The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1885-04-04

perpetually well because he had fresh
complexion and dimples in his cheeks.
She had savory herb teas and potions
which she produced when he complain
ed of feeling miserable, and she had
that blessing of all hypochondriacs, a
homeopathic box in the house.
There were remedies in that box for
everything; and it was pleasant to find
that when there was crawling sensa-
ton in your flesh, or kind of uneasy
feeling in your legs, there were daily
little globules to be had just suited for
your symptoms that to find yourself
very angry about nothing indicated
pulsatilla, and that even for unrequited
love there was medicine.
For two months and more Mr.. Pat
terson boarded with Mrs. Muntle, and
happier months he had never lived
through. Then he went back to the
city for few weeks, returning in urgent
need of more pellets from the medicine
chest, and stayed until the last pink
chrysanthemum was blooming on its
withered branches. He had grown SO
l5nd of his little room, with its white
curtains, and fresh grass bleached linen,
of the country good things, and of the
buxom Mrs. Muntle that he could not
bear the thought of parting with them
altogether.
After all why could he not buy a
house and try to get Mrs. Muntle to
keep it for him Perhaps she would.
He would offer high salary, and she
could have plenty of servants. Then,
indeed, he might have friends to dine
with him, and be as happy as possible.
If only he could approach his hostess;
showing her as he did so that he con-
sidered her his equal and lady, and
all that as she certainly was-a little
countriied of course, but clergyInan's
daughter, and the widow of country
doctor.
After much consideration he finally
mustered courage for the effort, and
walked into the front parlor and sent
the servant to ask Mrs. Muntle to please
step there for moment.
Gracious i thought Mrs. Muntle,
'what can he want p
= Then she blushed bri ghtly, settled
her necktie, took off her apron and
walked demurely in.
sBe seated ma'am,' said Mr.. Patter-
son. 'Sit here, please. Allow me to
sit near you, as l have something to ask
which may require some consideration.
'Oh, dear, it's coming ! said Mrs.
Muntle.
4 suppose, you know I'm man of
considerable means, ma a'am,' said the
old bachelor, fable to buy nice house,
furnish it we'll and live in it comfort
ably!'
so I've understood, Mr.. Patterson
said the widow.
'And of course it is pleasanter to
live that way than at a hotel said Mr..
Patterson.
Il should judge it might be- said
Mrs. Murttle cautiously.
you judge rightly said Mr.. Patter-
son, 'but you know bachelor must be
in the hands of servants if he keeps a
house. A gentleman don't want that !;
he wants lady to superintend things
for him-some one of taste and refine
ment, and all that. Common people
don't understand his feelings, and mer-
cenary servants are poor dependence.
4 know that, said Mrs. Muntle.
you are almost as much alone as l,
aren't you, Mrs. Muntle = said Mr.. Pat
terson coaxingly.
The doctor knew him. He's going
to do 1t, just as he said he would if he
ever did, said the lady to herself.
Aloud she answered: 'Well, sir, I am
pretty free, it 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 were to tell you that
l hated boarding houses, and wanted a
home, I think you would have pity on
me. I'll buy beautiful house, and
you shall have complete control of
everything; only to make my straw
berry shortcake for me all my life
He paused and looked at the lady.
THAT is delicately put, he thought.
Nor will you hire out for house-keep-
er, I fancy
Il amt romantic, though, said Mrs.
Muntle; 'but still, we amt young,
neither of us, and it gets to be just that
with the most sentimental after while.
Don't refuse me-, pleaded Mr.. Pat
terson.
well, Mr.. Patterson, I won't, said
Mrs. Muntle. I'm my own mistress,
and though I've never once thought of
a second marriage, why 1 think I'm
warranted in making one. And no
doubt l shall never repent, for l think
you've fine disposition, and under
stand your ways and tastes.
Mr.. Patterson listened. He saw
what he had done; proposed and been
accepted without having any idea what
he was about. He looked at Mrs.
Muntle; she was very nice and comely,
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 courting. So
1T-ne at once put his arm around Mrs.
| Muntle's waist, and said
THANK you, my dear. consider
myself very Fortunate
He wrote to his good doctor in about
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.