The south Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1879-1883, 1883-06-19
THE BROKEN ENGAGEMENT.
ny HELEN FOREST GRAVES.

People generally are surprised a
matrimonial engagements. There il
always some cogcnt reason why
things should have been adjusted
otherwise-why John should hay,
married Joan, and Peter should pre-
fer Betsy. Nobody ever yet wa.
married to suit everybody.
But In Mary Clarimont's case il
did really seem as if the course OF
true love had intcrfcred seriously
with the current of common sens,
and prudence.
Miss Clarimont was only one and
twenty, q tall, imperial beauty, will
dewy black eyes, skin as fresh as
damask roses, and dark brown hair
coiied in shining bands at the back oI
her head.
Moreover, Miss Clarimont had O
"carecr" before her. She had Just
graduated from Medfcld Medical
University, and taken out her diplo.
ma as an NJ. ID.
And only TO think of il, said Aunt
Jo, bursting into tears of vexation
and disappointment, that she must
needs go and ruin all her prospects
by getting engaged to Harry MARROW,
down IN New York!
1t does seem strange, Aunt Jo,
when l sit down and think of 1t, 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
limits. The future was all mapped
out before me, without let or hind
rance; and now
Humph! growlcd Aunt 10. Any
brainlcss idiot can get married, and
keep mans house and mend his
shirts for him, but you were made
for something higher and more dig
niilcd, Mary.
Mary's dcw-bright eyes sparkled.
Higher, Aunt 10? said she more
dignificd? There you are mistaken.
There Is no higher or more digmfcd
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 Clarimont, and I'm
ashamed of you, and that is the long
and the short of il!
Mary smiled.
Dear Aunt 10. said she. I shall not
let my sword and shield rust, believe
me. Harry has only his own talents
to advance him in the world and II
will be at least year before we shall
he ready to marry. In the meantime
shall except the post of visiting
physician to the Aldenbury Aims.
house, and practice my profession in
Aldenbury, just the same as if there
were no engagement!
| wish to goodness there wasn't
said Aunt 10. tell you what, Mary
don't fancy that smiling smooth
tongued young man of yours, and
never shall.
Still Doctor Mary Clarimont KEEP
her temper.
1 am sorry, Aunt Jo, she said
pleasantly. But hope that you will
eventually change your mind.
used to keep n thread-and-needl,
store when was a young woman, re
marked Aunt Jo, dryly, and Away
could tell tho ring of counterfeit
half. dollar when customer laid it OF
the counter. / could then, and l cal
now-and l tell you what, Mary
there's base metal about Harry Mar
low'
Perhaps. We will not discuss tn,
subject further, Aunt Joe, she said
with quiet dignity, and the old lad.
said no more.
Aunt 10 is wrongl persisted tn
pretty young NJ. ID. to herself.
Mary is making fool of herself
thought Aunt Jo.
Il Aldcnbury was pretty manufac
turing village, with a main stree
shaded by umbragcous naples,
"wcst end" where people who ha,
made their fortunes lived comforta
bly, in roomy old houses, surroundc
by velvet lawns and terraced gard
ems, and aTi "east end,' where pcopl
fought desperately, and not alway
successfully, to keep soul and boz;
together Oh tho mcresf pittance.
And little wy out of the villag,
the aims houses, built and endowe
by a certain smuggling sea-captail
whose conscience had prickcd hiI
during his latter days, raised thcl
gray-stonc gables to the sky, an
made q picturesque back ground I
the landscape.
Doctor Mary Clarimont made som,
thing of u sensation at Aldcnbur,
Up to this time, all the resident \
DIS had been snuffy old gentlcmcl
with wigs, or pert young ones, wit
Eyeglasses.
A beautiful young lady, who wro
> prescriptions and compounded pill
and potions, was novelty In Il
town. and by 10 means a disagreeab