Fisherman & farmer. [volume] (Edenton, N.C.) 1887-19??, 1892-07-29

4
wild bird love me yet," he continued.
closing his rather thin lips with the ex-
preston of man who never admits to
his vocabulary the word fail. 'Her
very warmth and eagerness to sting me
shows some feeling, which IS far better
than cool Indifference"
Meanwhile, as he slowly retraced his
steps to the buggy, Edna cantered up
the avenue to her home, jumped from
her horse and darted into the house,
almost running against mild-eyed, silk
attired, elderly lady, who greeted her
with:
"Why, my pct, how flushed you look
Has anything gone wrongs"
"That horrid Dr. Grahamn' cried the
impetuous girl. "He always rubs me
the wrong way and rouses my temper.
Come, aunty," throwing her arms around
her neck and drawing her to a lounge,
s'come, coax, pet and talk nice TO me.
Tell me how good am and everything
sweet. I need it badly, for that old
bear has done nothing but scoId and find
fault with me. He thinks himself so
fearfully superior aud me simply silly,
Ignorant, pert miss. Oh! how 1 hate
him even since he made me take that
nasty medicine when l was sick. No
one else ever forced me to do anything
against my will"
"But dearie," interposed the aunt
mildly, she did it for your good to save
your life"
"Pshaw! Save ny life2 Most likely
he tried to poison me. l must have a
splendid constitution to stand the nause-
Gus doses he poured down my throat. l
don't believe in medicine. Nature
would work her own cures much more
quickly"
edna" said the lady, more gravely
than was her wont, sit pains me to hear
you speak so of the doctor. I know no
man more truly honorable, intelligent
and ambitious. He stands high in his
profession, has written several valuable
medical works, and though comparative
ly young, has won an enviable name and
fortune"
"Comparatively young" said the still
unappeased girl; she is double my age"
"But you are only eighteen, and even
double that does not make him very
aged. Though he may occasionally
chide, still he is very fond of you, and
know desires nothing better than to
make you his wife"
"He does the 'unladylike tomboy' far
too much honor to even dream Of such a
thing, but aforesaid tomboy declines his
generous offer with thanks" responded
Edna with satricaI humility.
CGOh - ho ooptiouo1 hor uo;oo
softening and nesting closer to her, 81
think I love Alphonso and he wildly
adores me. Just think of those lovely
luminous eyes of his and that darling
curling mustache. He is really irresisti-
ble"
''But can barely support himself, not
to mention wife," said her aunt, look
ing anything but pleased.
81 prefer love with a crust in cot
tage to gilded misery" cried the roman
tic girl, grandly Indifferent to the luxu-
rles which she had never lacked.
Excellent in theory" my child"
said the other, "but very unple asant in
practice, and the love that you count so
much on, how do you know that it is
genuine9 Have you any proof that it is
aught but protestation?"
''Oh, aunty," exclaimed the girl,
drawing back, really hurt, ''can you
doubt him, and am I not attractive
enough to win his love?"
eyes, my sweet child, you are worthy |
of the love of the best man living, but |
l am somewhat of a physiognomist, and |
do not feel the enthusiastic confidence |
in your cavalier that could admire. |
You are known, dear, as my heiress, and |
I fear that Alphonso is attracted by the
golden bait"
"You are cruel, unjust, unkind,"
sobbed the girl; she worships me. I |
am sure no mercenary thought ever en-
tered his head. You ought to hear the
beautiful poetical way he talks to me-"
Put him to the test, Edna, and if he
proves true, then will be the first to
interest myselfin his advancement.
Chow shall do 1t?" questioned the |
girl. 81 will follow your advice, but
for my own part will not wrong him
by the shadow of doubt"
Her aunt thought moment, then
said:
''I do not like to teach you to tell a
but in this case I think the
end justifes the means. do not want |
him to know you will be rich, so this
evening, if he calls, you might, in the
course of conversation, casually remark
that I have made will bequeathing my
entire fortune to several charitable insti-
but that. in case of your mar