The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1874-04-09

II lOuu huOChlllS CuLuO uhAo AloO"iV W
the door, and the man servant immedi-
ately announced DIR. Radstock."
Mr.. Walker had no time to make any
remark ere the young man entered the
room, bowling most politely to the old
looked confused, and the father much
surprised. He was in elegant costume,
and looked both handsome and happy
the doctor thought triumphant.
"Pardon me, SIR" said he, 4" for dis
turbing you at this early hour but your
numerous calls take you SO much out,
that one must take you when one can
find you. My errand will doubtless
surprise you, but am very frank and
open my object in visiting you is to
ask permission to pay my addresses to
your daughter.
"To do what, sir ?" thundered the
old doctor in a towering passion. "Are
you not satisfied with trying to take
from me my practice, but you must ask
me for my child? I tell you, sir, moth
ing on earth would make me consent to
your marriage with my daughter"
"But, sir" said Edward Radstock.
turning to Maria, " ] nave your daugh-
ter's permission to make this request.
I told her of my intentions last night,
and she authorized me to say that she
approved of them"
Maria," exclaimed the father, al
most choking with rage, "is this
true ?"
"My dear papa, I am in no hurry to
get married, but if did, must say
should never think of marrying any one
but Edward Radstock. L will not get
married against your will, but I will
never marry any one else-nothing will
make me-"
"Ungrateful girl" muttered Mr..
Thomas Walker, and the next minute
he sank back into the chair in fit of
apoplexy.
"Open the window, raise the blinds,
said the young man, preparing with
prompitude and earnestness to make
the necessary remedies. "Be not
alarmed. 1t is not O dangerous attack. "
Maria quietly obeyed her lover, quite
aware of the necessity of self-posses-
sion and presence of mind in a case
like the present. In half an hour Mr..
Walker was lying in large, airy bed
room, and the young man had left, at
the request of Maria, to attend a patient
of her fathers. It was late at night
before Edward was able to take mo-
ment's rest What with his own pa
tients and those of his rival he was
overwhelmed with business but at II
o'clock he approached the bedside of
the father of Maria, who, with her dear
Emily now by her side sat Watching.
"He sleeps soundly," said Maria, in
a low tone, as Edward entered.
&c Voc opJ ic 1oipo wall ~ ra,N1io1
Radstock. "I answer for his being up
and stirring tomorrow, if he desires
it,"
"But it will be better for him to rest
some days." said Maria.
"But my dear Miss Walker" con-
tinued the young doctor, "what will
his patients do ?"
"You can attend to them as you have
done to-day" replied Maria.
"My dear Miss Walker, you, who
know me, could trust me with your
fathers patients; you know that when
he was able to go about 1 would hand
them all back to him without hesita-
ton. But you must be aware that for
your father to discover me attending to
his patients would retard his recovery
If do, as you ask me, must retire
from town Immediately on his GONZALES
cence."
"No, SIR" said DR.. Walker, in a
faint voice, 81 shall not be about for a
month after making me take to my
bed, the least you can do is to attend
to my patients
A" If you wish it, sir"
"I insist upon it and to prevent
opposition you can say we are going
into partnership"
"But--" said Edward.
eff you want my daughter" con-
tinued Mr.. Walker, gruffly. "you must
do as I tell you. If you wish to be my
son-in-law, you must be my partner,
work like horse, slave day and night,
while 1 smoke my pipe and drink my
grog."
Z" My dear SIR" exclaimed the young
man, "you overwhelm me"
"Dear papa |" said Maria.
"Yes, dear papa I" muttered old
Walker; "pretty girl you are; give a
party to crush the interloper; faint
when he gets his first patient; watch
him from your bow window like cat
watches a mouse, and then-marry
him."
"But, my dear papa, is this not the
surest way to destroy the opposition ?'
said happy Maria.
"Yes, because we cannot crush him,
we take him as a partner" grumbled
old Walker; "never heard of such a
thing I; nice thing it is to have children
who take part with your enemies"
Nobody made any reply, and after a
few more faint attempts at fault find
ing, the old doctor fell asleep.
About six months later, after O long
journey which made me lose sight OF
Maria, I drove up the street, and eager
to see the dear girl, never stopped till ]
was in her arms.
"How you are grown !" said she with
sweet and happy smile.
"Grown, indeed do you take me fol-
child ?" cried I, laughing. "And
you,.how well and pleased you look
always at the bow window, too saw
you as I came up"
"I am very seldom there now," said
she, with strange smile.
"Why ?"
"Because I live over the y,ly," re-
piled she, still smiling.
"Over the way ?" said 1.
"Yes my dear girl !" alas for the mu-
liability of human things-Maria Walk
er is now Mrs. Radstock.