispered to Kate as lett her for the
night. ....
When 1 was taking out hair-pins under the
gas-lights, saw the doctor look curiously al
my forefnger. 49,.
eyes," said, cit is gone found tn.
owner, you know"
He made no reply, but he drew from under
the dressing table the little leather-coveret
box that held all his private papers, the only
thing in the house of which did not possess
the key. He took out little case, and un
covered pearl ring, an exquisite solitaire.
81 bought this ring for you," he said, cor
the day after you accepted me, feeling sure
that you would some day throw away tho
other"
1 put on the ring, and christened it with
kisses and tears. l could not be angry will
"my DOCTOR" loved him too we'll.
AS to Kate, I can forgive, but can never
quite forget.-The GALAXY.