Fisherman & farmer. [volume] (Edenton, N.C.) 1887-19??, 1889-01-25
THE DOCTORS NEPHEW.
BY EMMA A. OPPER.

BY EMMA A. OPPER.
Cora alighted from Philo Wilson's
nigh and narrow and somewhat rattly
buggy, and sat down on log with a
sigh of relief, while Philo hitched his
1orse to tree.
1t was not an enticing thing at best to
90 to picnic with Philo Wilson; but
the picnic itself was preferable to the
drive thither. There were distractions
1t least. and, with good luck, a chance
for brief escape. But driving six
miles with him, making spasmodic at
tempts at conversation while he sat in
his usual open-mouthed but tongue-tied
silence, tall and lank, uninspired and
MISUNDERSTANDING with Philo had no
alleviating points.
Fairly at the grounds, then, Cora
shook out her white dress and straight
ened her chip bonnet and even smiled a
little with the buoyancy of youth. The
picnic was large, she noted, gaily.
There were the older people gathered
sedately together among group of
5irches. Cora's father and mother were
among them, in black broadclcth and
alpaca, and they looked over at their
pretty daughter and Philo with placid
smiles.
They approved of Philo; he was
"'steady," and their practical concern
went no further. Cora smiled back at
them. And grouped about the long
board platform, where there would be
dancing later, were all "the girls"
Cora deserted the log.
"rIl 60 over where the rest are" she
said.
And though Philo, who was bit of a
despot under his phlegmatsm, did not
look pleased, she hurried away.
"The girls" were gushingly glad to
see her, after the manner of girls.
''You look lovelyw said Kate Miller.
what did you bring" said Marcy
Fuller. 'I've got an an gel cake, but it's
perfectly horrid! 1t isn't white a bit,
and the frosting-"
''You know it's splendid, Marcy" said
Cora laughing; yours always are. Isn't
that DR.. Sanborns nephewl"
1.-The girls" did not look around-it
wasn't necessary. They had him already
well fixed on their mental retinas, by
reason of sundry furtive glances-the
handsome Young fellow, blue-eyed and
black haired, in loose Jacket and sand
shoes and soft cap, who sat talking to
Sadie Sanborn and Sadie's beau at the
other end of the platform. They burst
into subdued inquisitorial chorus.
"Oh, do you know him2" We
thought, of course, he's relative, be-
cause he's with Sadie" 'Isn't he lovely,
anyhow
''He is very nice looking" said Cora,
family tinted as to her round cheeks.
'Ies, he's the doctors nephew. He
was here last summer, but only for a
week or so; and the doctor was in to see
father one evening, and brought Mr.
Hill with him, and we got pretty well
acquainted. He'd run over and play
croquet real often, and one day we
went"
But little excited murmer inter-
rupted her:
''He's looking at you'll" "Hes bow
ing" "He's coming straight over here,
Cora"
So he was, with the eager smile with
which young men have greeted pretty
maids since the world bsgan, and with
an impatient, outstretched hand.
Cora's fingers smaFsed, IN truth, under
the pressure it gave them.
Miss Gilman he said, finding a seat
beside her land 1.-THE girls" edged away,
awed by the Aearer presence of the
uoClOr nepue"). Il nave Deen looking
for you, d. you know? l came only
yesterday, or you'd have seen me before.
How are you, Miss Gilman9 You look
well! And the croquet grounds it
there"
''Yes, it's there, she said, smiling up
at him. (Philo had been buttonholed
by HrNk Lee, at safe distance.) 'pve
impr~sed, Mr.. Hill. Will you believe
itT'
'You" he cried, in humorous alarm.
''Why, you used to 'whitewash' me
every time as it was. Well play some
thing else this year, Miss Gilman-tag,
or jackstones, or something Pm proficient
in"
They laughed delightedly.
How nice he was she thought-so
bright and jolly!
She was little frightened to find
how we'll she remembered all about him.