Eaton weekly Democrat. [volume] (Eaton, Ohio) 1866-1875, 1872-09-26

fash1onable party ana a late supper.
That, of course, can-ot be the case to
day.
IL know should not have attempt
ed it in my weak state, doctor. 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 Es-
telle was the invalid's daughter) had
quite set her heart on going to Mrs.
Donk's reception. OF course l could
not allow the dear child to go unat-
tended, and, bless your heart, DIR. Hess
man, the girls father would not accom-
pany her to party if she fell dead in
consequences. Oh, Lord, such time as
I did have about it, trying to induce
Mr.. Waters to escort her. | really be-
lieve that scene had more to do with
my suffering than the party had. Dear
me, such set man as Mr.. Waters is !
1 told him-says l, William, this may
result in my death 7 Say 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 chill
dren, it is time she died : and then,
doctor, he lit his cigar and puffed out
of the house. 1 tell you this because
want you to know what has SO un-
nerved me, and that you may not lay it
all to the party. Estelle is quite i'll,
too, doctor, and when you have writ
ten out my prescription, ! wish you
would walk into the next room and see
her."
DIR. John knew that something must
be administered or his professional
reputation be irretrievably ruined, so,
with a quiet smile playing around his
large mouth (Dr. Johns mouth was
really very large, and truth compels us
to state that he had an underJaw to
match, though the rows of unexcep-
tionally white and even teeth, and the
silken chin covering, glossy and soft as
a 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 doc
game had been tried more than once
before.
"Good morning, Miss Estelle," said
the languid beauty rechned. Your
mother tells me you are ILL.,"
Miss Estelle, with an almost impa-
tient gesture, brushed away the float
ing hair from her temples carelessly,
and really unintentionally, it would
seem,-baring by the motion one of the
most beautiful arms that sculptor ever
raved about, and replied:
"Your manner seems to say, Miss
Estelle, you are always ILL., Why don't
you behave yourself2"
"Oh, how happy 1 should be, DR..
John, if you would once in your life be
kind to me. / do really think some
thing is the matter with my heart.
What if I should die2'
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 so becoming as the neghgee
of her boudoir with its lace and fan
tastic embroidery, slippered feet, and
graceful posture. Then the vases filed
with flowers, the mirrors, and jewels,
and enticing lolling chairs. .Aelgho
many a strong man has bowed to such
shrine, and 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 to
him on several pre- vious 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 cir
cumstances2 Remember too that DIR.
John was praying to be 1oved-had that
morning almost prayed that heaven
10 Of
fort in the shape of 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 Estelle?'
asked DR.. John, after moment of ap-
preciative scrutiny. "Wilson's Essays,
eh?" and the doctors face showed all
the surprise and pleasure felt by its
owner. "And upon my word, if here
isn't Emerson. Tt at is healthy food
rather heavy, though, should think,
for sick grip
Miss Estelle drew long breath. For
the first time in the twelve months OF
trial had she received one word of com
pliment or condemnation from the man
whom her mother had determined she
should marry.
Sand as true as I live, another book
under the pillow. Really, have some
curiosity to know the title of that vol
ume, also," continued the doctor, al
most caressingly.
"Oh, it is nothing" replied the would
be invalid, languidly, "but stupid
cookery book that 1 got from the libra
ry. Mother depends upon me. you see
for our desserts, and I can tell you
that sometimes my ingenuity is sorely
tested"
One little hand tucked the volume
further under the pillow, while the
other, unconsciously, of course, dropped
| upon the doctors with the white, jew
eled fingers lying on his, the fair, daz
zling face upturned, the words which
would have doomed hum to misery al
the days of his life, were spoken.
How wonderfully and providentially
little Things sometimes appear to save
from desolation and deathI The hanc
with which she had striven to hide thu
partially ly-concealed volume had, strange
ly enough, lifted the frill of the pillow
and disclosed both title and author
one of the most mischievous and reck
lessly written books ever translated int
the English language.
For moment the doctor sat silen
with horror and astonishment. Not s.