The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1886-02-06

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So he disappeared into one of the all
coves of the library, with his medical
quarto and his memorandum book, and
set TO work in good earnest.
But he had not fairly entered into
the merits of the mlcrobe question
when the twitter of sweet girl voices
from the adjoining alcove struck upon
his ear.
"Oh, Clissy Clarken' said one. 81
called for her, and she wouldn't come.
1t was baking day, and there was
Clissy up to her elbows in -four and
spices"
"Well, neverr' said the other with
giggle.
"Oh, she does all the housework,"
said the first speaker, scornfully, 'like
any hired servant. Even the fine wash
ing-for they only keep Que little bound
girl-and Mr.. Clarke won't wear a shirt
unless Clissy has ironed it."
"How does she find time for her
music and oil painting?" asked the
second.
"Oh, she rises at dawn. She says
the best time of the working-day is be-
fore breakfast. She finishes the house
work, sews for the family"
"Makes all her own garments, don't
she?"
"Yes, and her mothers, too. That
satin dress she wore at the party last
night was her grandmother's bridal
gown made over, and the pearls were
borrowed from Miss Layton. 1t don't
cost her anything to dress. She'll
take the horridest old affair and re-
model it with scrap of ribbon or
panel of velvet until you'd think it was
made by French dress-maker. de-
clare, l wish had her knack, Papa is
always grumbling about my bills. But
that amt all. DO you know, she gives
Bessie Layton music lessons, and earns
quite nice little income for herselfP
And she writes book reviews and things
for the newspapers, and keeps Mr.. Clarke
in books that way"
"Dear mep' said the other, with a
yawn, "who at the party last night would
think it?"
"Humph" remarked the other
She'll live and die an old maid, see if
she don't. Such girls always do.
Come, here are our novels at last.
Let's CO."
The perfu:ned silken 1ounces rustled
out of the library; the sound of chatter
ing voices died away, and still DIR. Dale
sat, with his pencil in his hand, staring
down at his memorandum book. 1t
seemed that the gloomy veil which
dropped between him and his future life
were lifted. In his heart he could have
blessed the agile tongues of these idle
gossiping girls.
Clissv, then, was no mere butterfly,
but was true, noble-hearted working
girl!
He carried back the ponderous medi-
cal tome to the assistant librarian.
Much Obliged" he remarked sue
cinctly.
Got through with it pretty quick,
haven't youp" said the assistant llbrar-
ian.
'ies, I've had very good luck this
morning." said the doctor.
lie went straightway to the cottage
on the outskirts of the village, where
Clarissa Clarke lived. An apple-cheeked
little brother came to the door to answer
the knock.
"Hes Clissy's at home" said he.
''But she's fixing a chicken for papa's
dinner. And then she has got my
trousers to mend. Clissy can't come up
stairs"
But DR.. Dale laughingly pushed his
way across the threshold.
III come in and watt" said he.
And in five minutes Clissy came in,
looking even pret;ier, If it were a pos
sible thing, in her calico morning dress
than she had done in the white satin and
pearls on the evening before.
How he managed to speak out the
dearest wish of his heart, DR.. Dale
never quite new. He had prepared
form of words on the way, but they
vanished utterly out of his mind when
the eventful moment came. He could
only remember that she stood before
him in all her fresh, young beauty, like |
human apple-bloSsom, and that he
loved her.
But after he had her hard in his,
one arm caressingly thrown around
her waist, he told her Of the morning
occurrence.
Until then, dearest" he said, "I
looked upon you as sort vf unattainable
luxury-a star TO be worshiped afar of |
only. l knew that 1 was nothing more
than a village doctor, with more am
bition than practice-for the present, at
least But now feel that may VEN
ture to hope. Will you run the risk of
sharing my scanty fortunes, ClissyP'
"Willingly, Junius," she answered,
looking up into his face with her frank
blue eyes. "And TO tell you the
truth" she added, smiling little shy
ly, I'm almost glad that vou ara No.