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


legitimate, and the all-sufficing love.
the love DIR. Drinks sighed for.
Its all matter of pulsation," the
doctor assured himself. IF you think
you're in love, feel your pulse. Cupid's
barometer is the thing to go by"
One afternoon about four o'clock DIR.
Drinks seated himself in his parlor and
passed his fingers thougStfH!!y through
his hair, wNi6h could not, even in
courtesy, be called auburn. He was
very weary waiting for that magniti.
cent thrill which he expected to ex-
perience some day, and he sighed pro-
foundly as he glanced round his rather
lugubrious parlor. How uncomfortable
and cheerless it was, to he sure; how
much it lacked the tender touches of
woman's hand. the charm of a woman's
presence. And the little, low arm
chair by the hearth there-when would
it be filled by the sweet little form
the unknown but coming somebody
DIR. Drinks loved to picture in it? How
very nice it sounded, to be sure! My
--little-wife-Wife -My-wce-wife
My
"a letter, sir"
1t was the doctors servant who
broke in upon his reverie. He frowned
as he lifted the letter carelessly from
the table. and opened it slowly. 1t
was very brief, containing only these
words:
"DovECoT HOUSE. Tuesday.
DEAR SIR: Please como and see me at 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 were new tenants at Dove
| cot"
That is what John Drinks, NJ. D., as
he signed himself, said before he saw
| Miss Barbara Grantley: and when his
well-appointcd brougham rolled along
| JemimaviIle's only street and drew up
in the pretty garden in front of the
| DOvpcOt house, our doctor, all uncOn-
scious of impending fate, complacently
| jingled couple of guineas i'll his trous-
ers pocket, with the agreeable eXpecta-
ton of soon adding a third.
DIR. Dinls," 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 a couch near the fireplace
was lady, who Immediately acllnowl-
edged his presence by a charming smile
| l, M,
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 q
cold chill Shivcr up and down his spine;
hi, 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
or, 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 uldIlCl -Ol-ldCl, JlOlCSSlOlldl i)O-
likeness. His heart beat so he could
hardly speak.
My patient, Miss Grantlty, l 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 surc.)
"Would you-ah, ha-," he repeated,
taking Miss Grantlcy's protfered 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 1t 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
| l1erchief to her face and bit her lips;
but, after moments futile struggle,
she laughed outright, and evidently
only checked herself when he looked
so furious. In consideration for his in
| iured feelings, she assumed an air of
mild but preternatural seriousness.
"It-it-isn' t my pulse or my tongue"
she gravely explained; Its 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 u
very pretty little ankle it was, too!
Apologizing profusely, the doctor
carefully very carefully-cXamined
the pretty little foot that just peeped
out from among the many folds of Babs'
skirts: and he vowed-to himse lf-that
he would gladly go on bathing and
bandaging his fair subject forever.
Babs certainly looked nice. She was
a small and dainty young lady with
bonny roguish blue eyes, and wealth
of willful golden hair that frizzlcd over
her brow, and looked as if it had been
rutfied by many sunny summer
breeze. DIR. Drinks noticed with keen
observant eye the curling sweep of the
long brown lashes that shaded the deli