The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1891-10-16

powers of surgery and fascination. The
sprain had certainly surrendered to his
skill, and, building his faith on dozen
or so of smiles and glances, he allowed
himself to entertain the agreeable be-
| lief that her heart had also surrendered
to himself. He had often been told
that he might choose a wife when aud
where he liked, and, wish Ccasumn.ats
conceit, he had lately thought the sains
thing himself. Then, he reasoned, why
should he not choose wife now, and
why not at Dovecot? To DIR. Dinks'
mind there was considerable-nay, in
disputable logic in his reasoning.
Babs always seemed glad to see him,
and she was wholly at ease with him.
Indeed, she was always so gay and
good humored that DIR. Drinks glowed
and flourished in his own oplnIon-that
opinion being that she was certainly
very much in love with him. True, she
some times laughed, and at such times
DR. Drinks experienced some difficulty
in divining whether it was with him
Or at him! But love is proverbially
blind, and the doctor determined to
chance his fate. He would propose to
her!
And then he fell into delightful
reverie, and pictured to himself the
scene. He would kneel by that little
couch by the fireplace and would ask
her in tender phrases would she be his
wife. And then he wondered would
his darling faint, or would she sink
gracefully into his arms and whisper:
Dear youth, l willr' And then III.
consummate delightfulness of it all
overpowered DR.. Drinks, and suggest
lively hugging the nearest armchair,
he mentally collapsed.
Dressing one evening with the
punctilious care born of long bachelor
life, and with many hesitating doubts
and fears, DR.. Drinks set out on an all
important visit to Dovecot house-a
visit fraught with matrimonial inten-
tons His progress was slow. 1t was
| just after the early tea of provincial
life, and several of his friends and ac-
quaintances were on the street and
many were the cordial greetings he had
to exchange with them. They after
wards remarked to each other that the
doctor was certainly strange in his
manner, and they hoped he hadn't been
-, and then they paused and finished
with a suggestive smile.
All unconscious of his friends levity,
he pursued his way, and as he came in
sight of Dovecot house he felt the by
no-means strange sensation that the
eyes of the world were upon him.
With as martial a step as he could
command, DR.. Drinks crossed the gar
den plot and instantly rang the bell
very, very tendcrly. He must not, he
thought, alarm his little darling.
81 shall find my way. You need not
trouble to come with me-" he said to
the smiling maid whose duty it was to
attend the door and announce arrivals.
Miss Grantley, | presume, is in the
same apartments"
''Yes, sir; but please, sir, she's en-
gagged just now
But the doctor did not hear. Slowly,
very slowly, he went up the soft car
peted staircase, and paused for brief
moment at the door before entering.
His heart had resumed its stentorian
humping; his legs trembled-al, of
course, in joyous anticipation of his
coming happiness. Leaning against
the architrave for support, he softly,
very softly, turned the handle and
opened the door. But, oh. what did the
sight which met his gaze mean?
Standing in the embrasure of the
window, with his arm about Babs'
waist, was tall and fair stranger! In
his other hand he held a small golden
hoop, which he was showing to her
Isn't it strange, darling?' DR.. Drinks
heard this tall, and fair and unknown
somebody say to-Babs, his Babs!-
isn't it strange, darling, that within the
little circle OF this ring there should be
so much happiness, and love. and hope
for you and |? You must wear it, dear,
and, wearing it, remember that our
love, like it, is without end. Babs!'
he exclaimed, ''oh! Babs, my darling
DIR. Drinks did not wait to hea" more.
Softly, as softly as he had opened it, he
closed the door, and SUNK down the
staircase like d convicted felon. Out
side he leaned against the gaS1en wall
and endeavored to pull together his
shattered energies.
shouldn't just like to dissect that
fellow, that's all!' he muttered. But
no, | wouldn't" he added, in the same
breath. "She-she loves him, and-and
that's something"
And then Dr. Drinks inclined his head
to the angle medicus and felt his pulse,
wondering whether, after all, that
magnificent thrill-that sudden sense
of rapturous delight-was not a tusHs
natUr9-a freak of fata!-John j. Col
Inns in Yankee Blade.