Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1883-12-01
VALLEY OF MATRIMONY.


fall to the lot of middle.aged spinster
with quiet tastes than that of engineering
a young woman of any considerable per.
sonal attractions across Europe. The
trouble began on the ocean steamer in the
shape of a Captain in the United States
Navy. at Paris it was big Frenchman,
with nature like that of Newfoundland
dog: at Marseilles it presented itself under
the euise of dreamy.eyed German at
Rome it was silvery. tongued Italian; at
Naples it concentrated itself in the most
violent and virulent form in the person OF
young American doctor.
Miss Sutherland was troubled with
cough, an entirely natural and appropriate
thing to a young woman who exposed her.
self in all kinds of weather en- shipbosrd
simply to know how the sea looked in a
storm. The idea that that cough needed
a physicians care was entirely preposter-
GUS but, all the same, we had not been in
Naples ten days before MISS Suth-
erlsnd's lungs were as much an
object of solicitude to DR.. Manning as if
she had been in the last stages of consump-
ton. What delightful thing a cough is
one, that is, which is quite sufficiently
SLIGHT. does not keep the sufferer awake at
Portable progress Of existence There was
lust enough reality to Miss Sutherland's
cough to prevent her undertaking the IA
tigue of journey up Vesuvius, but not
sufficient to interfere with any number of
small excursions to San Martina, Capo di
Monte, or anywhere else that might be &C
complished within a reasonable number of
hours. That cough contributed to Miss
4 ha aIapoant pf az
ton she did not need. The rather firmly
set lips took on quite gentle, piteous ex-
preston when the irritated throat was try.
ing to relieve itself by fit of coughing,
slight fever gave the usually colorless
cheeks and clear eyes a brilliancy, and the
exhaustion that followed reduced the young
lady from her usual attitude of sturdy in
dependence to most fascinating condition
of womanly weakness.
1t very soon came to be understood
that Miss Sutherland's carelessness in re-
gard to her health, her ignorance and mine
also of Neapolitsn patois, the viciousness
of donkeys and the cupidity of guides,
made male escort almost a necessity in
the neighborhood of Naples. Whether the
necessity grew out of the ready provision
to meet it, or the provision out of the ne
cassity. it is not worth while to argue.
Judging from the independence of other
lady travellers, the former theory seems the
more tenable During the first of these
excursions Miss Sutherland had something
of a body-guard about her. Three or four
hands at least were put out to help her over
every rock and up every hight. Presently
the number vas reduced to one. DR.. Man
ming had, in fact, assumed the same juris-
dicEion over the rest of Miss Sutherland's
movements that he did over the cough.
That ailment had been his especial charge
from the beginning, and he seemed to be
rapidly assuming the responsibility Of
whatever else appertsined TO the young
lady. Matters had been in this shape for
about month when it became apparent
that something had begun TO go wrong
BIZ using the united intelligence and expe-
riencs that have fallen to my lot, arrived
at the conclusion that as Miss Sutherland
had regajned her health she desired to dis
charge her physician. was not prepared,
however, for the manner in which she IN
dertook to do it. The plan was revealed
in the simple announcement that she in
tended to chapge her quarters to the island
of Capri.
Unhapoily my relations to Miss Suther-
land are such that for me to hear is to obey,
looked at the bleak mass of rock from
my window and shuddered, it being Feb
ruary, and the Wanted climate of Italy
being in fact as an English May. The eff.
feet of the announcement upon me was,
however, mild to that which it produced
upon Dr. Manning, They were sitting
very quietly when it came-she half buried
in a big arm chair, he playing with the tas-
sells of her shawl.
Agnes !'-it was daring venture that
with her first name" you are not going
over on that bleak rock Z? It will be abso-
lutely dangerous for you. As your physi
clan l will not allow it.
Now at this moment the doctor had an
advantage. Had he pushed it, dainty Miss
Sutherland with her assumptions of dig
nifty and firmly curved mouth, would have
Welded that point and the rest. He blum
dered, for he added, very softly, " Don
go, dear"
| left the room. l always do at this
stage. Miss Sutherland is a thorough
American in regard to her lovers An En-
ghsh or a French girl would have fled after
me. The young lady in question thought
it quite proper that / should retire. The
matter in question was quite personal tC
herself, and required no interference iron
outside parties. The doctor went on blum
dering unquestionably for an hour later
when she came into my room, we had the
following conversation
"Wen,'
"Tes."
Again p
81 believe 60" This with a yarn, after
which, to all appearance, her whole atten
ton was given to getting the hair pins out
Of her hair.
Capri is a beautiful island. The old Ro
mans had good taste, and Tberius built
twelve villas on it wherein to amuse him
self during leisure hours. At the same
time middle aged women will get the
rheumatism In damp places We had not
taken more than a dozen donkey rides,
assembled Mount Solsrio and made the trip
to Anacspri, when certain twinges in my
Joints warned me 2f the probability OF be.
ing laid up SIX weeks in a little pension
perched on one OF the steepest rocks in the
Mediterranean. My experienced eyes also
informed me at Miss Sutherland was no.
precisely herself My diagnosis OF the case
was coon made out to my own satisfaction.
She was trying TO live up TO the lines OF
her mouth. and at the same time giving
away round she heart. The doctors stu
pidity mad undoubtedly cost him a rejec
tion. Bat when a young lady fees to al
almost desert island to avoid the proxim
ity of an obnoxious suitor and then spends
most of her time gazing across the sea IL
the direction where he Is supposed to be
it may explain the matter perfectly to say
that she ia admiriug Nesuvius; but II i
does, tho person who accepts the eT
PLANTATION has not much experience o
young women.
Is there anything in this world muct
more excrutialing than an attack OF milan
lnatorv rheumatism This was precisely
what Miss Sutherland's csprices IN regard
to her lovers had brought me to. For tw'
weeks lay upon my bed hideous mas
of red flannel, racked with pain, and hating
Capri with the intensity of one of the cap
tiyes of Old Tiberius During this tint
Miss Sutherland developed into one OF tn
gentlest nurses that ever took care OF thu
victim Of her own imprudepcc. The pro
cess of torture was going on, six week
being the alleged period for the intismma
tory demon TO hold sway, when one morn
ing the familiar face of DR.. Manning sp
peared above my bed For two minutes
oositivelv Loaf sight of the pain in my