The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1872-01-12

iuchltiS ii WIN u phiey VI iiSH'S3
and entered the adjoining box.
Leaning over to Edith, Hattie whis-
pered, "see my beautiful bouquet, my
dear Edith, and guess the donor, who
also sent with it the sweetest note inn
aginable.n .
THE flowers are lovely" said the
guleless Edith, gazing with admira-
ton on the costly bouquet, and sc.
cretly wondering why her lover could
not think TO send her one. Lovely,
! indeed, but how can | single out one
from your many admirers rs having
sent itg"
Well, see | must tell you, though
/ always thought he fancied you more
than me. 1t was DIR. Ashton who
sent the flowers, or rather brought
them himself tonight, and the note
was cunningly twisted into the center
of the bouquet, barely visible"
A sickening sensation came all over
poor Edith, and an awful grave shad
ow settled down on the fair, sweet
face as Hattie went on.
"Dr. Ashton is considered one of
the best catches in the city, and you
may regard the match rs settled, and.
dear, while we are talking about it, |
may rs we'll ask you to be one of the
bridesmaids. But wouldn't you like
To read his sweet little note?' she con
tinued, watching the almost weeping
girl out OF the corners of her great
black eyes, at ths same time handing
her the doctors passionate little note
that had been written to Edith. "a
The poor girl read it with wild, di.
lating eyes, and inquired in 4 strange
ly husky voice how long they had
been engaged.
20, for some time; | scarcely know
how long" Hattie carelessly replied,
lifting the bouquet TO her lips; but
hush the curtain is going up"-and
she leaned back in her chair aud de.
voted her herself 10 watching the
stage for the next half hour.
a more artful person than Edith
would have noticed look of wicked
triumph cleaning in her handsome
eyes aud curling her well'shaped lips.
Unable longer To bear her great
burden calmly. Edith pleaded ,ndis.
position at the end OF the first act,
and, with her mother quietly with.
drew, leaving their friends behind TO
eujoythe evening.
As may be supposed, Mrs. Allison
was highly indlgnan; at wha: she
deemed the treachery of her daugh.
ters accepted lover, but concluded
that it would be better To pass il of
Us il no engagement had existed be-
tween her daughter and the Young
physician. She could not bear him to
know how deeply his periidy had
wounded the gentle Edith.
But how Jared il with the doctor
Totally unconscious that the two
young glrls had met the night before.
at an early hour in the morning he
called To see his aiiianced, with the
expectation of amusing her with the
/ history of the fate OF his love-oifering.
To his great dismay, the servant de
nied him admi;tance, saying that Miss
Edith was i'll, and could not be dis,
! turbed
II will just step into the parlor
then, and write her few lines, for oi
course | will not intrude on her if she
is not WELL" he said, not fully com
pretending the position OF affairs.
"The madam said that was not to
flet you into the house, or take any
thing from you TO Miss Edith" the
servant answered, making 4 motion tc
shut the door.
The truth flashed on the doctor's
mind at once. and, dashing the door
wide open, TO the servants great con
sternation, he went up the stairs two
steps at time. Hearing voices in s
room close at hand, he tapped lightl,
On the door, which was opened bS
! Mrs. Allison herself Had he been !:
ghost the good lady would not have
been more surprised. Drawing her
self up haughtlly, she demanded:
"To what am | indebted for this in
trusion, sir?"
"If you please, | wish to see m,
Edith to explain to her satisfaction
about that bouquet last night"
NO explanations are needed, sir
from you. Hattie told us all about i
last night al the opera
"May very ugly something fl,
away with Hattie and her schemin!
mother! | want to see Edith, and
will"
| "Go down stairs, dear Herbert, ant
wait, | will be down in few minutes,
called forgiving Edithp from her sicl
bed.
"Bless you, my darling, but will
be safe to get mp and go down stairs
sick as you are?"
! 40! | am well now, since I am no
to be bridesmaid TO Hattie"
"Dear, trusting Edith - the docto
murmured, as he went down stairs t
await her coming.
Hattie declared that she only mean
"to tease the fond, foolish little thin;
at the opera last night"
There was brilliant wedding cere
mony not long afterward. Hattie wa
one Of the bridesmaids, and Edith wa
the bright and happy bride.
A MIxED-UP FAMILY-A suffere
by alliances between connections b
marriage, thus explains his position
II married widow who had
grown-up daughter. My father visi
ed our house very often, and fell j
love with my step-daughter and MAJ
ried her. So my father became IN
son.in-laW and my step-daughter m