Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1873-05-20
The Doctors Omcc-Boy.

drawing to n close, and the light,
ma ling its way through the dusty
ofli windows, began to grow dim.
The doctor pusl c back the great t
book before him on the table and
looked oyer it at the open CRATE be-
yond, where the fire had died down
to a mass Of dull red Goals, and an
unsightly quantity of ashes was
distributed over the hearth. The
Office chairs, except the two or
three in constant use were undeni-
ably dusty, and the carpet, despite
the awkward but vigorous efforts at
sweeping that had been expended
upon it, was neither bright nor
tidy. The doctors thonghtfuleyes
scarcely took in these details his
meditations were of something else;
but it occurred TO him, vaguely
that the place wore a dreary un-
bomelille air.
He was thinking of q pair Of
brown eyes and grave, sweet face.
Such a vision might have made the
old room seem bright, hut that the
eyes had Of late grown so shy Of
meeting his, and the face so calm
and cold when it Glanced to en-
counter him. lie did not wonder
at it particularly. "Thirty-fve
years old, and grown dull and plod-
ding from a life Of early care and
hardship. What should draw her
to you Maxwell Casey p he ques-
toned. a faint smile ut his own fol-
" fitting over his lips for an in
slant and losing itself under the
heavy moustache. Suddenly rap
id, noisy step sounded upon the
stairs, and the door was pushed
open and closed with q slam, and n
fresh. young voice called out breezi-
": "Hello, Uncle Max y
"Wcll, Joe p responded the doc
tor quietly, unmoved by the invas-
ion.
Joe entertained no doubt of his
welcome. He tossed his cap, and a
few books honnd together with q
strap. upon the table, drew chair
to the hearth, and elevated a pair
of small feet upon the fender.
"A'n't they muddy. though Got
'em that way runniu' Gross the
street to get last tag from Tom Sny-
der. Did ii too! He couldn't et
away from me-no, sir! Say, Un-
Gle Max, this is not much of a fret"
"N'y oliice-boy don't half attend
to IT," said the doctor raising his
eyebrows.
"IIo" laughed Joe. 81 think
you ought to have boy to look af-
ter things while YOU are studyin'
up on old bones and all that. III
come myself one Of these days.
Wi Ii I could DO it now: 'twould
be lots more fun than school is" he
added wistfully.
The doctor surveyed him from
the toes of bis muddy shoes to the
top of his curly head-no great dis
tance-and laughed as he saw the
air of consc iou1 ability to fill any
office, with wlich he drew himself
rp and thrust his hands into his
pockets.
"W hats come of my iacllet-but-
t MS = ask Il Joe, fancying that h.
r'ld that question in the glar
bent upon him. "Why. some Of
. in tore off, that's all. What does
90 with 'em Uncle Max? Cause
mas always aslsin' me and I don't
know. Blieve ..incy Just tear them
selr.er5 oil every time I'm havin' fun
and amt watchin'. Oh! look here!
We're goin' to have a splendid
time somc of these nights, | tell
you!" exclaimed Joe, forgetting his
perrhcxities in q sudden hlissful re-
memhrancc. "There's Il lot OF us fell
low-we'rc n hand-and Tom Sny-
der's got a kettle drum. and Bills
got a-a-oh a trumpet, that's
what it is and one of the boys
says he can get his fathers old base
viol. We've got flag. and some
of the fellers has torches--real
lamps, on poles, you know-and
some of EMIL have lighted sticks.
We've had it round in backyards
ever so long, and now we're goin'
to march some night and have
percession, only we haven't any
name for us yet. Tom wants it
'Snyder's Cavalry cause he's cap
tain, and he always wants every
thing named for him. But I'd like
something about the torches i'll it
-'Light-Bcarers," or Torches, or
something"
"Tortures' would be very ap-
appropriate name," commented the
doctor, awakening from his reverie
in time to hear the last sentenced
or two, and recollecting the din
that had reached his ears on vaii-
Gus occasions.
"Would it I" questioned Joe, de-
lightedly. But Uncle Max relap-
sed into silence and walked away to
the window.
A gray fog was settling down
upon the town, making it dark ear
ly, and already lights were begin
ming to shine out from the shop
windows, here and there along the
street. passers-by fastened their
steps, as if anxious to escape from
the misty, depressing atmosphere,
to the warmth and brightness of
home. the doctor fancied A