Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1873-03-29
Tales aud Sketehes.
BY ELLA THOMPSON.
CONCLUDED FROM YEsTERpAY.]

lCONCICDED IRON YESTERDAY.
Kate and looked well together, chiefly
tor that reason at first, afterwards for
strong and earnest liking that lasted for
lifetime.
/ told her all about the ring, and showed
her the answers to my advertisements
and when our talk reached low water on
other matters, we always fell back on the
speculation about those two lovers and the
sapphire ring. Kate was disposed to treat
it more lightly than could find it in my
heart to do. She thought it far too pref
ty to hide its light in bureau drawer,
and after time wore it, thinking that
way in might be possibly seen and claim
ed by its owner.
We had become very intimate in girls
fashion before introduced Kate to ''my
doctor" as l 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 do with all other men.
"Why don't you make love to Dr. Gill
more ?" asked her at last. you are
naturally fisher of men, and the prey is
very scarce at Dovecotes."
"Firstly," said Kate. "because you al
ready have him in your own net, and un-
less all signs fail you will land him. Sec
ondly, he is too fearfully old and grave.
don't mean that he has lived any great
number of years, but he is one of those
men that are born forty years old, and
that would make him at this present about
three score and ten"
My world was we'll nigh empty of kith
and kin when Aunt Esther died, but was
not nearly so doleful as ought to have
been. l had very little money, but had
youth and hope, and there was-the doc
tor. Kate Purdy had been helping me set
the house in order after the dreadful bus
tie that follows the vanishing of familiar
face.
AT nightfall she had left me alone for an
hour or two; it was then, as Kate and
had tacitly supposed, reading it in one an
others eyes, that my doctor" came to see
me.
I'm afraid you're going to be very lone
" here, he said, after the first greetings
were over.
"But shall not be here | am going to
live with the Purdy's.'
Are you quite sure they want you?"
They say So"
doubtless they feel in that way now,
but their hearts are warmed by the sight
Of your afliiction. You had far better
come nome 10 me.
He held out his arms, with 4 gesture
that belied the calmness of his words, but
would not see it.
"How can | be sure that You want
me?"
"Do not say it ?"
Yes. and so do the Puriy's 1t may be
that your heart is warmed by my lonel-
ness"
What is the use of fencing. when I
love you and you love Inc ?"
How do YOU know that ?''
because you have been SO careful not
to show even decent regard for me. If
YOU had not loved me-, you would have
been more cordial"
80 wiser than Soloman.' said but
saw his arms again put out to me at that
moment, and forgot what o'clock it was
until Rates opening the hall door made
me draw away from my Doctor
Kate made lively talk Tor few minutes
but had little response from her audience.
my dear turtle-doves,n she said at last
laying one hand on mine and looking hard
at my friend, 81 see how it is with you.
You have reached the point where two
are company and three a crowd
"No, we have passed it," said the doc
tor.
"Aud Esther is going to marry you?"
You have said it,"
Then | wish you joy with all my heart.
BY the way, did YOU bring the engage
ment ring with you?"
"Of course not
You need not look so irate. Some men
are so certain of their happiness that they
buy the ring beforehand. Why don't you
use this one that came to Esther out of the
gate post ?" said Kate, drawing from her
finger the sapphire ring, which she often
wore.
lit would be bad omen." | said,
shrinking away from it; land suppose
some one should claim it after all?
II did not think of that, but you could
have another made like it. Nothing could
be prettier for an engagement ring."
.'If DIR. Gilmore likes it, l am sure
have no objection" | said at last, for there
was tinge of romance in giving the ring
happy ending after being spurned by its
owner
DR.. Gilmore did like it, and put it on
my finger before Kate went off, with some
good advice about not sitting up late
which met the fate Of most good advice.
| crept into her bed in the "wee sma
hours ayont the twal," and she woke in
SANITY.
This is good example to set before Il
young and innocent maiden she remark
ed.
"Oh, Kate" said in the usual gushing
fashion, II am sohappy can't believe it,
"Oh, well, l can. Nobody comes to
bed at this time o'night unless something
awful has happened
81 wonder he did not fall in love with
YOU, Kate
$50 do /, but some men have no taste.
YOU know. They are to be pitied, not
blamed. Besides, as have said before,
he is too aged for me. He'll be 'eentu-
rian. when you're in your prime.
Kate refused to talk all night, rs |
would gladly have had her do, and did
catch an hour OF two of sleep, tull of hap
py dreams, ,
there was no earthly reason for delaying
the marriage except for wedding gar
ments.
Dovecotes was wonderfully healthy Just
at this time. but the Doctors carriage Che