Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1872-12-18

light in bureau drawer, and after a
time wore it, thinking that in that
way it might be possibly seen and
claimed by its owner.
Dovecotes was wonderfully healthy
just At this time, but the Doctors
carriage (he had discarded the old
narrow sulky and replaced it with a
buggy might he seen going at full
speed along the avenue often enough
for patient at the point of death.
We were married and went Into the
village, to live in the very house in
which had first taken possession OF
it's 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 we'll
conducted story, it ought to end here;
but being a true history, my life did
not at once come to all end, like that
Of most heroines, with marriage.
had been Mrs. Gilmore nearly ten
years. and had led very downy life
of it. My love, which had run SC
smooth from the beginning, kept ur
the same habit.
mentally carried an umbrella al
those years, but it never rained any.
thing but good fortune.
Three little Gilmores made nv life
happy burden, and my old frieud
Kate Purdy came constantly to the
house to help bring them up. Kate
was nearly thirty wears old, whe,
her fate was carried into her aunt'i
house with a spraincd ankle, sni
came out of it her accepted lover.
Many men had fallen i'll love will
Kate in these years, but they hao
been without form or comcliuess il
her eyes. Tie mild, colorless maj
whom she loved at last with all he
tender heart, carried her away from
Duvecotes, and | did not see he
again till she brought with her thu
iranscendcnt first baby, which wa
to cast far into the shade all Gilmor
babies, past, present, and to come.
One foggy twilight, when our ty
rants were "laid" for the night, W
walked toward Dovccotes. The lon
gate opening on the avenue was shut
and we all leaned upon it, 20 rest
moment before starting homeward
"By the way" said |, "Its jus
like the night when l found thi
ring. wonder if those lovers eve
made up their quarrel and married
after all 2"
IL am quite sure they never mar
ried," said Kate's husband gravcly
"What do you mean :" gasped.
"Tcll her all about it, sai'
Kate to Dir. Gilmore. I'VE are al
happy now" She kissed me twice
with a long look into my frightened
face, and walked away with her hus
band.
"What is it % l said with great ei
fort, SO dry was my throat.
"It was Kate Purdv and l VIII
quarrelled at the gate and lost tn
ring. That is ALL"
"All,f l repeated.
"Littlc wife, have we not beel
happy t0gether!"
IL have supposed So
"And have kuownit.'
''But the long deceit"
"On my word, there has been none
After YOU introduced me to Kate,
never spoke a word to her that yo
did not hear, nor looked look tina
you did not see. She fascinated III
ut once, but l never really loved her.
believe men often make this sor
Of remark to their wives touchin
their youthful follies, but it comfor,
ed me nevertheless, as it has con
forted many another wife. l had Il
ways worn the sapphire ring, til
sign of our bcti othal, and as W
talked had been slipping it up all
; down my finger.
As we turned to leave the gate
saw u deep crack in the ground wher
frost had loosened the post; in a
instant had dropped the ring i'll til
crack and went Oh, with one bruis
less on my spirit.
On the way home we talked of til
universal preference for moomlisi
over fog, and found Kate waitil.
alone OH the steps. 81 willn dari
en- your doors again." she said, "ti
you say that you forgive me-
, "Yes," said the doctor, "she wi
let bysones be bygones," and kal
took that for her answer.
"You will tind your ring whcI
you lett i,,' whispered to Kate $
left her for the night.
When was taking out llair-pil
under the gaslight, saw the doctc
look curiously at my foreiinser.
EYES," l said, lit is gone; foun
:. the owner, you know
He made me no reply: but he die
from under the drcssinS-tablc the Ii
tie leathcr-covcrcd box that held a
: his private papers, the only thing
= the house of which did not possci
the key. lie took out little cas-
: and uncovered pearl ring, All c:
quisitc solitaire.
81 bought this ring for you,"
said, son the day after you accepte
ME, feeling sure that you would SON
) day throw away the other"
put on the ring, and christene
: it with kisses and tears. could M
long be angry with "my doctor;"
:, loved him too we'll.
As for Kate, l can forgive, but
> can never forget.
We had become very intimate
Itifls' fashion, before 1 introduce
Kate to "my DOCTOR" AS 1 called hi
in my heart. They "took kinll,
to each other but she did not at on
begin to vile the heart out of him,
: had seen her do with all ether me
"Why don't You make love to ID