The Red Cloud chief., 1885-10-23
| dicated p~ulsatilla, and that ior even I'm.

! dlcated pulSatiIIa, ana toSt1Os even IN
reguitei love there was a medicine.
For two months and more Mr.. Pat.
terson boarded with Mrs. Mnntlc, and
happier months n had eve lived
through. Then he went back 20 the
city for a few weeks. returning in ur.
gent need Of mor pellets FROM the
l~nedinc-chest. and staying until the last
pink chrvsanth-mum was blooming on
lis withcred branches. He had grown
curtains and fresh gras--bleached linen,
Of the country good things and of the
buxom Mrs. Muntle. that he could not
bear tine thought OF parting with them
altogether.
After all. why could he not buy q
house and get Mrs. Muntle to keep it
for him? Perhaps she would. He
would offer a high salary. and she
could have plenty Of servants Then,
indeed. he might have friend, to dine
with him. and be a. happy a possible.
If only he could approach his hostess.
showing her as he did ~ that he con
sidered her his equal and a lady-and
all that she certainly was; a little coun-
trlfied. OF course, but a clergyman's
daughter and the widow Of a country
doctor.
After much consideration he finally
mustered courage for the effort. and
walked into the front parlOr and sent
the servant tO4tsk Mrs. Muntle 10 please
step there for a moment
"~Gracious..' thought Mrs. Muntlc TO
herself; ..wha: can he want"
Then she blu,hcd brightly. settled
her nccktic. took OF her apron and
walked dcmurclv in.
BE seated. ma'am." said Mr.. Pattcr-
SOL '.Sit here please. Allow me TO
sit near you. Is | have something 10
ask which may require some considcra-
ton"
..Oh. dear. it is coming" thought
Mrs. Muntlc.
IL suppose YOU know I'm 4 man Of
considerable means, ma'am,' said the
old bachelor. liable to buy a nice house.
furnish it well and live in it c%OInforta-
bly,
$50 I've understood, Mr.. Patterson"
said the widow.
And. of course, il is plcasantcr 10
live that way than at 4 hotel, said MIR.
Paterson.
Il should Judge it might be-" said
Mr.. Muntlc. cautiously.
"iou judge rightly" said Mr.: Pat
tcrSon; but YOU know 4 bachelor
must be in the hand, of servants if he
keeps 4 house. A gentleman Doesn't
want that; he wants a lady to superin-
tend things for him-some one OF taste
and refinement and all that. Common
people don't understand his feelings.
and mercenary servants are 4 poor de-
p~cndencc.'
Il know that" said Mrs. Mun,le.
You are almost rs much alone rs |.
aren't YOU. Mrs. Muntle:?" laid Mr..
Patterson. coaXingly.
The doctor knew him. He's going
tc d. it Just a he said he would if he
ever did," said the lady to herself.
Aloud she answered: "Well. sir. | am
pretty free. il is true. All my children
are married we'll"
Il know money would be no object
to you." said Mr.. Patterson. ..You
have enough. But if | was to tell YOU
that hated boarding-houSes and
wanted a home. ! think you would have
pity on me. III buy 4 beautiful house.
and YOU shall have complete control of
everything: only TO make nv straw
berry shortcakc for me all my life
IL" paused and looked ut the lady.
That is delicatcly put" he thought.
"Now will YOU hire out for 4 house,
keeper. wonder"
Il amt romantic. though" said Mrs.
Muntlc; but still We amt young.
neither of Us, and it get TO he Just that
with the most sentimental after
awhile
Don't refuse me-" pleaded Mr.. Pat
tcrSon.
well. hIr. Patterson. / won't" said
Mrs. Mnntlc. I'm my own mistress;
and though I've never once thought OF
a second marriage. why | think I'm
warranted in making one. And no
doubt 1 shall repent. for | think
You've 4 fine disposition. and l under
stand your ways and tastes"
Mr.. Patterson listened. He saw what
he had donc-propoScd aud been ac-
cepted without having any idea of wha.
he was about. He looked at Mrs. Mum
tie. She was very nice and comcly and
ten years his junior, at least. if she was
forty. He could not have done a better
thing. and would be- married without
any troublesome counting. So he at
once put his arm around Mrs. Muntle's
waist and said:
Thank YOU. my dear. l consider
myself very Fortunate"
He wrote to his good doctor in about
4 fortnight's time. to tell him that he
had taken both his prescriptions; was a
married man. and intended To bring his
bride home about the first of the New
Year Itd-BaS.