The weekly herald. [volume] (Cleveland, Tenn.) 1876-1888, 1881-05-06

.Auhb DAlll No' a. bpbA 40 ibi Nplh
She did not make the doctors secret
public, but this unexpected and start
ling revolution in affairs was discussed,
tub rosa, in not less than a dozen
places before the evening bell.
Upon the morrow Harry Lanes ear
were assailcd by strange intelligence.
The rumor was confirmed by innuendo
and jest from every idle neighbor who
came along, and, as the forenoon wore
away, began to assume to his compre.
hension a very definite and portentous
aspect. The doctor had wealth and
reputation, and was in the prime of life.
Harry drove nails and spikes right and
LETT. Molly WAS as good and beautiful
as an angel. Harry planed panel till
lie could see through it. Such consid.
erations and destruction were unendur.
able. The young carpenter made a
neat toilet and was at the school
promptly at four. But his rivals
steed was paving the earth close by the
entrance. AS soon as Harry could make
his way through the noisy, dispensing
children, he entered the schoolroom.
There he found Molly pouring over her
desk, and the doctor beside her, saying,
heaven knows what, to call up such
smiles and bushes. If they had seen
Harry coming they could not have tor.
mented him more. For once in his life
Harry felt awkward. His first impulse
was to knock the doctor to the floor,
the next to snatch Molly away and run
for it; but not quite clear about per
forming any rash exploit, he stood ir-
resolute, hesitating and little foolish.
GLOW are you, Lane?" exclaimed
the doctor, as he helped the teacher put
away her books and papers. "An
ready for the sport tomorrow, dare
say? Let me lay your shawl on, Miss
Brown; We haven't any time to spend
here"
"Where can they be going ?" thought
Harry, as Molly prepared to leave with
DR.. Stone. Matters looked desperate,
and he made plunge.
"Molly," said he, 81 shall call for
you early tomorrow morning. We
shall want to be on the ground in good
season."
Molly laughed and shook her wicked
curls.
8" am so happy as to have secured
the companionship of Miss Brown for
my own drive to Green Valley" re-
marked the doctor with exceeding com.
placency. "But really, shall not al
low you to jest with my lady in this
manner. Of course you could not ex-
pect to obtain the belle of the village
by such a tardy invitation"
DR.. Stone conducted Molly to the
chaise and gently put her in with pro-
tective manner which made Harry clench
his fists and set his teeth; then with a
parting salutation to the forlorn lover,
drove down the pebbly road like a
young Jehu.
Harry was left on the doorstep to di-
gest affairs as he might. and afterward
to go home and sing with his Cousin
Clara. He went alone that evening to
see Molly, but she was still away and
would not return until a late hour, hay
ing gone to the next town to take tea
with one of her relatives, who was also
a patient of DR.. Stone. Mrs, Brown
told him it would not be worth his
while to wait. Harry sought his cham
Der in a most melancholy mood and
passed a sleepless night in denouncing
his folly and Cousin Clara, and in esti-
mating the advantages and probabil itj
in favor of DR.. Stone.
Saturday came, and the oak grove at
Green Valley rung with sport and merri
ment. OF all the fair forms that fitted
here and there over the sunny slopes,
down by the brookside Or up among the
Aowery hedges, Molly Brown was the
most brilliant and joyous. Her snowy
dress glanced, her ringlets shook off the
light, and her sweet voice made glad.
ness everywhere. Dr. Stone was ever
at her side, and by his genial humor and
inexhaustible fun woke more laughter
among the restless groups who attended
him than the echoes at Green Valley
ever before heard. Clara Evans was
completely eclipsed, and Harry was dim
and doleful. He had scarcely been able
to speak to Molly during the long,
weary day, and to see her thus was not
at all consoling or inspiriting.
As night drew near, and the young
people were about returning, there was
new arrival upon the ground, A
chronic patient of DR.. Stones had
found him out, and with much amaze
ment solicited q brief consultation. 1t
80 happened that as the party was
broken up and scattered in various di-
rections to prepare for the coming ride,
Molly was left alone. Harry drew near
with trouble in his eye.
"What has happened, Molly dear,
that we should be here as we are to-
day."
Molly laughed according to direc-
tions, but not very mer1ily.
"Can you forgive me, Molly2"
Ghn did nnt nnn,rnr Cos, Ihn dnnLn,.