The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1876-09-09
BABY'S GRANDMAMMA.

BABY'S GRANDMAMMA.
"No, sir ~ said DR.. Stone, emphatically;
"no widows. I've an unconquerable aver
sion to them, and have followed old Wei
ler's advice to Samivel since my earliest
boyhood, and most carefully bewared of
'em. If ever marry, the bride must be a
young girl; so young, in fact, that can be
almost sure-no one can be quite sure of
anything where a woman is concerned
that am her first and only Don't screw
up your face in that outrageous manner,
Payne; you look as though you were going
to have a fit. Laugh and have done with
it, and then let's stop talking nonsense, for
l haven't the slightest idea of marrying,
or falling in love, or anything of the sort. "
"No old bachelor ever has, said Payne;
"but say, doc, if l were you I'd have a
neat little card dangling from button
hole bouquet, with the inscription, No
WIDOWS for, pom my honor, you're ex-
q ,
susceptible widow would be spoons on.
Handsome, clever and just turned forty
"Stutf.'' growled the doctor. "What a
fool you are, Payne." And then, glancing
from the Office window, he continued, as
his friend, with a mschievous twinkle in
his eyes, was about making some further
remarks, "And do be silent for few mo-
ments, if such a thing be possible, for here
comes young Phillips nurse maid, and in
hurry, too, which is something remarka-
BILE for that usually easy going and emf
nently genteel young person. Well, my
girl, as she entered the Office, "what's the
matter"
"Oh, DOCTOR" she gasped, "baby's took
very sick, and we're awful scared and his
mothers away, and wont be home till
night"
Wouldn't be much good if she was"
muttered the doctor; ga young bit of a
thing, looking like a baby herself"
Gone of the kind man might be almost
sure had never loved another-hey, Stone?''
asked Payne.
But Stone vouchsafed him no reply
Who's with the child now? ?" he inquired
of the frightened girl.
"The seamstress, sir. We've sent for
his grandmamma. but we're afraid she's
away from home, too, cause Mrs. Phillips
scarcely ever goes shoppin' without her."
"Well, run ahead; I'll be there in a mo-
ment ''-struggling into his overcoat.-
"And, Payne, take care of the Office.
wont be long. There's new book or
| surgery to amuse yourself with until
come back. Capital article where the lea
is turned down-a man blown almost into
pieces-but find it for YOURSELF
"Thank you," said Payne; "but if it's
all the same to you, old fellow, l prefer
something not quite SO amusing"
When Dr. Stone arrived at the dwelling
of the Phillpses, the nurse maid Informed
him, as she opened the door, that "tht
baby had taken turn for the better, dea
lamb, and had been sleepin' peacefully fo
the last ten minutes
"I'll take look at the little fellow,
said the doctor, springing lightly up the
stairs and gently opening the door of thu
nursery.
The baby lay in its crib fast asleep, and b.
its side, holding one tiny hand sat very
pretty woman, who, at the fiji st glance, the
doctor decided to be about twenty-at thu
next, at least twenty-five. Her COLDER
hair was knotted with artistic carelessnes
at the back of her small, shapely head, /;
few pretty tendril like curls escaping to lii
like little sunbeams on her low, broaC
brow. Her eyes were large, soft, bright
dark brown, and shaded by long silk.
lashes. Her nose, slightly "tip tilted" a
Tennyson has it, lent an archness to he
face, which otherwise, with such eyes ant
so perfect a mouth and chin, would hav,
been "faultiy faultless." Her dress, o
some lustreless gray stuff, with brigh
blue ribbon at the throat and soft lac
ruffles at the wrists, chung close to beau
tiful form; and the hand that held tn
baby's was small, snowy white, and dain
tily shaped All of which did the docto
take in in three quick glances, after tn
manner of his kind.
GA scamstress "a piincess!' was til
Judgment he pronounced mentally as h
drew off his gloves, and, with unusual III
banity, proceeded to make some profes
sional inquiries about the child.
The seamstress answered in a wonder
fully pleasant voice and in a remarkabl
well bred and self-possessed manner.
Baby seems to be all right now" sal
she; "but | think you had better wait
little while, doctor, for fear the spasnl
might return"
The doctor seated himself not at all III
willingly, it must be confessed, and Will
the baby still slumbered, entered into col
verse with his beautiful companion. In
few moments he found himself turnin
over the leaves of Browning which h
had taken from a small table by her sid
and then, in another few moments, givin
her. to his great surprise, his opinion I
that writer and his works.
say, to his great surprise, for the doct'
was really shy, reserved man, and not ;