The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1880-11-27

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few moments Of deep reflection
"One name more must be added, they
must be invited"
"Who1" exclaimed /, in 4 tone of
genuine surprise.
ssMr. and Mrs. Edmund Rand" re-
piled Belle, triumphantly, while | was
speeches. from astonishment.
The ball took place to the admiration
Of all N. 1t was splendid affair-in
fact, it was the greatest Of the kind
whilh N had ever known. Mr.. and
Mrs Rand came, and were received with
coldpoliteness by both father and daugh-
ter The young man was good looking,
intelligent and possessed of that kind of
manner which betokens familiarity with
refined and cultivated society. Miss
Rand, his sister, was charming girl OF
twenty, who seemed rather amused at
the manner Of DIR. Wood and his daugh-
ter, but said nothing. Young Rand's
only revenge for the GOODNESS manifested
by Miss Wood was by asking her to
dance, which was certainly vexatious,
for his tone was SO pleasing and his man.
ncr so courteous that Belle could not but
feel pleased-when she wanted to be
irate, distant and stately.
They danced together several times to
the astonishment Of many friends Of the
young lady, and of herself in particular,
and they went down to supper the best
of friends, laughing and joking like old
acquaintances. Next day, however, she
resumed her original coldness Of manner
when the brother and sister called to pay
their respects. She was simply polite,
and no more, and after two or three
words they retired, Miss Rand becoming
as stiff and formal as her new acquaint-
ance. From that day Belle became rest
less and discontcnted, seating herself
constantly at the bay window, and watch
ing the opposite house to see if patients
came, or If Edmund Rand made an at
tempt to call about and introduce him.
self.
One day DIR. Wood had been called
to distance to see patient seriously
i'll, and Belle sat at the window enjoying
her usual occupation, when suddenly she
discovered boy running towards the
house. She recognized him rs a boy
employed by one of the principal families
OF the town, family with host of
children, one of whom at least was
constantly in bed from fits of indigestion.
The boy rang violently at the bell and
hastily inquired, upon the door being
opened, for DIR. Wood.
"He is not at home" replied the SER
want.
"He will be home Directly" replied
Belle, advancing.
"oh, but we can't wait. There's lit
tie Peter been and swallowed a marble !"
and away he rushed across the street,
evidently under instructions, to the hated
rivals house.
Belle retreated to the sitting-room and
cried with vexation the enemy had
gained an entrance into the camp; for
if this family became his patients others
would be sure to follow; and she look
cd out Of the window again, just in time
to see Edmund Rand hurrying with the
boy down the street.
But more was to come.
Belle belonged to Thursday evening
whis, party, where whist was the excep-
tion and dancing the rule. On the
Thursday evening following DIR. Rand's
first call, she attended one, when, horror
of horrors! There was that gentleman
and his sister, and worse than that, when
quadrille was being formed, he, of all
Others, came to invite her to dance.
Belle was lady, and as such could
not refuse, SO she accepted his arm and
took her place in the set.
Despite herself, that evening she was
very much pleased with him. He was
well informed, had travelled extensively,
was full Of taste and feeling, conversed
with animation and originality. He
sought every opportunity Of addressing
himself to her, and found these oppor-
tunities without much difficulty. For
several Thursdays the same thing occur
red, for he had become very popular and
was being invited everywhere.
One morning the father and daughter
were at breakfast. Belle began to like
her bay window better than ever, and
when the doctor came out she always
returned his bow with a heightening
color, that may have been the reflection
of the roses surrounding her. DIR. Wood
had been called out at a very early hour
and had returned to breakfast in not the
best Of humors.
al suppose I shall die in the poor
house." said he, rs he buttered his toast
with an alarming irritability. This Rand
is getting all the practice. He got three
Of my patients yesterday"
"Oh, papa" replied Belle, gently
al don't think he has got dozen alto
gether."
ga dozen | Well, that is dozen lost
to me, Miss. It's proof that people
think me old-worn out-useless."
"Nonsense, papa; Ms increasing
in population every day, and for every
one he gets, you get two"
"Indeed I" replied the doctor, with
considerable animation. alt looks to
me as il you rather sided with my rival.
The bell rang at this moment, and the
servant announced, "Dr. Rand"
DIR. Wood had no time to make any
remark, ere the young man entered the
room, bowing most politely to the old
gentleman and his daughter, who looked
as confused as her father looked surpris-
ed. The young doctor looked both
handsome and happy-the old doctor
thought, triumphant.
'sPardon me, sir, for disturbing you
at this early hour, but your numerous
calls leave me scant opportunity. My