The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1884-12-06
Selett Story,
From the AryOsy.
DOCTOR BALL.
CHAPTER |.

| q
bic face, and large soul, and nothing al
all awe-inspiring about him. His eye:
shone through his glasses anxiously, a'
though in eager search of any good that
might be lying about among his parish
toner's He thought no evil of any MAI
and, in truth, no man thought evil oI
him.
He had been twenty years a curate, but
had never sighed for higher wage or be
trayed hankering for the fesh-pots ol
Egypt. Contented he was and happy
among his ungrateful old women and surly
old men. He went to bed at s o'clock, OIL
half-past; he never went into society, in
deed there was hardly any into which tc
90 in the benighted Irish village in which
he lived. He knew as little about the sub
tie changes that creep now and again into
fashionable life as the South Sea Islander
Dulcinea-a charming girl of eighteen
and great heiress, his friend and god
child-would often walk down to his cot
tage to see him, but he would seldom go to
her He would never dine from home
but sometimes he would take from Dulci,
meas hand the cup of tea she had ready
for him at all hours of the day knowing ii
to be his one carnal delight
His Rector was old and infrm, and for
the most part resided in Italy. In fact
the little doctor did all the work of In
chinabagga, which was the somewhat out
landish name of his parish.
Dulcinea, with an objectionable play
upon his name, had christened him her
Candy-ball; saying in excuse that she had
a right to give him any name she pleased
because he had given her hers-which did
not please her-at the font, many winters
ago now.
'Yet, after all don't think my soubri-
quet suits you; candy-balls are such hard
things she said tenderly, as she walked
with him up and down his garden-path one
morning in mid-winter, hugging his arm
the while, ''I'm sure have nearly smashed
all my teeth with them over and over
again. But you, with your tender heart,
could never hurt me or any living thing.
l know-and Gerald says it too-that you
are the best and dearest man in all the
world"
Having exploded this little shell, she
waited somewhat anxiously for the result.
"Now-now-I am afraid you have been
writing to Gerald again, said the Doctor,
stopping in his walk and regarding her
with what he believed to be severity.
ayes, 1 have" said Miss Vane, prompt
ly. 'Isn't it good of me to tell the truth
out quite plainly? I'll tell you something
else, too. If you say even one small scold-
ING word to me, | shall run away from
you, and you shan't see me again for a
week"
"Dear me, dear me, this is terrible y
said the Doctor, almost tragically.
Now Miss Dulcinea Vane, besides being
an heiress, was also the Bishops ward.
And the Bishop was sternly desirous of
doing his duty by her-which meant turn
ing a cold Shoulder on all needy young
men who paid their addresses- her,
Their name was Legion, so the poor Bishop
had by no means good time of it.
There had come nothing serious of it
all, however, until about six months ago,
when Gerald Wygram had descended upon
Inchinabagga as if from the clouds. He
said he had come for the fishing, which was
excellent in the neighborhood; but having
seen Miss Vane one day in the curate S
garden. his desire for trout suddenly died
a natural death, and his desire for some
thing else grew into a mighty longing. He
was tall young man, handsome, and,
worse than all, eloquent. He talked Dull
cinea's heart out of her body before she
woke to the knowledge that she had one
There was absolutely no fault to be found
with him beyond the fact that he was the
fifth son of a by-no-means wealthy baronet.
This was sin past forgiveness in every
body's eyes, except Dulcinea's. She was
reasoned with, expostulated with, threaten
ed. All to no good.
The Bishop in long letter exquisitely
written and perfectly worded-fnally COM
manded Miss Vane to cease to think again
of this Gerald Wygram (this clerk in the
Foreign Office, with paltry stipend) for
even one moment To which Dulcinea
sent meek reply, to the effect that as usual
her guardians behests should be obeyed to
the letter. She would, indeed, never think
of Gerald Wygram again for that insight
ficant portion of time called a moment, but
daily, hourly, until the family vault claim
ed her for its own Whereupon the Bishop
wrote to DIR. Ball, as her spiritual adviser,
begging him to bring her to proper frame
of mind, and to see, generally, what was to
be done.
|. 1t was wonderful how little could be
done; and Dulcinea would promise nothing.
So Sir Watkyn Wygram, Gerald's father,
was written to; and he, though nightly
amused at the whole affair, took the law
into his own hands, and ordered Gerald to
leave Inchinabagga without delay.
There were certain reasons why it was
best to obey this order, and so, with many
kisses and VOWS of eternal constancy, the
lovers parted. They felt their constancy
might be put to the test, as Dulcinea was
barely eighteen, and by her fathers will,
was not to come of age until her twenty
third year. FIVE years to wait An eter-
nifty to an impatient heart A month S
trial having proved to them that life with
out each other was an earthly purgatory,
they resolved to try one more expedient to
soften the man in the apron and the long
silk stockings.
"What is terrible? ?" asked Dulcinea of
the Curate, as they walked up and down
the garden.
''This correspondence with Gerald, when
you know the Bishop"
"Well, [ won't do it again" she said.
at would be stupid thing to write to
him, wouldn't it. continued Dulcinea,
s'when can see him every day ?"
s'See him!" DIR. Ball stopped short
again, and gazed at her over his glasses.
"Why, you don t mean to tell me that
eyes 1 do, indeed. He is staying down
at the white cottage just like last spring.
He says he has come for the fishing"
SFishing in January
''Well, if it isn't for that it is for some
thing else. And you can't think how nice
he is looking. And he is so fond of you
Do you know you were the very first per-
son he asked for
'Did he now !" said the Doctor, with a
broadly gratifed smile. Then he recol-
lected himself and brought himself back to
proper frame of mind with the help of a