The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1882-11-04

| II felt sure II must De GnaC, anu CHeH L
thought perhaps you would think us i'm
posters, and I knew you would be too much
of gentleman to mention it, and so-do
you think was wrong ?-I came off with
Mrs Brown this morning, and made up my
mind I would explain the mistake, only it
was SO dreadful. But don't mind, now
that you look so kind about it. And then,
would you do me great favor, DIR. Merri-
field? Would you mind not appearing to
know anything about it, or that | came, or
anything, because papa doesn't know L am
out; he is not down yet; and he would be
so distressed, he might never come again,
and 1 should be so sorry, as you suit him
exactly"
"Pray, don't call this favor" said, as
gravely as could. ~ think you will be-
lieve me when I say that, without even
knowing your wishes on the subject, l
should never have mentioned the-the
lozenge."
II don't know how to thank you. Now
I must GO" And then Miss Dillon put
that small gloved hand in her muff and
drew it out again, holding it out toward me
once more, and this time l felt little
square bit of paper in my hand. Somehow
our eyes met, and in spite of the gravity Of
the occasion we both laughed, feeling, l am
sure, we should never again be afraid of
each other, as she said:
"Please, Dr. Merrifeld, don't laugh at
me- Is this the right way to give fee,
because I must tell you this is the first time
in my life have ever had to give one. [
suppose some day shall be ill and want a
doctor, but never, never have wanted to
90 to one before And it wasn't for myself
this time, was it you will bear witness
I mean hope you won't ever mention it;
good-by. Now, Brown, | am ready"
And just as ray of sunshine sometimes
comes into ones room, glimmers, dances,
and illuminates the place for a time, and
then suddenly disappears, SO Lucia Dillon
had come and gone, and that noisy four
wheeler took off my vision of fair hair,
leaving me with golden sovereign and a
new shilling wrapped in small half-sheet
of paper, ON the top of which was stamped
the address of their London house.
folded that piece of paper and put it away
in poeketbook among my treasures, such
as my dear mothers first letter to me at
school, and the flower that a little girl of
seven years old had dropped when I, a
nine year-old urchin, had fallen desperately
in love with her. There was nothing there
unworthy to lie next to the paper that Lucia
Dillon's fingers had touched.
Later in the day [ received note from
Mr.. Dillon, begging me, if [ were not too
much engaged, to come and see him as he
felt very unwell. And if I would do him
the great favor of dining and spending the
evening with them he would be very CRATE
full for he saw so few people on account Of
his wretched constitution.
Well, [ went, and spent very happy
evening 1t was only the first of many
more, at least during this first season. But
Mr.. Dillon was as good as his word; from
the day of his first visit my practice slowly
but surely increased, and though there were
years of uphill work, yet it is perfectly
true that zee nest que lie premier pas qui
coute" [ had at last got chance, and |
seized it. l worked with double energy,
because at the bottom of my soul l had
another object besides the one of making
the five girls at home proud of me; wanted
small, fair, blue-eyed Lucia to be proud
of me, and I wanted to be able to lay at her
feet all that is best and grandest in this life.
But she was rich mans daughter and
was struggling physician.
1t was not till had freed myself of all
debt-and though still poor man | was
comparatively rich, for I had a good and
increasing practice-that at last made up
my mind to ask Lucia to be my wife.
should not have had the face to do it even
then, only young good for-nothing aristo
crat was perpetually coming to the house
and knew that if Lucia, so young, simple
and innocent, became the wife of that man
her life would be miserable. The fear Of
this, and some amount of jealousy, perhaps
made me speak out one day, l shall never
forget Lucia's face when said some strong
earnest, passionate words. She put hel
little hand once more into mine and looked
up with her beautiful and truthful eyes
and half sobbed:
"Oh-do you really meanit? Because
somehow, I think I have-loved you evel
since"
Ever since you gave me my first fee, my
darling" I said, as I drew her beautiful
head on my shoulder and-well, never minG
the rest. "Well, Lucia, I added, II lovec
you the first moment L saw you; so you SET
1 loved you long before you cared for me.
But Lucia, who is just little matter-of
fact, shook her head decidedly, and sale
that that was all nonsense.
There was still the question as to what
Mr.. Dillon would say about it, but our true
love, which had had to wait so long, thi.
time ran smoothly Mr. Dillon, who still
suffered from his wretched constitution, was
delighted at Lucia's choice, and said al
kinds of complimentary things about my
rising fame and other qualities. And 81
we were married, and the five girls from
home were bridesmaids, though they soor
afterward married from our house under
Lucia's care And though l often tel
Lucia that the last person she should have
married was a popular physician, consider
ing she is never ill, yet she always shakes
her pretty golden head and says gravely:
"But, perhaps, Arthur, some of the child
rem may inherit papa's wretched constitu
ton.
As to the story of the ginger lozenge
Lucia and 1 kept that secret until Mr.
Dillon died. He left Lucia all his money
and so ends this true story of my first
fee.
The Rapid Increase of Professors