The Appeal. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. ;) 1889-19??, 1890-01-11
NOT ROMANTIC.
The Doctor Met and Defeated on
His Own Ground.

The Doctor Met and Defeated on
His Own Ground.
Miss Dora Dwight on her thirtieth
birthday, received the first love-letter
of her life-the first offer of marriage
1t was handed into the dormitory of the
''Physicians' Orphans Home"-not, as
may be supposed, a home for the Or
phans doctors have made, but for the
children of deceased medical men. Miss
Dwight was matron there, and at the
moment was changing the pillow-cases
before the wash. -.
81 suppose it's about Johnny Gilroy
and his swelled knee" said the serv-
ant. s'Doctor Emory seems to think it
wuss."
Miss Dwight, however, waited until
the girl was gone before she opened the
note. Then, not greatly to her surprise,
she read the words:
MY DEAR DoRA-You have known me since
you were baby. Do you like well
enough to marry me? OF course, you and
have given up romance long ago. I have
had two wives. You must be thirty-two or
three. ["Just thirty said Dora to herself !;
ilo - siAIy-nlne. lou Will greatly I'M
prove your position by marrying me, and
always liked you. Please meet me in the
garden after hours. hope to find you un
der the willows. Yours, hopefully,
B. EMORY.
It was not love-letter calculated to
f1atter the heart of woman of any age.
At first she said: 81 will refuse him"
Then she remembered how good and
kindly he was. Il will accept him, :"
said she, "but no romance shall be in
like stone. He shall have the sort of
wife he wants."
1t was early when the door-bell
changed, and foot crossed the long
passage, and ceasing to echo on the
painted floor, struck the stones. Earlier
than she expected him, but she was
ready for him under the willows in the
garden.
81 am glad to find you here" said
deep, old voice. II thought you would
be sensible enough to do what asked,
You have read my note carefully? Yes?
Well, imagine that say to you again
what wrote. I await your answer with
anxiety"
She looked at him, and he saw that
she smiled in an odd, embarrassed way.
'Will you marry me, my dear?" he
added. II see I must make it easier for
you to speak,
''It acas little hard to begin,'' she
said.
1.-The usual reason moves me-" he
said. ''I'm in love with you. think it
best to marry again, and I know no one
like you-no one. I've had two wives
before, l admit However, neither of
them complained of me, believe.
have a very nice home, and, really, it
will be very much better position for
you than being matron of an institution.
You do it admirably, but hate to see
you here. Your father was older than
/, but we were great friends. I think
he would advise you to say YES"
She put her hand upon his arm.
81 am very practical woman" she
said. IF marry you I forfeit good
position that may be mine for hfe-an
independent position. It is dangerous. :"
''My dear, you'll have half of all that
is mine; and I'm not poor"
''You don't think me young, I know"
she answered. "Who thinks a woman
young at thirty? But you have four
sons, hard, business men, older than I.
They'll not approve of the MATCH
They are not at home; it can't mat
ter" said DR.. Emory.
But, said Miss Dwight, with cruel
distinctne IS, ''the trouble will come
when you die. You have made mis-
take; you are older than poor father.
If you leave me widow, your sons will
make every effort to take every thing
from me; shall be left with nothing,
my place gone, my habits of industry,
my briskness. I make no doubt YOU
have heard of such cases; have.''
The sutton sat-and who can marvel
at it?-stricken quite dumb by this
speech. At last he gasped:
''You are candid"
II am she answered-s'I am, indeed.
Now is your time. You can take back
your offer, DR.. Emory. Every thing can
be- as it was before. I'll tear up your
letter; I am content that all shall re-
main as it isl
''But, them" he answered, II am not.
After all, all you say is only true. I
can face the music, l hope. My answer
is this: Marry me, and I will make a
will, leaving you every thing, on QUO
wedding day"
''That would be unjuSt," she said. s'It
would be will to be contested. Leave
me home and an income" She named
the sum sufficient to keep it up
''That is moderate-sensible. And you
will say yes" he said. II promise, of
course, shall make it better than that.
still leaving my sons 10 cause for COM
plant; bat it is not my fault that we
are not more romantic
"Let the romance come afterward, if
it can," said Miss Dwight. g..
After this, they walked about the
garden for awhile, and the day of the
wedding was set, leaving time to find a
new matron for the Establishments. Miss
Dwight was certainly, as domestics say,
"bettering herself" but she was not
elated.
In fact, little regret stole into her
heart as she walked about the place
where she had been so independent, so
respected: and wondered whether she
should be happy in the future.
AT least, she said, with degree of
bitterness, II matched him with his
romance is out of the question between
two like u.s. Matched him, and went
further
The bell tinkled in the hall lust as
supper time was over that evening, and
in few moments a servant came to
call Miss Dwight.
''It's gentle man; he don't know qoho
!, q MO n re- ;, cho coil ssSor.a