The great West. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1889-18??, 1890-01-03

would not shine in Guys eyes.
"But I say, Dorcas, how old are
your"
"Rather young, I am afraid, Guy
only nineteen
"And am fourteen, Dorcas. Will
you wait seven years for me?"
9 "Guyv"
II shall be twenty-one then, and
my own MASTER" eagerly added the
boy; "and I'll work like slave to
get good profession, and if you will
marry me, Dorcas, I'll make the best
husband that ever was to you, for
I'm desperately in love with you,
that am"
Dorcas burst into laughter.
"Guy," she said, "what child you
are"
''But you do love me, don't you?"
eyes, of course I love you; but not
a bit more than l do Cecil Parker or
little frankie Gaines"
"Dorcas!''
'Well, trifle more perhaps, be-
cause I've had all the care of YOU
these four weeks, and you've really
behaved very decently, but"
II won't, Guy"
"We're engaged, all the same"
said Guy, with a deep sigh of relief;
cts bargain. And now you may
get me my Cruel"
eyes, Mr.. Paley," said DR.. Defer,
with a nod OF his specialized brows,
chat wild boy of yours is different
And the infirmary nurse has done it
all. Not to mention the credit the
doctor gives her for keeping down
the fever and managing the trouble
some splints. He was the worst boy
in the school. I don't mind admit
ting to you now that I was contem-
plating expelling him from our men,
bers.'
"Guy always was a wild sort of
chap" admitted Mr.. Paley. "But
his aunts spoiled him. He never had
any bringing up to speak Of"
''But this illness seems to have
exerted a wonderful influence over his
moral nature" added DR.. Defer.
"And really think Dorcas has done
it all. Her influence has been won
derful."
"She deserves a greae deal of credit
am sure, said Mr.. Paley. II should
like to see her and thank her. I've
brought a few presents for her-a
warm shawl, silver snuff-box and a
black stuff gown
DR.. Defer gasped little.
"She-I don't think she cakes
snuff" said he feebly.
"All these nurses do"
"Yes-but there she is now"
The door opened and Dorcas Wynn
ter came in, carrying a student-lamp,
which she had just filed and trimmed
anew.
DR.. Paley dropped the silver snuff
box in astonishment.
II beg your pardon, am sure!'
stammered he.
And when the doctor suggested
that the nurse had better accompany
young Guy on the journey home she
assented without remonstrance.
''Nurse, indeed!'' said Miss Sophro-
liza Paley, a quaint high-featured
damsel of fifty. GAS if a pretty sim
pering chit of a thing like that could
understand anything about nurs-
ing!"
"She does, though" said Guy.
"She's a brick, Aunt Soph. And I
don't believe I should be alive now if
it wasn't for her."
"You are quite well enough by this
time to dispense with services" said
Miss Sophronia. "A boy that eats
the quantity ofmuffins and plum jam
that you did at tea last night cannot
call himself an invalid any longer.
She has been here a month, and"
"But she's not to go away for all
that, Aunt Soph," said Guy, who
was devouring roasted chestnuts like
a dragon. "Ask papa. She's to be
Mrs. Paley one of these days and"
"Mrs. Paley!' Aunt Sophronia
turned green and yellow. otis come
to that, then, has it? Well I've sus-
pected it this some time. And all
I've got to say is"
"Seven years from now" said Guy,
with his mouth full of chestnuts, II
snail De UWenUy-One, ana she Will be
twenty-six. Not enough difference
to signify. And" he uttered with a
grin, as his aunt f1ounced wrathfully
out Of the room, you'll get your
walking ticket, old lady, when I'm
married! I'd as soon have deaths
head and bones around the place any
time"
He was sitting curled up in the
easiest chair in the library, reading a
book, half an hour afterwards, when
the door opened, and his father came
in.
Something in the paternal glance
and movement struck the boy.
II never saw father look so young
and bright BEFORE" he thought.
"Something must have pleased him
very much. Perhaps aunt Soph is
roipr tn marry Como old fnru nr