Dodgeville chronicle. [volume] (Dodgeville, Wis.) 1862-current, 1874-10-16
THE ANCIENT GOOSE.
BY CHARLES BARNARD.

THAT'S what they said of him. His
mustache was gray, he was past thirty
nine, and, not being married, was con
sidered solitary. 1t mattered little to
him. The care of his patients kept him
bright and active. His profession was
sufficient for his wants. He was the
loved and respected physician for half
the families in the place, and he never
wanted for company and friendship
Why he had never married had been the
speculation of the village. The subject
was now theadbare, and they had ceased
to talk of it. He saw much of female
society, for he was one of those fine, rare
natures that make "brothers to girls
His genial good nature, and, above all
his ability to keep secrets, made him in
deed the brother to half the girls in
Wauchusetta. They came to him with
their little pains and ills and their little
Aeart-breakings and love sorrows. For
the one he had pills and advice; for the
other a ready ear, counsel, help and con
fidence.
No wonder Sally Depford came
fearful and angry to him in her
little difficulty with Sam Barrett.
A small rage made her the more
attractive. As the doctor heard her
woful tale he could hardly fail to study
her face with admiration.
Young, twenty years his junior, rather
pretty, reasonably we'll educated, sensi-
BILE, and quite ready for joke at any
time, she preferred the bright side of
everything. Hence her present sorrow.
She did not wish to be " bothered" as she
expressed it, with serious love affair.
1t was q trouble, a veXation, an inter
ference with her pleasure, and
"Well, there! It's entirely dreadful,
and | don't want it, nor him. Just as
was fairly out of school and preparing
to have splendid time with the girls
then this thing comes along, and | don't
like it,"
She tried to cry, but could not. 1t was
not worth crying about. So she brushed
back the black hair from behind her ears,
looked the venerable doctor straight in
the eye, and said:
"That is So Doctor. Is it not?"
The doctor had no immediate reply to
make. He would consider the case-and
her.
There was something peculiarly at,
. tractive about her face, and it was small
wonder that Sam Barrett, the last beau
left in the village, was desperately in love
with her.
She frowned. He was too slow
"Come, sir, parade your wisdom. lean
pay for advice, and want it,"
"Go to bed early, get up late, and sleep
it off"
"That's very good for him. Tell him
that, please. AS for me, it does not help
bit. There it stands. He will pursue
me with attentions. | don't want"
"Snub him."
"Hes not snubable. Snubbing falls
harmless on his good-natured tempera-
ment I've tried it, and it don't work
He took it like lamb"
"Tell him you're not at home"
"Then he leaves his card and says
he will call again. And he is sure tc
do So"
" Poor boy! He has it very bad this
time. The symptoms are alarming"
"They are, Doctor, they are, and | dom
like it. It's nuisance and bother
and / hate him. Therep
"Feel better, my dear?"
Yes; for I'm getting mad. feel like
breaking things, and"
You do. You do it all the time. Poor
boy! Pm not surprised! Here you sc
about the place, being as attractive as
possible, and then you break all oul
hearts, and scold US for it. What do you
eXpect?"
ATS not my fault. 1 didn't make my
self"
Well-no-not exactly"
For Heavens sake, Doctor, why dom
you do something? Advise me-"
"Get marriedw
doctor, you are too hateful"
81 presume so; doctors always are
But that's my advice. Get married; ther
he can no longer trouble you"
"Now you're silly, Doctor, and
sha'n't tell you any more. You dom
care straw for my troubles, after all
Here she began to be teary, and threat
ened to have "a 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"
@ l suppose So"
"Yes. Then get engaged; or, if yo,
don't care to go so far, arrange will
some young man to be engaged to hin
temporarily. Then your Sam -"
He's not my Sam, thank Heaven
"Then your Sam will take unto him
self another wife, and when all is secur,
you can break your engagement, and al
VIII be serene again"
What an absurd idea! Jump int,
rhe water for the sake of escaping from
drowning | tell you don't want any
body's attention. 1t would be a dread
self-defense"
Not If the other party would agre