The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1881-11-18

"Of course we should need matron
and I should be glad-er-highly hon
ored if Mrs. Porter would join us, " fall
tered with shameless hypocrisy.
Thank you; / will inform them o
the invitation, said the doctor, coldly
as he prepared to go to work.
submitted myself to two or thre.
hours more of rasping and gouging
cheered at the thought of my mastery
stratagem.
I went home that night with sense
of nervous exhaustion, and my head
feeling like barrel; but, firm in m,
purpose, the next day repaired early K
the doctors Office, supported agains
prospective torture by the inspiring Wis
ion of success.
The doctor went silently and grimlJ
on with his work, and finished with {
second and third tooth. But yet not q
word of the invitation. Just as I was
upon the point of sounding him upon
this subject he suddenly startled me tx
my hearts core by saying, coolly:
ooh, here's tooth that must come
outp
"Eh, what !" cried, springing from
the chair. Ono, no. Stop | stop!"
ooh, don't be scared; it won't kill
you r said the merciless little man, re-
| garding me with contemptuous smile
ell won't have it out. You wan
to Lack me to pieces |! You want tx
make ruin of me |" cried, indig
nantly.
The doctor sneered, and said, quietly
but with an air of exasperating signih.
canoe, as he turned away: (" You needn'
| get SO excited, young man You needn'
have it done unless you choose. "
"What do you mean % asked, merry.
ously. "What's the matter2 Is the
tooth decayed?"
"No; but it soon will bei''
"And then?"
"It will ulcerate, and you will proba.
bly, lose piece of your jawbone."
Scared beyond expression at this
alternative, I hesitated. The doctor saw
his advantage and pursued it.
cit will only be for moment" he
said, picking up his forceps, and con.
cealing them behind him as he advanced.
No, no." I cried, with my knees
knocking together; "that is-yes-ol
rather if it must be done; but-give me
chloroform Il might I'm subject tc
fainting fits do you think twill have
much of a root ?"
Then, in the midst of my terror, rec
ollecting what all this sacrifice was for,
| cried feebly as the wretch fastened his
horrid forceps on my beautiful tooth:
"About the nvitation-what-w p
"Ah, y said the doctor, gathering all
his little strength for the coming wrench,
Mrs. Porter is much obliged to YOU,
she accepts the invitation with pleas.
ure."
Iseized the arms of my chair. Nerved
by the sweet thought of success, sus-
tanned the ordeal like hero.
But, continued the doctor, coolly,
as | rose from the chair with q bound,
and regarded him with an air of triumph
and relief, "my daughter regrets that
she will be unable to do so on account OF
another engagement"
Defeated, Inundated, incensed, I
rushed from the Office of the perfidious
little dentist. I cursed the stepmother
l vowed wouldn't have her. I found
means to give up the picnic. even
tried to give up Jane, but ali in vain.
And SO for three long, dreary months
racked my brain to devise some new
scheme to further my purpose. Atlength
Fate came to my aid. One Sunday
afternoon l came out upon the church
steps to find Jane there, looking heav-
emily in new spring bonnet, and rain
falling heavily. She gazed about in dis
may as the people, one by one, departed,
and the sexton began shutting the doors.
1t was then that, summoning up all nv
resolution, I advanced, with my heart
in my mouth, and saids
"Miss Porter, I believer"
Eyes" she replied, regarding me sus-
piciously.
eff you will allow me=-offer you
share of-umbrella, I gasped out.
You are very kind-I don't know
| expected my brother, but"
Meanwhile I had been opening my
umbrella, and now stepped alongside
and offered my arm, With a GOV and
guarded air she took it. AS she placed
her small, mitted hand in the crook of
my elbow, felt Utilization that tingled
all through me to the very ends of my
toes. When we arrived at her house It
rained so very hard that Jane had no al
tentative but to ask me in. NEEDED
no second bidding. On entering the
parlor, we found Mrs. Porter, a large
and imposing woman with manly air.
enthroned in mn easy chair.
"This, said Jane, presenting me.
"is Mr.. Pettibone; he has been kind
enough to bring me home"
ooh" exclaimed Mrs. Porter, giving
me a searching look, and adding in
a condescending tone, che is very good;
pray, sir-r, be seated p
She pronounced the short ceremonial
title with such ponderous roll of the r
THAI 1t seemed rather awful appella-
ton, and l sat down with quailed and
guilty feeling.
| wasn't aware" she went on, "that
you were acquainted with my daughter. "
eli wasn't, but lit rained so very
hard"
81 couldn't stay there all night, and
nobody came for me. I am sure it was
extremely kind of Mr.. Pettibone, and I
am very much obliged to him whether
he was acquainted with me or not" in
terposed Jane. sharply, drawing her
mothers fire.
g remarked" returned the latter
lady, in powerful baritone voice, 81
remarked, Miss Porter, that the gentle
man was very good; but" she added,
with great emphasis and significance,
q" the question as to the propriety of re-
ceiving such marked kindness from
strangers"
"If am to be left to the mercy Of
strangers, shall accept their kindness,
and gratefully, too, "retorted Jane, shut
ting her lips very tight.
:" was about to remark, Miss Porter,
if you had given me the opportunity,
that your father and brother are both alb
sent, and you can hardly expect that L"
"Oh, no; no, indeed I never for a
moment INDUCED in any such fond delu-
sion, interrupted Jane in an ironical
| tone.
This little episode between Jane and
her step-mamma, seemingly so trivial,
proved of the utmost importance to me.
Driven to undertake my defense by the
criticism of her imposing relative, Jane