The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1878-08-03
OUR STORY TELLER.
DIR. DOTTEREL'S NIECE.

"Ah?" said Dr. Dotterel. "The stage
stopping here? And lady getting out
with a travelling bag and a bandboxl
Now wonder who can possibly be COM
ing to see meT
Elderly bachelors, as general thing,
are not partial to unexpected company,
and Mr.. Dotterel was, perhaps, less So
cially inclined than most of his class.
With old Ruth to cook his meals and
superintend his household, the newspa-
per to dream over his few leisure hours,
and a col lection of rare, curious shells
to label and classify within the shelves
of an ancient walnut wood cabinet, DIR.
Dotterel asked no odds of mankind, nor
of womankind, either.
BLESS me-" said old Ruth, hobbling
to the window, who can it bef'
Hold on" said DIR. Dotterel, pushing
his spectacles upon his forehead cts
Magdalen"
"TNot our Miss Maggie?' squeaked
Ruth.
cold goose" said DIR. Dotterel, in ac-
cents of good-humored reproof. "will
you never learn to call your young lady
by her married name. "No, it is not
Miss Maggie; it's Mrs. Field"
Both the Doctor and his female
factotum hurried to the door to greet
the niece and adopted child of the
former, who had been married that day
six months ago.
Maggie Dotterel had been blue-eyed,
sunny haired little damsel, with long
curling eyelashes, cherry-red lips, and a
nose slightly turned up at the end.
Mrs. Marcus Field was pale and viva
cious, and she wore troubled look in
the d pths of her eyes.
Uncle" said Maggie, dropping
down in the easy chair as if there was
no elasticity left in her, "I've come
back to you"
Happy to see you, Pm sure" said
DR.. Dotterel. "And when is Marcus
coming?'
IL isn't coming at all" sobbed out
NJ 'ggie. olive left him. Pve come
back to you, u cle.'
Lett him, ehp' said the doctor.
Ruth, draw us anothrr jorum of tea.
Left himl And for what, l should like
to knowr'
"He-he's getting dreadfully dissi-
p,ted," whimpered poor Maggie, feeling
the want of tones He's out late at
mig ts-and he's got lot of gay COM
pm ons leading him into all sorts of 80
ce y, and he's been cross and cruel to
me. And"
"Cruel, ehp' answered the doctor.
"Does he beat your
No uncle. The ideal' flashed out
Mrs. Field, Indignantly.
Does he starve your
"Of course notp and Maggie drew
her elf up.
Has he ever refused to maintain
you decently"
'No, uncle"
"Oh," said DR.. Dotterel, che must be
bruter'
""nt. uncle. there are other things
I'm my young days." rem arked the
doctor, there used to be a clause il
the marriage service that read, For
better, for worse.'"
Uncle, walled Maggie, claspin her
little kid eloved hands together after
piteeous ia hion, "are you going to turn
coldly away from me?'
Nothing of the SORT" said DR.. Dot
terel. Pm going to give you good
hot supper as soon as Ruth has got il
ready, and let you sleep in your old
room tonight. But in the morning you
must go back again."
Back to Marcus, uncle ?'
Back to Marcus, niece"
Uncle" cried the bride with energy.
"Ill go out scrubbing by the day first"
go out scrubbing then, if you pre-.
Ter it." retorted DR.. Dotterel dryly:
but ! certainly shall not countenance
this separation and divorce business.
Once wife, always wife, that's nv
doctrine; There comes your tea
drink it."
Maggie Field felt as if the steaminp
and fragrant beverage would choke her
as she swallowed it. She had been SO
sure Of sympathy and harborage from
her Uncle Dotterel; and now he was
about to deliver her up once more into
the hands of t. enemy.
I" Uncle" faltered she, cant l STAY
with your"
No." answered DIR. Dotterel, firmly,
"you can't. Your place is with your
husband now"