West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1889-01-17
THE DOCTORS NEPHEW.
BY EMMA A. oprER.

BY EMMA A. oPPER.
Cora alighted from Philo Wilson's
high and narrow and somewhat rattlv
buggy, and sat down on a log with a
sigh OF relief, while Philo hitched his
horse TO a tree.
1t was not an enticing thing at best To
go to picn'c with Philo Wilson: but
the picnic itself was preferable to the
drive thither. There were distractions
At least, and, with good luck, a chance
Tor brief escape. But driving six
miles with him, making spasmodic at
tempts at conversation while he sat In
his usual open-monthed but tongue-tied
silence, tall and lank, uninspired and
uninsplring-driving with Philo had no
allevisting points.
Fairly at the grounds, then, Cora
shook out her white dress and straight
ened her chip bonnet and even smiled
little with the buoyancy of youth. The
picnic was large, she noted, gaily.
There were the older people gathered
sedately together among a group of
birches. 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.
'pl go over where the rest are, -" she
And though Philo, who was bit of a
despot under his phlegmatism, did not
look pleased, she hurried away.
The girls" were gushingly glad to
see her, after the manner Of gIrls.
''You look lovelyp' said Kate Miller.
''What did you bringP said Margy
Fuller. ''pve got 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.. Sanporn's nephewl"
The girls" did not look around-it
wasn't necessary. They had him already
wen hxed on their mental retinas, by
reason OF sundry furtive glances
handsome Young fellow, blue-eyed and
black haired, in loose Jacket and sand.
shoes and soft cap, who sat taking 70
Sadie Sanborn and sadie's beau at the
other end Of the platform. They burst
into a subdued inquisitoriaI chorus.
"Oh, do you know him2" We
thought, of course, he's relative. be-
cause he's with Sadie. " "Isn't he lovely
anyhow" ="
''Ie is very nice looking" said Cora.
falntly tinted as to her round cheeks
eyes, he's tho doctors nephew. He
was here last summer, but only for a
week or So and the doctor was in to see
father one evening, aud brought Mr.
Hill with him, and we got pretty well
acquainted. He'd run over and plav
croquet real often, and one day we
went
But little excited murmer inter.
rupted her
Hes looking at your ''He's bow.
ing 'Hos coming straight over here,
Coraw
SO he was, with the eager smile with
which young men have greeted pretty
ma ds since The world began, and with
an impatient, outstrotched hand.
Cora's fingers smartcd IN truth under
the pressure lt gave them.
Miss Gilman, he said, finding seat
beside ber land 1.-THE girls" edged away
hwod BY the nearer presence OF he
doctors nephew, ~ have been looking
for you, do you know / came only
yesterday, or you'd have seen me before
How are you, Miss 0ilman7 You look
Welil And tho croquot ground it
th6roi"
ayes, ips there, she said. smiling up
at him. (Philo had been buttonhoied
by Hank &C, at a safe distance.) sspve
improved, DR. Hill. Will you believe
itP5
'You {" he cried, in humorous alarm.
why, you used TO 'whitewash' me
every time as u was Wen play some
thing else this year, Miss Gilman-fap,
Or iackstones, OF something I'm proficient
inn
They laughed delightedly.
How nice he was she thouoht-so
bright and Jolly
sho was a little frightened to find
how we'll she remembered all about him
And he--shc couldn't tell what he was
thinking, Of cOurse-but he was looking
1T her with very eager eyes and amauner
almost excited. She dropped her own,
her checks pinker
~ remember II all, you see. What
good time We had, Miss Gilman, now
didn't we-the day we went on black
bcrrying2 You haven't forgotten it3
You had on an old blue dress and n
shaker and some gloves Of your fathers. -
Mr. Hill threw back his head IN bovish
glee. 'And We got ten quarts. too.
He grew suddenly sober. ~ did eniov
that week, Miss Gilmnn. I've lived II
over in my imagination often enough