Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1883-03-29
THE BROKEN ENGAGEMENT.

When Mary Clarimonts engagem emf
was proclaimed to the world there en-
sued general expression of surprise.
People generally are surprised at
matrimonial engagements. There is
always some cogent reason why things
should have been adjusted otherwise
and why John should have married
Joan, and Peter should have preferred
Betsey. Nobody was ever yet married
to suit everybody.
But in Mary Clarimont's 1t did
really seem rs if the course of true love
had intcrfered seriously with the cur
rent Of common sense and prudence.
Miss Clarimont was only 81, tall,
imperial beauty, with dewy black eyes,
a skin as fresh as damask roses, and
dark brown hair, coiled in shining
bands at the back of her bead, More
over, Miss Clarmont haG career"
before her. She had graduated at
Medgeld Medical University, and taken
out her diploma as NJ. ID.
"And only to think Of il" said Aunt
10, bursting into tears Of vexation and
disappointing chat she must needs
go and ruin all her prospects by getting
engaged to Harry NARROW, down in
New York"
at does seem strange, Aunt 10,
when sit down and think of it,, said
Doctor Mary, laughing and blushing.
"Six months ago my profession was all
the world to me. / neither wished
nor cared for anything outside its linn
its. The future was all mapped out
before me. without let or hindrance;
and now"
"Humph," growled Aunt 10. "Any
brainless idiot can get married and
keep a mans house and mend his
shirts for him, but you were made for
something higher and more dignified,
Mary"
Mary's downright eyes sparkled.
Higher, Aunt Jo2' said she. "More
dignified? There you are mistaken.
There is no higher or more dignified
lot in life than that of the true wife of
noble husband"
"Fiddlesticks, said aunt 10. "As if
every poor fool who was dazzled by
the glitter of wedding ring didn't
say the same thing? You've disap-
pointed me, Mary Clairmont and I'm
ashamed of you, and that is the long
and the short Of it,"
Mary smiled.
Dear Aunt Jo," said she, 81 shall
not let my sword and shield rust, be-
lieve me. Harry has only his talents
TO advance him in the world, it will be
at least year before we shall be ready
-, L., hg I oh oil
cept the position of visiting physician
to the Aldenbury almshouse, and prac-
tice my profession in Aldenbury, just
the same as If there were no en-
gagement.
II wish 10 goodness there wasn't"
said Aunt Jo. 81 tell you what, Mary,
! don't fancy that smiling, smooth
topgued young man of yours, and l
never shall"
Still DR.. Mary CIairmont kept her
temper.
81 am sorry Aunt Jo,' she said,
pleasantly. "But | hope you will
eventually change your mind"
81 used TO keep a thread-and-needle
store when | was u young woman. re-
marked Aunt 10, dryly, and | always
could tell the ring Of counterfeit
half dollar when a customer laid it on
the counter. could then. and | can
now, and tell you what, Mary, there's
base metal about Harry Marrow"
DR.. Mary bit her lip.
perhaps. We will not discuss the
subject further, Aunt Jo," she said,
with quiet dignity, and the old lady
said no more.
"Aunt 10 is wrongp persisted the
pretty young M. ID. to herself.
"Mary is making q fool of herself -
thought Aunt 10.
Aldeubury WAS pretty manufacturing
village, with main street, shaded by
outrageous NAPLES, q ''west end"
where people who had made their for
tunes lived comfortably in old roomy
houses, surrounded by velvet lawns and
teraced gardens, and an least end"
where people fought desperately and
not always successfully to keep soul and
body together on the merest pittance.
And q httle way out of the vi llage
the almshOuses, built and endowed by
a certain smuggling sea captain, whose
conscience had pricked him during his
latter days, raised their gables to the
sky, and made a picturesque back
ground to the landscape.
DR.. Mary Clsrimont made something
of sensation at Aldenbury. Up to this
time all the resident NJ DIS had been
suuify old gentlemen with wigs, or pert
young ones with eyeglasses.
A beautiful young lady who wrote
prescriptions and compounded pills and
potions, was novelty in the town, and
by no means q disagreeable one. Eco,
pie rather liked the idea, once they had
convinced themselves that the lady doc
torthoroughly understood herself and
her patients.
and the poor old people at the aims
house grew to love DR.. Mary, and listen
with eager ears for the sound Of her
carriage wheels over the blue gravel
drive which led up to the portico.
1t was brilliant December day when
the young physician stood ia the neatly