The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1886-05-05

singing before, and as for giving up tn
house when I've just got settled, and palo
years rent, connot think of it. be
!ieve if could speak with him we nigh
come to some understanding. Iwon't g
to his house, but I'll watch an oppor
tunity to meet him on the street."
Fortune favored her design. AS she
was preparing to leave the house the mex
morning, she spied the doctor descend
ing his own stoop: and moment latel
she followed his example. He had passec
on few steps, but hurrying after hin
she laid one hand on his arm.
Turning quickly, DR.. Nelson looked
down at the little, dimpled, cherry
checked woman, not higher than his
shoulder.
"Wcll, MADAME he said, interroga
lively.
Excuse mel" faltered the lady, bel
carefully prepared and effective little
speech slipping from her memory IN the
most treacherous manner, and leaving
her at the mercy of the present insplra-
ton. Il want to ask you if we cannot
be friends, and disprove that disagree
able adage that two of trade can never
agree2'"
Dr. Nelson's handsome eyes opened
wider than e:er. 81 beg your pardon,
madam do not understand you; mex
plicable2" he replied.
'Lct me introduce myself" continued
the lady, raising one hand toward the
house she had just Quilted, in window
of which modest sign bore the name OF
Gilmore Morrow, NJ. D."
The doctors eyes travelled mechanically
in the direction indicated; then he shook
his head again.
II don't understand It'll" he repeated.
'T have taken special pains to keep
Muffet indoors, continued Miss Morrow,
earnestly. "And if my singing really
annoys you, I am even willing to discon-
tinue that; only"
"Annoy me1" repeated the doctor,
more and more hopelessly mystiied--
and, if his fine eyes spoke Alright, expe-
riencing another equally strong, but much
more agreeable sensation. g! cannot
conceive it possible that anything you
could or would do could annoy me2"
A deepening of the dimple in the iady's
pretty cheek was her only comment upon
that part of his speech, as she con-
tinued:.
"You certainly seem to have consid-
cred me avery disagreeable neighbor, sir,
Judging from the tone of this letter."
''Letter!" repeated the doctor with a
gasp. at the same moment taking the
offered document, and glancing over 1t:
How in the world did you get hold OF
this, MADAME"
1T was handed me by your servant
Yesterday" was the reply. ,
ooh, my good gracious" exclaimed
the doctor, actually red and pale by
turrs. ''My dear lady, who are you?"
"Your next-door neighbor, sir-Eli-
more Morrow, at your service!" was the
demure reply, although a new bright
ness was creeping into the bonny blue
eyes.
'"Next door9 Oh-why bless my
heart, I hadn't even noticed that the
house was taken! The fact is, Tve had
but one 'next-door neighbor' for the last
wear, and she has been such an uumiti-
gated nuisance that you cannot wonder
but pardon me! this is all mystery to
YOU. and certainly do owe you full
explanation, as we'll as an apology for
that stupid mistake of Bridget's! So you
have cat, too? I'll be bound it's very
different looking aad acting animal from
tho ill-favo:ed, ghoulish imp Of darkness
next door-the other way. 1mean" cor.
recting himself precipitately. "But.-"
II begin to see your mistake, and as
sure YOU in advance that you are quite
cxcusable!" said Miss Morrow, inter-
rupting this decidedly incoherent flow
of words. "And as we both appear to
be in hurry just now, suppose you
come this evening and lot US talk it over.
I will be home by o'clock. The place
is in order now, and as I have obtained
servant I have been able to leave my
shutters open for the first time"
81 will do so with pleasure" was the
response; then lifting his hat, the doc
tor walked off in in strange whlrl OF
emotions.
"The prettiest little creature ever
saw.-and doctor, too! What an i'd
lot T was not to notice that the house
was occupied! And to think that have
been abusing her all this time"
But if one were to recount all that
passed through the doctors mind it
would require volume. Suffice it to
saw that that evening found him COM
fortably ensconced in one Of the chairs
in Miss Morrow's parlor, listening
with unwearied pleasure and sat-
isfaction first to her lively con-
versation, and then to her singing-all
thought of any further explanation of
that ridiculous blunder being apparently
forgotten by both, for it certainly was
not alluded to from the time they met
until, on leaving, the doctor returned to
his fair colleagues invitation to repeat
his visit most hearty affirmative.
Those visits continued, moreover, with
unabatcd frequency, and about six
months after the first one, DR.. Nelson,
taking the little soft hand that made no
effort to disengage itself from his clasp,
said few manly, straightforward words
that brought a most charming combina-
ton Of bushes, smiles, and tears to Miss
Morrow's pretty face, followed, after a a
delicious little silence, with ''yes"
which told stwo of a trade had de-
cided to sagree" for the remainder of
their lives.-E. II. Hough, in 7id-bits.