The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1873-06-21


ping one side of his round cloak about mi
and holding me close to hi- breast. with on,
arm, while he drove hi, horse with furious
specd with the other.
t II give you great deal OF trouble, | wills
[ pcrcd into his beard,
"Not at all. 1t is all in my day, work,
he said, grufiiy. This was not very gallant
but it made me more comfortable in mind, as
it was possibly meant to do.
He did all that doctor could tor my aunt
; which was little enough. Time and patience
were all the prescriptions that he gave to her
or to me, but he came every day, sometimes
twice, as he perceived that time was growing
; short and patience would soon have It's per
feet work.
The old story-od as when Cain went
counting in the land of Mods coming, as
my reader can see with an eye. did not
fall in love with DR. Gilmore nor he with me
all at once; but there grew to be irrepressi-
bic comfort in his rough sincerity, and the
warm hand.clasp with which at every visit
he made us he met and stillcd my shrinking
NERVES.
In the first week of our acquaintance con.
iidcd to him my unwilling listening IN the
avenue to the love quarrel OF strangers, WIN
his advice and assistance | sent carefully
worded advertisement to the village paper.
| 10 lUlnt Nv INC DIlt VI bINNNlo 1 i'N'i'''
describing every kind of ring that ever was
worn one would think the earth was sown AS
thick with them lis the field of Canine after
the great slaughter of Carthagenun knights
But not one of the answers so much "a limited
at violet of ,apphircs with diamond in the
center.
In these lonely days saw II great deal Of
my ncghbor, Miss Purdy; she was one of
those rare and blessed souls who interpret
literally the command TO love ones ncighbor
as one, self, She and her niece, Katie Pur.
! dy, lived together, rs lived with Aunt Esther,
and Il sort Of fellow feeling, from our similar
conditions made us wondrous kind from the
first. Kate was II sparkling brunette, who
made love to everybody, "male or female, Jew
or Gentle, bond or free, 1T was all one to
her. am u very meek looking person my
self, lighthaired blae-cyed, faded out-yOu
almost need ii background to see me at all
when you look.
Kate and looked well together, and stayed
together chiefly for that reason at first, after
wards for strong and earnest liking that
lasted through our lifetime | told her all
about the ring, and showed her the answers
to my advertisements; and when our talk
reached low water on OthermatterS we always |
fell back on speculation about those two low
ers and the sapphire ring.
Kate was disposed to treat it moro lightly !
than could find i, in my heart to do. She
thought it far too pretty to hide lis light IN a
bureau-draWCr. and after time | wore ii,
thinking that in that way it might possibly be
seen and claimed by it, owner.
We had become very intimate in girls fash
ion before introduced Kate to my doctor"
as ! called him IN my heart. They took
kindly" to each other, but she did not at once
begin to vile the heart out Of him as | had
seen her with all other men She came in con
tact with
why don't you make love to DR.. Gilmore,
katcE' | asked her at last. You are natu-
rally Il fisher Of men, and the prey is very
scarce at DoycCotes" ;
"Firstly,' said Kate, because you already
rave HIM in you own net, and unless all signs
ALL you will soon land him. Secondly, hc is
90 tcarfully old and grave. don't mean
hat he has lived any great number of years,
tut he is one of those who are born forty
years Old and this would make him at this
present time thrcc.sCorc and ten
Ny world was well nigh empty of kIth and
kin when Aunt Esther died, but | was not
near so dolctul as ought to have been. had
very little money, but had youth and hope,
md there was-thc doctor. Kate Pnrdy had
Icen helping me TO set the house in order at-
er the dreadful hustle that follows the van.
shing of a familiar face. II
At night fall she left me alone for an hour
n two it was then as Kate and | had tacitly I
opposed, reading it in one anothcr's eyes, 5
hat "my doctor came to see me.
81 am afraid you are going to be very lone |
Y here he said after the first greetings were 5
yer
but shall not be here; am going to ,
we with the Purdys." II
Are you quite sure they want YOU"
They say So" .
Doubtless they feel in that way now, but !
Icir hearts are warmed by the sight Of your
Fiction You had far better como home to {
ne"
He held out his arms with gesture that (
clied the calmnc,, of his words but would /
81 see it, I
How can Ice sure that sou want me to /
umc:" a
"Bo not say it." +
"Yrs, and 50 did thc Purdy, 1t may be
l@i your heart is warmed by my loneliness Il
Ow." n
"Wha j. the Use of fencing, when love a
on and you love mc:'
How do YOU know that Tx
Because YOU have been so careful not 10 "a
how even "A decent regard for me II YOU
ll'l lDNtil lll' N''l NbulN nave Dtt!l more
ordiHl"
90, wiser than Solomon" | said but
aw his arms put out To me al that moment,
md | forgot what O'Clock il was until Rates
opening the hall door made me draw away y
rom my doctor
Kate made lively talk for few minutes, Il
lut had very little response from her audi, Il
nee. Il
MY dear turtle doves" ,hc said, at last, q
laying one hand on mine, and looking hard d
At my friend. II see how it is with YOU You II
have reached that point where two is com. b
pany and three is Il crowd" I;
NO, We have passed that point" said The "
lOCtOr. Il
And Esther is going to marry YOU" e
"lou have said IT," Il
Then | wish you joy With all my heart. Il
By the way, did YOU bring the engagement. II
ing with you y
GOT course not " ,c
"lou need not look 50 iritc Some men Il
ire 50 certain of their happiness that they buy