Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1891-04-08
NARY'S BROKEN TROTH

nARYS BROKEN TROTH
When Mary Clarimont's engagement
was proclaimed to the world there en-
sued general expression Of surprise.
People generally are surprised at
matrimonial engagements. There is
always some cogent reason why things
should have been adjusted otherwise
why John should have married Joan,
and Peter should prefer Betsey. No
body was ever yet married to suit every
body.
But in Mary Clarimont's case it did
really seem as if the course of true love
had interfered seriously with the cur
rent of common sense and prudence.
Miss Clarimont was only one-and-
twenty, tall, imperial beauty, with
aewy black eyes, a skin as fresh as
'damask roses, and dark brown hair,
.coiled in shining bands at the back of
.her head. Moreover, Miss Clarimont
had career" before her. She had
Just graduated from Medfield Medical
University and taken out her diploma
as an NJ. ID.
''And only to think of it." said Aunt
10, bursting into tears of vexation and
disappointment, "that she must needs
go and ruin all her prospects bv getting
engaged to Harry NARROW, down in New
York {"
1T does seem strange, Aunt 10, when
I sit down and think of it," said Doctor
Mary, laughing and blushing. six
months ago my profession was all the
world to me. / neither wished nor
cared for anything outside its limits.
The future was all mapped out before
ne without let or hindrance; and
now
"Humph y growle1 Aunt 10. "Any
brainless idiot can get married and keep
a mans house and mend his shirts for
him, but you were made for something
higher and more dignifed, Mary"
Mary's downright eyes sparkled.
'''Higher, Aunt Jo? ?" said she. "More
,Jignified? There you are mistaken.
There is no higher or more dignifed lot
IN life than that of the true wife of a
noble husband"
.'Fiddlesticks said Aunt 10. "As
If every poor fool who was dazzled by
the glitter of a wedding ring didn't
say the same thing. You've disappoint-
ashamed of you. and that is the long
and the short of it."
Dear Aunt Jo," said she, 81 shall
MOI let my sword and shield rust, be-
lieve me. Harry has only his own tai
>ents to advance him in the world, and
it will be at least year before we shall
he ready to marry. In the meantime [
shall accept the post Of visiting physi-
clan to the Aldenbury almshouse and
practice my profession in Aldenbury,
Just the same as If there was no engage
ment."
Il wish to goodness there wasn't,"
said Aunt 10. 81 tell you what, Mary,
[ don't fancy that smiling, smooth
EongUed young man of yours, and L
never shall"
Still DIR. Mary Clarimont kept her
temper.
II am sorry, Aunt Jo," she said,
pleasantly, 'but [ hope that you will
eventually change your mind
Il used to keep thread-and-needle
store when [ was young woman" re-
marked Aunt 10, dryly, "and [ always
could tell the ring of counterfeit half
dollar when a customer laid it on the
counter. | could then, and | can now
and L tell you what, Mary, there's base
metal about Harry NARROW"
92r. Mary bit her lip.
Perhaps. We will not discuss the
subject further, Aunt 10, +" she said, with
quiety dignity, and the old lady said no
more.
'.Aunt 80 is wrong" persisted the
pretty young M. d. to herself.
''Mary is making fool OF herself!'
thought Aunt 10.
Aldenbury was a pretty manufacture
ing village, with a main street shaded
by outrageous naples, a west end, -
where people who had made their for
tunes lived comfortably in loomy old
houses, surrounded by velvetiawns and
terraced gardens, and an least end, !"
where people fought desperately and
net always successfully to keep body
and soul together on the merest pit
1anco.
And little way out of the village the
.almshouses, built and endowed by a GER
tain smuggling sea captain, whose con-
science had pricked him during his lat
ter days, raised their gray stone gables
20 the sky, and made picturesque
background to the landscape.
Dr. Mary Clarimont mace something
of a sensation at Aldenbury. Up to
this time all the resident Nj. DIS had
been stufy Old gentlemen with wigs, or
pert young ones with eyeglasses.
A beautiful young lady who wrote
prescriptions and compounded pills and
potions was novelty IN the town, and
by no means disa2reeable one. Peo-
Die rather liked the idea, once they had
convinced themselves that the lady
doctor understood herself and her pa
tients.
And the poor old people at the aims
house grew to love DIR. Mary, and listen
with eager ears for the sound OF her car
riage wheels over the blue gravel drive
(Which led up to the portlcO.