Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1877-05-12

and some tea; and, by all means, the remain
der of that iced sponge cake. l will bid you
good day."
Mrs. Wildfang is dumb from astonishment,
and drops down onto her heels. When she re-
covers speech DIR. Whitley is being driven up
the street at brisk trot. But he had not of
Tended the old lady, as might be supposed for
a messenger awaited him at his Office, the next
morning, requesting another interview. Dr.
| Whitely's experience with Miss Wildfang was a
bitter one. Without being i'll, the lady was
suffering an unrest of mind and an uneasinees
| of body that was akin to illness. But one day
Whitley was surprised and relieved to have
Miss Maria break out in this way-it was really
o breaking out
"Dr. Whitley, don't you think it would be
good for me if 1 were married?" Miss Wild
fang was sitting by the parlor window; it was
twilight, and Whitley was seated in front of
her, both gazing on the street. "You say you
want me interested. Don't you think it would
interest me to have husband to look after ?"
Whitley was watching man lighting the
street lamp opposite, and had just time enough
! to suppress little start before the gas jet lit
up his face. 81 think whatever you think
good for you would be good for you" he said.
"You are stronger than you were, aren't you
and alive without the support of iced sponge
cake or the stimulus of an overdrawn society
novel The next step must be toward a pur-
pose"
''Of all the men ever met" continued Miss
Wlldfang, Il could name scores OF them, not
one of them seemed to care anything for me.
| was pretty then, and could waltz untiringly,
and lasted longer than most girls night after
night. But that was all. None of them cared
for me- and got tired of them there seemed
80 little of them for men. Frank Reynolds
waltzes beautifully, DR.. Whitley, but he isn't
| fit for husband, and Charley Gray who took
! oh 4u,pO tbroa ,t-r,t ho
is really very handsome, but he is too silly to
marry, lie is awfully empty headed; and
there is Ned Barlow, he kept ever so many of
my gloves, and believe that he has one of my
rings, but he is all fingers and feet l don't
think he has mind"
"Yon mean he dances splendidly and talks
nonsense, interrupted Whitley.
''Yes mean he doesn't talk common sense.
though he Waltzes as if he were a beautiful
piece of machinery i'll motion and leads delight
fully. If | could meet sensible. good man,
one who could care anything for me, now that
| cannot waltz much nor be up late at night
and laugh and talk as used to, if you would
allow me DIR Whitley" and here Miss Wildfang
smiled, 81 think would like to marry him
that is, provided he asked me to-"
"What do you mean, Miss Wildfang" asked
the doctor, looking searchingly into the
womans eyes-they were looking unusually
brilliant by the light of the street lamp.
"What can do for you?'
"Ask Ned Thornton if he will not CALL" she
made answer, with charming frankness. "Ask
Mr.. Thornton to call. she repeated, she has
been very kind to me-"
! Whitley took the hint at once, and shortly
withdrew.
Thornton was an old friend and classmate of
DR.. Whitley and fortune favored him in pre-
scribing the gentleman as likely to be of great
| service in Miss Wildfang's case. He dropped
i'll to see Thornton one day when he was down
town, and the two put heads together over
some prime old samples in the private Office.
But Thornton was disheartened man. The
| panic had shaken the wine trade to its center,
| and the merchant had not prOspered of late.
| Whitley introduced some social subjects, and
! the Wildfangs' name into the conversation.
"You say Miss Wildfang is ill?" asked
! Thornton, with a little start
~ said she was complaining" replied
Whitley.
Doctor" continued Thornton, "that Miss
! Wildfang is fine girl, superb waltzer, never
| shows wear, fresher at midnight than when the
ball opened. Amazing brightness, purity and
truth Could waltz zone thousand and one
nights with her. Grace in her step, heaven
in her eyes, and all that. never paid her any
considerable attention then the panic came
and everything seemed TO be going wrong with
me, and ceased calling"
/ 1ney were speaking OF you the other day,
| said Whitley. "Miss Windfang particularly
My dear fe low, wish you would call and see
| the lady don't think that the panic will hurt
you much up there, and Mrs. Wildfang is q
good old soul. To tell you the truth, Miss
Maria has something on her mind that my bit.
ter drug cannot dislodge. 1 wish you would
call and tell me what you think is the matter
with her. You know my reputation is at stake
in a case like this
Thornton promised he would call, and Doctor
! Whitley entered an omnibus and rumbled III
town to begin his rounds. In week or two
his visits on Miss Wildfang ceased altogether
while Thornton continued his with increasing
fervor. One day Whitley received few joyfu
lines from his old classmate telling him tina
the bells would be ringing week from tht
following Wednesday for wedding on Parl
avenue. A sigh of relief welled to his lips h,
had worked a cure of q very troublesome anC
delicate ease.