The herald and mail. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1873-188?, 1874-05-29
THE LOVERS QUARREL.

over J06 llUJlo gateway III JnaJ bright
afternoon-the 1st of June. A charita
BILE breeze swept one scented bunch oi
bloom bit aside, just out of the reach
of a little brown hand that had a mo.
ment ago ruthlessly stripped off half OF
its blossoms.
But the owner of the hand had already
turned about, with toss of her black
curls and flirt of her pink calico dress,
that scared the butterflies, and before
tho branch swung back she was hasten
ing mp the trim garden path, and fling
ing back a sharp speech over her shoul-
der at tall, sunburned young fellow
who, with a vexed light in his eyes,
stood in the gateway Watching her.
Oh, it don't matter what I think !
Indeed, I don't think at all. You may
take whom you like to the next May
dance-yOu won't take nlei'
It was such a pretty shoulder over
which these words were cast, and there
was such n rosy flush of anger on the
round cheek half yelled in curls, that it
is no wonder John Armitage took two
or three steps in pursuit of the speaker;
but he stopped, drew himself up with
sudden pride, and said one repr0achfuI
word
"Nancy!"
The one addressed wavered little in
her retreat, then resumed it with in
creased celebrity.
"Will You stop and listen to me ?'
the young man queried. his rising in
dignation somewhat modifying his tone
of appeal.
"No!" and the pink calico swept the
mvrtles on either side of the walk faster
yet.
every well, was the angry response,
as he who had pleaded turned toward
the gate. "But mark my words: you'll
be sorry for this before these bushes
here"-brushing the low sprays sharply
aside" are out of bloom Now good
by"
Nancy, peeping from behind curtain
after his retreating figure, cried. Per-
| haps the soliloquy will tell why.
"Well, it's all over between us now,
any way. It's his fault. too. He'd no
| business to take any one else to the May
dance when couldn't go. 1 shouldn't
wonder if he's gone down 10 Sarah An
| dersOn's now. They'll be engaged next
| thing, and she'll crow over me finely.
He'll try to make me jealOus"-here
Nancy had a spasm of crying. 'See if
I won't make him jealous first -
The way she would do it became ap-
parent the next afternoon, when,
dressed in a iaunty blue suit that set off
| well her creamy complexion, dark curls,
| and tinted cheeks, she started for the
village. The dainty blue silk parasol
was lowered a little as she came to the
pretentiOus block of buildings opposite
the hotel, upon one of which hung the
sign, "Dr. Miles Gray. Office hours
from s to 10 A. NJ, from to 3 P. NJ"
But the face of the building was blank,
and the Office curtains lowered; so,
with an impatient exclamation under
her breath, Nancy went on to the post
office, where, getting no letter, she
turned discontentedly toward home.
The Fates forbade her. She had not
accomplished quarter of the distance
before the light roll Of wheels made |
her turn her head and start perceptibly, !
In moment more young DR.. Gray, |
whose natty tOp-buggy was the envy of |
all the men, and whose fascinating |
smile had won the hearts of all the |
women, had drawn up his horse at her |
side, and leaped to the ground, and had |
asked, eagerly:
" Miss Evans, may have the fpleas- |
ure of driving you home Z"
The color frightened in Nancy's /
checks, the light in her eyes, as she as
sented with a charming smile: and in |
a moment they we're slowly bowling
along the road, and the blue ribbons |
were blown against the doctors broad
cloth.
DIR. Gray was young, handsome. not
deficient in brains, with pocket money
enough to prevent him from being
tragically earnest in his profession, and
very much in love with the coduettisb
bit of womanhood by his side. As for
Nancy, she was a little afraid of the
gray eyes that could be quizzical as
we'll as admiring, and of the smile that
sometim's curled the corners of the
black mustache. But Nancy was minus
a lover just then, the doctor was a
" catch" and so she laughed and chat
tered as the bay horse trotted along.
The farmhouse came in sight too
soon, and the doctor stopped midway
in a speech to inquire
Wont you take longer ride? It's |
such beautiful afternoon -
Nancy demurred, as in duty bound. |
"I-don't know. l guess it must be
most tea-tima."
The doctor laughed, and held his
watch before her. 1t was precisely
four.
"Oh, we'll then" began Nancy,
confused. "But aren't these
your Office hours ?"
"Confound my Office hours - COM
mented the doctor to himself. Aloud
he said, I'm sometimes obliged to
break through my hours. Tn going !
now to see "a patient on the outskirts :
Of the town" So they drove on.
The patient could hardly have :
49,,
Gaming back in the carriage. let the :
ines lie loosely on the horses back as !,
hey paced slowly through shady wood
oads smelling of pines, while the warm :
,reeze fluttered light curls across !;
Saucy's arch black eyes, and the blue =
ilk parasOl had to be held up to keep !;
he sun from her rosebud of a face. !;
The doctor had a lurking fear that =
Nancy was rustic and ignorant, but ah /
he was so pretty +
How far they rode in this lazy wav, t
wholly wrapt in conversation. Is not {
1nown. How far they would have rid G
Ten Is uncertain, if Nancy had not sent a
mlschlevous glance straight into the h
ray eyes, and inquired, @
Nny, where does that patient of b
The doctor laughed frankly, coIoring
81 see you understand the sways d
hat are dark aud the tricks that are VI
ain pretty well, Miss Nancy. And {,
ow don't dare to tell yOu what I was n
Ding TO before you spoke"
What was it ?" queried Nancy, curl t.
us and conscious. 81
''It was" said the doctor, bending
is own face closer to the curl-shaded | Fl
ne at his side, "that / wish had the b
ght to keep You with me always. Miss Al
ancy will you look at me-will you let 81
le?"
Itwas we'll that the doctor did not 81
uess why, amidst Nancy's bright al
lushes, her lip quivered and her ewes