Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1880-10-22
2 gleasant sturp.
AN ONLY OFFER.

Aunt Phoebe, were you ever pretty ?"
"When | was sixteen ] was considered SO.
| was very like you then, Julia. am forty
three now, remember"
Odd you ever have an offer-an offer of
marriage, mean, aunt?"
mo. Well, that is not true; | did have
one offer"
"And you refused it?'
"No."
"Then he died, or went away?"
mo"
cor deserted your
"No."
"Then you deceived him, / suppose Y
81 did not"
"What ever happened, then? Was he
poor, or crippled, or something dreadfulY
ale was rich and handsome"
Suppose you tell me about him."
81 never talk about him TO any one"
odd it happen at the old placer
Eyes, julia. never left Ryclands until
was thirty. This happened when was six
teen"
"Nyas he a farmers son in the neighbor-
hood?"
ale was q fine city gentleman"
"Oh, aunt, how interesting! Put down
your embroidery and tell me about it; you
cannot sec to work longer"
Perhaps after so many years Of silence a
sudden longing orsympathy and confidence
seized the elder lady, for she let her work
fall from her hands, and smiling sadly, said ::
"Twenty-seven years ago | was standing
one afternoon by the gate at Ryelands. All
the work had been finished early, and my
mother and two elder sisters had gone to
the village to see a friend | had watched
them a little way down the hillside, and
was turning to go into the house when !
saw stranger on horseback coming up the
road He stopped and spoke to mother, and
this aroused my curiosity; so ! fingered at
the gate He stopped when he reached it,
fastened his horse, and asked, is Mr.. Wake
field inY
81 said father was in the barn, and
could fetch him. which l Immediately did.
ale was dark, unpleasant-looking man,
and had a masterful way with him, even to
father, that / dislked; but after short,
business-like talk, apparently satisfactory 10
both, he went away without entering the
house Father put his hands in his pockets
and watched him out Of sight; then, look
ing at me, he said Put the spare rooms in
order, Phoebe
"'They are in order, father; but is that
man TO occupy themY"
ayes, he and his patient, young gentle
man of fine family, who is in bad health
ado you know the young gentleman,
fiitherY
az know it is young Alfred Compton
that is enough for me-
"And the dark man who has just left? |
don't like his looks, father
"'Nobody wants thee 10 like his looks.
He is Mr.. Alfred's physician--a DIR. Orman,
of Boston. Neither of them are any Of thy
business, 80 ask no more questions; and
with that he went back TO the barn.
Mother was not at all astonished. She
said there had been letters on the subject al
ready, and that she had been rather expect
ing the company But, she added, they
will pay well, and as Melissa is 10 be mar
ried at Christmas, ready money will be very
needful.'
about dark carriage arrived. It con
tanned two gentlemen and several large
trunks. / had been watching for il be-
hind the lilac trees, and saw that our af-
ternoon visitor was now accompanied by a
slight, very fair man, dressed with extreme
care in the very highest fashion. ! saw also
that be was handsome, and was quite sure
he must be rich, OF no doctor would wait
upon him 50 subscryiently.
"I'his doctor had disliked at first sight,
and 1 soon began 10 imagine that | had
god cause % hate him. His conduct b.
bis patient believed 10 be tyrannical and
unkind. some days he insisted that Mr..
Compton was TOO III 20 50 out, though the
poor gentleman begged for a walk; and
aglin, mother said, he would take from him
~ his books, though he pleaded urgently
for them
conc afternoon the postman brought DR..
Ounnn a letter, which seemed 10 be- impor.