New Ulm review. (New Ulm, Brown County, Minn.) 1892-1961, 1892-09-21
THE CHILDREN'S WOOING

DR.. Brook was widower, and Mrs.
Enderby widow-and neither was
old and both were handsome. Mrs.
Enderby certainly never was hand
somer in her life than when, after
bearing with Mrs. Forsythe's inuen-
does as long as she could, she marched
up her own garden path into her own
house, with her head very we'll up. and
a beautiful angry blush upon her clear
cheek, and then, going to her own
room, locked the door, and burst into
q passion of tears from vexatlon pure
and simple.
After almo st driving Mrs. Enderby to
madness Mrs. Forsythe went next
into DR.. Brooks house. His pleasant
shaded grounds adjoined those OF Mrs.
Enderby, Mrs. Forsythe was good
soul, yet sensitive people fled from
her as from q pestilence. "Well girls"
she said to the doctors twin daugh-
tiers, as they received her in the draw
Sng-room with all the formality of
their Is years, $50 you'vegota neigh
Dor in your new home. I'll be bound
your father'll be over to call soon"
The two girls were as alike as twins
usually are. They had soft, gray eyes,
like their father, and flowing com
plexions in which the color came and
went. Janet looked at Dolly, and
Dolly looked at Janet. Their lips
trembled.
"Papa-does not consult us-where
he wishes to CALL" said poor Dolly,
vainly trying to show some spirit on
the occasion.
eve have perfect confidence in pa
pa" spoke up Janet: boldly.
"Ah, my children, you don't know
widows-and widowers.' s#E
Mrs. Forsythe did not drive the two
young girls to their bedrooms to cry
furioUsly, but when DR.. Brooke came
home to his midday dinner from his
round of visits, Dolly flew at him and
kissed him with a strange passion.
Something was the matter with his
girl the Doctor saw.
What is it?" he asked tenderly,
pressing her soft cheek to his.
"N-nothing," said Dolly, while
tears rushed to hereyes
'I'll tell you what it is, father" said
Jack Brooke, aged 16, big, ungainly,
afraid OF nothing on earth, and always
fighting, but who never has given his
father cause for anxiety in his life.
S'It's that old Forsyt the woman. She's
been here telling the girls you're"
Jack hesitated; he wished to put it
respectfully-"that you're spooning
all oyer the widow next door and
what a dance she will lead u.s."
Dr. Brooke was the soul Of courtesy,
but at this he roared:
''Confound that Forsythe woman!
HIRE, you fellow, 60 and tell the house
maids and Thomas she's not allowed
to set her foot in this house again.
III not have her worrying and teas
ing you. And I-a-have no intention
-of-er-oh, hash it ALP
That was much substantial comfort
to the girls. Their pretty faces cleared
up, and at dinner they squabbled for
the privilege OF sitting next to their
father, it being the duty of one to sit
at the head of the table. ~
The Doctor had a good way to drive
in the country that afternoon, to see
a, patient, and so he had leisure to
cogitate over the Forsythe incident.
1t was a. shame, the Doctor thought
bitterly, that the old woman would
not let him be in peace If he were
what is vulgarly called a marrying
man, it might be excusable, but he
had been the most prudent and cir
cumspect OF widowers, albeit he was
not yet 4O-was the leading doctor in
Compton, and was uncommonly we'll
Off. The Doctor had q dim and un-
acknowledged feeling that liberty was
too sweet to be trifed with. He had
never really been a free man in his
life until Amelia's death. He had
married Immediately uponhis gradu-
alton. The dead and gone Amelia, it
must be confessed had been nag
ging sort of q woman. She was
clever in her way, and by wheedling
and whining had accomplished things
she never could havesdone by openly
and boldly fighting for them. Amelia
was always protesting her willingness
to give up her own way. Only she
never gave it up. The Doctor was a
victim to that petty tyranny which is
exercised by q small, weak, petty
woman, subject to headaches, over a
big-hearted, big Drained man. When
Amelia died the doctor honestly
fancied himself heArt.broken.
DR.. Brooke drove two good horses
to his buggy, and this particular after
noon he preferred to handle the reins
himself. He tickled the TANKS of his
trotters with the whip in a way that
made them fly over the road, while he
groaned in spirit. Nobody could say
that his girls lacked care. An elder
ily woman, much above the grade OF a
servant, was house-keeper and attend
ed the girls as a kind of duenna The
Doctors married sister, who lived in
Compton, selected their clothes and
was readyto take them to lectures and
concerts whenever their father bought
the tickets DR.. Brooke thought he
had successfully solved the problem
Df how to bring up his motherless girls.
Besides there was so much intimacy