Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1874-11-26

morrow evening may come and see you.
l suppose. ana then we can adjust our hap
py futnre!'
just then the shout of some lasses who
| had been chased out the back door and
around the gravelcd walks BY their rustic
admirers. startled the lovers. DIR. Ceilings
kissed his afllanced again. and dashed
away before he was discovered. OF course
he walked upon air. and 1t is quite likely
| his prescription for the invalid was little
mixed. But after he had gained the quiet
| of his own room he lay awake for long
time rejecting upon the stupendous step
he had taken. Somehow he half regrctt-
ed that he had been SO hasty. as he com
muned with himself.
i am afraid. he thought, that my moth
er aud sisters will think her bit hoyden-
| ish. But II cannot be denied that she is
| beautiful and shrewd, and If transplanted
| into more refined soil will improve.
How she seemed TO melt when she found
l loved her. and how changed were her
manners. / confess expected her to ex-
I cept my wooing with her old-time, half
defiant and saucy flash. But 10. she be-
came sweetly womanly. tender and gem
tie. could feel her plant form tremble
and thrill in my arms. and her timid yes
| was given almost with a sob. BY Jove
/ had no idea the child loved me so much,
/ and shall always be good to the sweet
| girl. She shall be the very apple of my
| eye
With this resolve Doctor Collins foated
/ into dreiInland, To rehearse over again the
/ little love passage In the rustic porch OF
Mrs. Goodwin and beneath the twining
/ glory vines. The following day passed
/ Tor him wit; leaden feet. lie longed to
see Mary Norris in her new character of
/ his ailianced bride. That she would be
/ gentle and sweet with him, now that they
were engaged. he did not doubt and he
+ felt he should like her better when trifle
! toned down. 50 the early shadows OF
evening found him at the door OF the Nor
lis mansion. Mary was at the piano. lie
could distinguish her voice in some pecu-
I liar strain. No doubt only ruse to cover
her natural confusion. \ servant showed
/ him in. aud he instantly discovered that
/ Mary was not alone. \ masculine friend
/ from a nci:hboriDg village was devoted
| by leaning over her and turning the music.
| The closing OF the door announced him.
Mary started up from the instrument, aud
without the slightest deepening of the
| roses upon her cheeks. aud as simply aud
naturally as ever came forward. greeted
him. and introduced 'her friend Mr.. Cum
mlng>.'
The hot blood surged into the cheeks of
the doctor. and he attempted To express
his disappointment and ardor with one
eloquent glance; but it fell entirely short
OF lts mark. No answering expression
came back TO him. As II unconscious OF
their new aud dear relation 10 each other
Mary Norris ran on ia Il merry Jest and
railcry. until lie became thoroughly ont OF
hulnor, and espoused the contrary side OF
every question unI "a "A N ri hnnr
his departure. When In the hall, where
the girl accompanied him, he turned upon
her with words of reproach.
How could you admit that fellow to-
night when You expected mc?'
Il beg your pardon, DIR. Collins she re-
piled, with her saucy black eyes dancin,
You are very much mistaken. did not
expect you tonight. and that fellow. l.
one OF my dearest friends
Mary, arc you trifing with me. Have
you forgotten what transpIred in the YER
anda oely last nightg'
What veranda?
That OF Mrs. Goodwin, TO be sure
You must be insane, doctor. or are la
boring under some hallucination. | WAS
not in Mrs. Goodwin's veranda with you
Tor stng.e moment last night; aud il You
made any engagements with any young
lady at that time and place il was not with
your humble servantr
Not with your he gasped. pale 10 the
lips. 'Nho the deuce was IL, then, /
should like to know
4 can't say. You should not be so care
less, doctor. No doubt some fair Browns
VILE girl Is this mement looking her eyes
out while you are wasting Zine with me.
But must 20 back or Charley will be ical-
Gus. Yet stay. | have one trIfing bit OF
confidence ior you. We are engaged
Certainly. Don't know il: he exclaim-
ed, seizn. her haud with radiant face.
knew il, and had the audacity to call
my Charley "A fellow" and 10 be angry be-
cause did not deny myself to him on ac-
count of your stupidity in thinking that
undrr Mrs. Goodwin's porch you had in
formed me OF your intended visit. Oh,
goodness, what coquette you must be-
| lieye me 10 be
His hands tell away from hers suddenly.
aud his voice was husky, as he answered /:
i congratulate you Good night
Out in the silent and dull village street
| he ground his teeth, and used some very
intr cate and harsh words against himself;
| The worst oi which perhaps was that he
might be considered IAN ass He went
| directly 10 his Office, and Dr. Peters motto
| ed the change Ia his manner, and kindly
NhiNabSN "haA was
An, bad news. my boy !! h. asked To-
cosely. You look as though you had been
! having case of double cOnniptions. aud
/ did not know what To do with them
| i am an unmitig gated fool, that's ALL I've
| gone and engaged myself
10 be married: Not that, hey.
Yes. just that, old fellow and he sank
into the char with IA most disgusting air.
DIR. Peters looked AT him for moment,
| aud then burst into an uncomfortable tit
| of lang ehter.
Nv ny. the deuce take it,, he said Is soon
as he could get his breath, 'one would
| think YOU were doomed to be hung. |
! give you my word that if had gone as far
| a. you say you have l should try and look
more cheerful
Good heavens. how can L! Listen for a
few moments. As | said before, am EN-
gaged TO be married. but l swear TO you
don't know to whoin,'
The old physician sat up, his face sud
denly elongated and he stared at his part
ner in pills with opened eye astonishment.
Presently he said, as to himself;
The boy is mad as March hare
| NO, am nOt-wish to thunder was
| He related mnutely everything that had
occurred under the porch and screening
vines at Mrs. Guodwin's and continued
| whoever mistook for Mary Norris evi.
IDENTIFY believes in aud loves me. She SOL
emnly yielded herself To my caresses as
my bethrothed wife. thinking that wor-
shipped her, and her only DIR. Collins
groaned, and ran his fingers through his
hair uutil each particular fibre stood on
end. His partner. vainly attempted to con
troll his risibles. One glance at the dis
consOiate visage of his friend was to much
and Ito use an Hibernianism) he let a roar
that shook the very foundation OF Browns
vile. aud it was good half hour before
he could sufficiently control himself to
give his friend the comfort and advice he
needed.
No doubt" was the reply, 1T is laugh
able matter. and its ridiculous side eX-
ceedingly funny. And now, as gentle
man and man of honor, what am l to
doY
Doctor Peters wiped his eyes, settled
himself to considering for q time before
replying. and then said: