Thomas County cat. [volume] (Colby, Kan.) 1885-1891, 1886-12-16
THE DOCTORS WOOING.
He Married a Woman Who
Never Said She Loved Him.

Never Said She Loved Him.
Kit:ie Markham was the merriest
prettiest, most provoking daughter of
Eve that ever existed-at least 1
thought so-though, perhaps, was
not an impartial Judge, for 1 must
confess was deeply in love with her.
and, in fact, doubt if could remem-
Der time when was not in love with
her. 1t certainly was not when a
youngster of twelve took her under
my especial charge at school, feeling
prouder of her than would now of a
mine of gold; nor when a tall, awk-
ward boy of sixteen, l first ventured
to ask for her company home from
singing-school; or still later, when,
after four years absence from my ma
tive town. returned and put out my
sign-Willard H. Campbell. NJ. DIN
the little Office where DR.. Banks name
had hung from time immemorial.
Culverton was a remarkably healthy
place. or else the good people were
fearful of trusting their lives in the
hands of such young scapegrace as
they had known me to be in my
younger days-at least, l knew my
horse and buggy were more frequent
ly employed in carrying Kittie Mark
ham to ride than they were in profess
sional business, and it is certain more
of my time was spent in Deacon
Markham's pleasant parlor than in
either the study or practice of medi-
cine. Some of the neighbors slyly re-
marked that must have very sick
patient there to require such frequent
visits. One thing is certain if / had
10 patient there, all the patience l
ever had was required there at times,
for OF all the tantalizing little witches
that ever fascinated and provoked a
poor fellow cut of his senses, Kittie
Markham was the worst
There is an old adage about the wild
ness OF minister's sons and deacon's
daughters. and was about to say be-
Ileyed ii was true. but | neither knew
nor care about ministers sons, this one
deacon's daughter was enough for me;
for wilder, saucier romp never pro-
vOked the scandal of good old New
England matrons. And here was L
Willard II. Campbell. NJ. D.-standing
six feet two in my stocking feet, big
enough to have known better, that is
sure-led about by that little elf, COM
ing and going at her every beck and
call, like the great simpleton that was,
for here had been playing '.yours de-
votedly" for six months, and. so far as
l u II
than at first. Open hearted and candid
as she was in all other subjects, let me
but speak of love or marriage, and
might as well talk to a stone wall or
hitching post for all the sense would
get from her. No matter how cautiously
might approach the subject she was
always ready with some Otf-hand an
swer, as far from what desired as the
tropics from the poles; until I was al
most in despair, but man-fashion, more
eager after every failure.
''All is fair in love and war''-ai
least l thought so, and resolved to try
the result of strategy on my willful
little lady love. One fine morning as
we We're about starting on a horseback
ride. and l was assisting Miss kittie
into the saddle, her horse become very
restive-of course the jagged bits of
iron had cautiously inserted beneath
the saddle had nothing to do with it,!
By the time she was fairly seated he
was rearing and prancing at an alarm
ing rate; finally throwing her from his
back; of course caught her before she
touched the ground No sooner was
she in safety than with deep groan
staggered back against the fence, my
right arm hanging helplessly by my
side
Kitty sprang forward, her usually
merry face white with fright
20. VIII" she said. anXiously. ..that
terrible horse has broken YOUR arm:
what will you do? I'm SO sorry.''
How like a rascal felt at sight of
her distress; but was not going TO give
it up then. SO l answered with another
terrible groan-''lt is nothing, dear
kittie, l would suffer thousand times
more to fesl | had saved your precious
life.''
Poor, poor VIII. what can l do for
you?" she said, in such touching ac-
cents that half repented.
The end justi:ies the means" I
thought. The end accomplished GER
tainly did. My answer was in voice
low and faint. as if were diving.
''Oniy tell me that You love me,
Kite darling; it would soothe NV
pain more than any thing else in the
world" And then ike G grea. simple
ton put that broken right arm around
her and never discovered my mistake
until she sprang suddenly away from
1lc.