The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1872-09-19

drawled the lady from her luxurious
couch.
"About the usual hour" replied DR..
John, with no especial show of Difference.
"What seems to be the matter this morn
ingS"
| "Now, really, doctor, that is too cruel.
Matter this merningl Do you remem-
Der what was the matter yesterday !?
Please don't be so blunt. You shock
my nerves terribly"
"Let me see," said the doctor. "Yes-
terday, according to your own admission,
you were tagged out with fashionable
party and late supper. That of course,
cannot be the case to-day"
| al know should not have attempted
it in my weak state, doctor. I know
Just what you will think of it," sighed
the fashionable woman from her downy
bed. "But then you men never will
understand what society demands of us
women. Dear Estelle (dear Estelle was
the invalid's daughter) had quite set her
heart on going to Mrs. Donk's reception.
Of course I could not allow the dear
child to ge unattended, and bless your
heart, DIR. Hessman, the girls father
would not accompany her to party if
she fell dead in consequence. Oh, Lord,
such time as l did have about it, try
ing to induce Mr.. Waters to escort her
l really believe that scene had more to
do with my suffering to-day than the
party had. Dear me, such set man as
Mr.. Waters isl / told him--says 1,
William, this may result in my death I"
Says he" When a woman gets to be
forty years old, and don't know enough
to take care of her own health and the
health of her children, it is time she
died )" and then, doctor, he Lit his cigar
and puffed out of the house. tell you
this because l want you to know what
has so unnerved me, and that you may
not lay it all to the party. Estelle is
quite ill, too, doctor, and when you have
written out my prescription 1 wish you
would walk into the next room and see
her."
DR.. John knew that something must
be administered or his profession would
be irretrievably ruined, so with quiet
smile playing around his large mouth
(Dr. Johns mouth was really very large,
and truth compels us to state that he
had an under-jaw to match, though the
rows of unexceptionably white and even
teeth, and the silken chin-covering, glossy
and soft as woman's hair, entirely
redeemed the lower part of his face from
ugliness) the physician wrote the few
necessary Latin words, among which
aqua seemed really the most conspicuous,
and then passed into the other room.
The doctor knew what awaited him.
This little game had been tried more than
once before.
"Good morning, Miss Estelle," said
DR.. John, approaching the sofa where
the languid beauty reclined. "Your
mother tells me you are ILL"
Miss Estelle, with almost an impatient
from her temples-carelessly and really
unintentionally, it would seem, barring
by the motion one of the most beautiful
arms that sculptor ever waved about
and replied:
"Your manner seems to say, Miss
Estelle, you are always ill. Why don't
you behave YOURSELF, "Oh, how happy
1 should be, DR.. John, if you would once
in your life be kind to me. I do really
think something is the matter with my
heart. What if 1 should die?"
No picture Of Watteau's could ever
have been more witching, more charm
ingly colored, than the little form before
him. Every accessory of toilet had been
brought to bear upon the citadel of his
heart-and TO a handsome woman no
dress is 80 becoming as the negIigce of her
boudoir, with its lace and fantastic en-
broidery, slippered feet and graceful
posture. Then the vases filled with
flowers, the mirrors, and jewels, and per-
fumes, and enticing lolling chairs.
Heigho many a strong man has bowed
to such shrine-made fool of himself
for life-when in the glare and glitter
of the drawing room no such nonsense
would have been thought Of.
DR.. John acknowledged the beauty of
this picture. 1t was dainty, piquant,
dangerous. 1t had been dished up for
him on several previous occasions, but
never so much to his mind as now. The
beauty's manner was earnest and almost
supplicating. What man could fail to
be appreciative under such circumstan-
cesY Remember, too, that Doctor John
was longing to be loved-had that
morning almost prayed that heaven
would send him little bundle of COM
fort in the shape of a good wife, and it
will not be strange that, notwithstand-
ing the efforts previously made to en-
trap him, he should think only of the
present loveliness.
"What are you reading, Miss Es-
telle 7" asked DR.. John, after a moment
of appreciative scrutiny. "Wilson's Es-
says, eh 7" and the doctors face showed
all the surprise and pleasure felt by its
owner. "And upon my word, if here
isn't Emerson. That is healthy food,
rather heavy, though, should think,
for a sick girl"
Miss Estelle drew long breath. For
the first time in the twelve months of
trial had she received one single word
of compliment or commendation from
the man whom her mother had deter
mined she should marry.
under the pillow. Really, have some
curiosity to know the title of that vol
ume also," continued the doctor almost
caressingly.
"Oh, it is nothing" replied the would
be invalid, languidly, "but stupid
cookery book that I got from the library.
Mother depends upon me, you sec, for
our desserts, and 1 can tell you that
sometimes nay ingenuity is sorely test
ed"
One little hand tucked the volume
further under the pillow, while the 9TH
er, unconsciously, of course, dropped
upon the doctors. With the white, Jew
eled fingers lying on his, the fair daz-