Warren sheaf. [volume] (Warren, Marshall County, Minn.) 1880-current, 1891-10-15
was very brief, containing only these

words:
"DovEcoT HOUSE, Tuesday
DEAR SIR: Please como and see me ut once.
Yours truly, BABs GRANTLEY."
''Babs," he repeated. what funny
name! Something nice about it, too
Some antediluvian spinster, suppose,
whose name is the only nice thing
about her. Imperious, too, by George!
Heard there We're new tenants at Dove
cot"
That is what John Drinks, NJ. D., rs
he signed himself, said before he saw
Miss Barbara Grantley, ind when his
wcll-appointed brougham rolled along
Jemimaville's only street and drew up
in the pretty garden in front of the
Dovecot house, our doctor, all uncon-
scious of impending fate, complacently
jingled a couple of gnineas in his trous-
ers pocket, with the agreeable expecta-
ton of soon adding third.
''Dr Dinks," announced smiling
little maid, in low voice; and, as the
doctor advanced with a door closing
behind him, it was to see that he was
in prettily furnished boudoir; while
reclining on couch near the fireplace
was lady, who immediately aclxnowl.
edged his presence by charming smile
and bow. And then?-at last! DR..
Drinks experienced that magnificent
thrill he had been waiting so long for
His heart thumped away, just as it
ought to; his legs trembled; he felt a
cold chill shiver up and down his spine;
his mouth opened and closed several
times in an aimless sort of a way; his
pulse-but, in brief, he rapidly expert.
enced every symptom which attends
and indicates the existence of the prop
er, the legitimate, the genuine love.
His happiness made him almost dizzy,
and he had to seize hold of one of the
chairs for support Yes. this was love;
there could not possibly be any mis-
take about it this time.
Vainly he endeavored to assume his
usual matter-of-fact, professional po-
likeness. His heart beat so he could
hardly speak.
MY patient, Miss Grantley, I pre-
sumo. Would you-ah, ha-,'' he be-
gan, advancing towards the couch,
with the assistance of the chair backs.
(How funny his legs felt to be sure.)
''Would you -ah, ha-," he repeated,
taking Miss Grantley's proffered hand
which little courtesy had the won
derful effect of sending a second edi-
ton of that magnificent thrill through
Drinks sensitive system.
Would you-ah, ha-" he solemnly
repeated, determined to have it out this
time, ''would you allow me to see your
pulse, and let me feel your tongue
Now DR.. Drinks had not the slightest
intention of being amusing, but, to his
infinite disgust, he discovered as soon
as he spoke that Miss Grantley was
greatly amused. She pressed her hand
kerchief to her face and bit her lips;
but, after a moments futile struggle,
she laughed outright, and evidently
only checked herself when he looked
so furious. In consideration for his in
jured feelings, she assumed an air of
mild but preternatural seriousness.
'It-it-isn't my pulse or my tongue"
she gravely explained; sits my ankle,
sir. and only slight sprain."
DR.. Drinks was excessively embar-
raised. He was not altogether stupid;
but really when we consider the sud-
denness of the thing it amply excuses
the exhibition of little foolishness
and nervousness. And then to be asked
to look at and touch her ankle!-and
very pretty little ankle it was, too!
Apologizing profusely, the doctor
carefully - very carefully-examined
the pretty little foot that just peeped
out from among the many folds of Babs'
skirts; and he vowed-to himself-that
he would gladly go on bathing and
bandaging his fair subject forever.
Babs certainly looked nice She was
small and dainty young lady with
bonny roguish blue eyes, and a wealth
of willful golden hair that frizzled over
her brow, and looked as if it had been
RULED by many sunny summer
breeze. DR.. Drinks noticed with keen
observant eye the curling sweep of the
long brown lashes that shaded the deli
cately-rounded cheek, and, for the first
time in his professional career, invalida-
ton struck him as the most pathetic
and attractive aspect under which he
had ever studied woman. He took
long time bandaging that little foot
and by the time it was finished he had
quite recovered himself His touch
seemed to do her foot good; and Babs,
watching the careful manipulation of
bandaging, and listening to the pleas
ant, cheerful voice assuring her that she
would be well again in few weeks.
felt that, strange though DR.. Drinks had
been on his arrival, she could have no
kinder or more slzillful physician. In
deed, by the time DR. Drinks took his
departure she had voted him 'squite
nice"
DR.. Drinks gave himself month to
accomplish the conquest of Miss Grant
ley's foot and heart; but before the
third week was at an end he had real
lied that he had undcrvalued his
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 and
where he liked, and, with censummate
conceit, he had lately thought the same
thing himself. Then, he reasoned, why
should he not choose a wife now, and
why not at Dovecot? 10 DR.. 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 DR.. Drinks glowed
and fourished in his own oplnlon-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