Connecticut western news., 1874-09-04
THE ANCIENT GOOSE.

THE ANCIENT GOOSE.
 That's what they said of him. lii mustache was gray, he was past thirty nine, and, not being married, was con sidered solitary. It mattered little tt him. The care of his patients made him bright and active. His profession was sufficient for his wants. He wal the loved and respected physician fol half the families in the place, and he never wanted for company and friend ship. Why he never married, had beer the speculation of the village. The sub iect was now threadbare, and they ha6 ceased to talk of it. He saw much ot female society, for he was one of those fine, rare natures, that make G. brothers to girls" His genial good nature, and above all, his ability to keep secrets made him indeed the brother to hall the girls in Wauchusetta. They came to him with their little pains and ills, and their little heart-breakiDgs and love-sorrows. For one he had pills and advice; for the other, ready ear, counsel, help, and confidence.
 No wonder Sally Depford came tear. full and angry to him, in her little diff. ficulty with Sam Barrett. A small rage made her the more attractive. As the doctor heald her woeful tale, he could hardly fail to study her face with ad. miration.
 Years, twenty years his junior, rather pretty, reasonably we'll educated, sensi. ble, and quite ready for joke at any time, she preferred the bright side oi verything. Hence her present sor. row. She did not wish to be " bother ed as she expressed it, with a serious love affair. It was trouble, vexa- tion, an interference with her pleas ure, and
 "Well, there! It's entirely dreadful, and don't want it, nor him. Just as was fairly out of school, and prepar. ing to have 8 splendid time with the girls, then this thing comes along, and I don't like it.
 "That is so, doctor. Is it Tot ?"
 The doctor had no immediate reply to make. He would consider the case and her.
 There was something so attractive about her face, and it was no smal wonder that Sam Barrett, the last beat left in the village, was desperately 1T love with her.
 She drowned. He was so slow.
 "Come, sir, parade your wisdom can pay for advice, and want it."
 "Go to bed early, get up late, anc sleep it off"
 "That's very good for him. Tel him that, please. As for me, it doei not help bit. There it stands. H' will pursue me with attentions. don want"
 "Snub him."
 He's not snubable. Snubbing fall harmless on his good-natured tempera ment. I tried it, and it don't work. H' took it like lamb.
 Tell him you're not at home.",, "Then he leaves his card, and say he will call again. And he is sure k do so."
 "Poor boy He has it very bad thi time. The symptoms are alarming"
 They are, doctor, they are, and don't like it. It's nuisance, and bother, and besides that, I hate him Therer'
 "Feel better, my dear ?"
 " Yes for I'm getting mad. I fee like breaking things, and"
 "You do. You do it all the time Poor boyl I'm not surprisedl Her you go about the place, being as attrac tive as possible, and then you break al our hearts, and scold us for it. Wha do you expect ?"
 dts not my fault. I didn't mak myself"
 "Well-no-not exactly"
 "For Heavens sake, doctor, wh,, | l~ r~roo&hS~~
 "Get married 1" "Doctor, you are too hateful"
 "I presume so doctors always are But that's my advice. Get married then he can no longer trouble you" "Now, you're silly, doctor, and shan't tell you any more. You don care straw for my troubles, after all and"
 Here she began to be teary. an' threatened to have Ga good cry."
 "My dear, my advice is not so bad You must admit that if you were en gagged he would leave you at once."
 "I suppose so."
 "Yes. Then get engaged; or, you don't care to go so far, arrang with some young man to be engaged t him temporarily. Then your Sam" l "He's not my Sam, thank Heaven
 "Then your Sam will take unto him self another wife, and when all is SC cure you can break your engagement and all will be serene again"
 "What an absurd idea Jump int the water for the sake of escaping fro1 drowning. tell you don't want any body's attention. It would be dread full trial to be engaged at all, even i self-defence.
 "Not if the other party would agre to keep himself away, and simply len diamond ring for 8 while, and pla the part of the distant intended"
 "I don't know, doctor it is deI perate measure. But it would be e fectual."
 "Of course"
 cit would be rather amusing to g home and announce that was engaged I should have to tell mother how really stood, and father would be, , course, let into the secret. The rel ln4