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

TWO OF A TRADE.
Maria Walker was usually allowed to
be the beauty of small town. Hel
father had originally practiced as O
physician in that place, but circum.
stances had caused his removal to an.
other locality. which promised more
profitable returns. The house they oc.
cupied was an ancient red brick man.
sion in the centre of the town., with Q
large bow window, always celebrated
for its geraniums, myrtles and roses,
that with couple of small orange trees
were the admiration of the whole neigh
borhood.
Maria was twenty and was not six
teen at the time of which [ speak, but
we were the best friends in the world.
In front of the house of the Walkers
had been, few years before, an open
space, which now, thanks to the rapid
march of improvement, was being
changed into row of very good houses.
There were dozen of them, and they
were dignifed with the name of Beau
cham Terrace. They were, about the
time speak of, all to let the last fin
ishing touch had been put to them, the
ratings had been painted, the rubbish
all removed, and they wanted nothing,
save furniture and human beings, to
make them assume q civilized and re-
spectacle appearance.
Icalled one morning on Maria Walk
er, her father was out, she had been
playing the piano until she was tired,
so we sat down in the bow window and
talked.
$50 the houses are letting ?" said
I, who took an interest in the ter
race which I had seen grow under my
eyes.
"Two are let" she replied, "and
both to private families papa is
pleased, he looks upon these twelve
houses as twelve new patients"
"But," said I, laughing, shave you
read the advertisements
"Healthy and airy situation, rising
neighborhood, and only one medical
man."
"Oh, yes" smiled Maria; "but sick
ness, am sorry to say, is very apt to
run about at some time or other, even
in airy situations.
"But, Maria, youar mistaken there
are three houses let" said I suddenly.
"The bill is taken down opposite; it
has been let since yesterday"
"Oh, yes, L recollect a very nice
young man riding up there yesterday,
and looking over the house for an hour !;
I suppose he has taken it.
GA nice young man," said I "that
is very interesting-I suppose a young
couple just married."
"Very likely, replied Maria Walker,
laughing; but whether at the fact of
my making up my mind to its being an
interesting case of matrimony or what
else, know not.
It was O week before I saw Maria
by the hand, drew me rapidly to the
window, and with semi-tragic express
sion pointed to the house over the way.
I looked. What was my astonishment
when on the door, in large letters, I
read the words, "Mr. Edward Rad
stock, M. D."
At this instant the sound of horses
footsteps was heard, and three vans full
of furniture appeared in sight. They
were coming our way AS [ expected,
the van stopped before the young doc
tors house, and in a few minutes the
men began to unload. My friend turn
ed pale as she saw that the vehicles
were full of elegant furniture.
"The wretch has got a young wife,
too," she exclaimed, as a piano and
harp came to view, and then she added,
rising, "This will never do they must
be put down at once; they are stran-
gers in the neighborhood we are we'll
known. Sit down at that desk, my
dear girl, and help me to make out a
list of all the persons we can invite to
ball and evening party. L look upon
them as imperfinent interlopers, and
they must be crushed" laughingly
acquiesced, and, aided by her, soon
wrote out list of invitations to be
given.
"But now," said Miss Walker, after
a few moments of deep reflection, Zone
name more must be added they must
be invited"
"Who ?" exclaimed I, in tone of
genuine surprise.
"Mr. and Mrs. Edward Radstock,"
replied Maria, triumphantly, while I
could scarcely speak for astonishment.
The rest of my narrative I collected
from the lips of my friends, little
more than a year later.
The ball took place to the admiration
OF Ill ulle IOWn. 1GWdS bpl0uUlu dudlI.
Mr.. and Mrs. Radstock came, and were
received with cold politeness by both
father and daughter. The young man
was good looking, with an intelligent
eye, a pleasing address, and none of
that pertness of manner which usually
belong to those who have just thrown
off the medical student to become the
doctor. Miss Radstock, his sister, who
kept house for him until he found
wife, was a charming girl of about
twenty. She smiled at the manner of
both Mr.. and Mrs. Walker, but said
nothing.
Young Radstock's only revenge for
the lady of the houses GOODNESS and
stateliness of tone was asking her to
dance at the first opportunity-which
certainly was vexatious, for his tone
was so pleasing, his manner. was SO
courteous, that Maria could not but feel
pleased-when she wanted to be 1rate,
distant, and naughty. They danced
together several times, and to the as
tonishment of many friends of the
young lady, of myself in particular,
they went down to supper the best
friends in the world, laughing and
joking like old acquaintance. lai
Next day, however, she resumed her
original coldness of manner when the