The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1878-07-25
OUR STORY TELLER.
DIR. DOTTEREL'S NIECE.

AL bdlu LII. DOJIcEtl. ne SbdR6
stopping here? And lady getting out
with travelling bag and bandbox
Now | wonder who can possibly he COM
ing TO see meW
Elderly bachelors, as general thing,
are not partial to unexpected company,
and Mr.. Dotterel was, perhaps, less 30
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 collection of rare, curious shells
TO label and classify within the shelves
of an ancient walnut wood cabinet, DR..
Dotterel asked no odds of mankind, nor
of womankind, either.
Bless me-" said old Ruth, hobbling
to the window, "who can it bep'
"Hold on" said DR.. Dotterel, pushing
his spectacles upon his forehead. It's
Magdalenp
Not our Miss MaggieT squeaked
Ruth.
"Old goose" said DIR. Dotterel, in &C
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 a blue-eyed,
sunny-hsired 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 pths of her eyes.
"Uncle," said Maggie, dropping
down in the easy chair as if there was
no elasticity left in her, "Pve come
back to you"
Happy to see you, I'm sure," said
DIR. Dotterel. "And when is Marcus
coming9'
" He isn't coming at ALL" sobbed out
Maggie. Olive le him. I've come
back to you, u cle"
"Leit him, ehl" said the doctor.
Ruth, draw us anoth jorum of tea.
Left himl And for what, l should like
to knowT
He-he's getting dreadfully dissi-
pated," whimpered poor Maggie, feeling
the want of tones. He's out late at
nights-and he's got a lot of gay com.
panions leading him into all sorts of So
ciety, aud he's becn cross and cruel to
me. And" -.
Cruel, ehl" answered the doctor
Does he beat your
No, uncle. The IDEAL" flashed out
Mrs. Field, indignantly.
Does he starve your
"Of course notI" and Maggie drew
her.elf up.
" Has he ever refused to maintain
you decentlyT
"No, uncle"
"Oh," said DR.. Dotterel, che must b,
a brutep'
p But, uncle, there are other things
"In my young days." remarked tn
doctor, there used to be clause il
the marriage service that read, Fo
better, for worse.'"
Uncle" walled Maggie, clasping he
little kid-gloved hands together after
2 piteons fashion, :" are you going to turl
coldiy away from meT'
Nothing of the Sort" said DIR. Dot
terel. Pm going to give you goo,
hot supper as soon as Ruth has got
ready, and let you sleep in your OIL
room tonight. But in the morning yo
must 60 back again."
Back TO Marcus, uncleT
Back to Marcus, niece"
Uncle" cried the bride with energy
"Pll go out scrubbing by the day first.
eco out scrubbing then, if you Or,
fer it," retorted DIR. Dotterel' dryly
but ! certainly shall not countenane
this separation and divorce busines
Once wife, always wife, that's m
doctrine: There comes your tea :
drink It,"
Maggie Field felt as if the steamin
and fragrant beverage would choke h,
as she swallowed it. She had been
sure of sympathy aud harborage fro
her Uncle Dotterel; and now he WI
about to deliver her up once more in
the hands of the enemy.
"Uncle." faltered she, "can't 1 sts
with your .
.,'" No. answered DIR. Dotterel, frml
"you can't. Your place is with yol
husband now"
So Mrs. Marcus Field returned
New York City early the next da
feeling not half 30 much like q heroil
as she did the day before, and mental
condemning Uncle Dotterel as a har
hearted old OGRE. Eak8k
There was one comfort, howevs
Marcus would never know of her d
comfiture. He had gone on busine
journey to Troy, two or three days
fore, and would not return until eve
ing. She had been defeated in her
tempts at independence, but at les
Marcus would not be able to exult ov
her failure. ,gfti sW.s
So Mrs. Marcus Field went languid