The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1892-03-25

will be appreciated, feel sure. 1t has
been long hard struggle, but / think
brighter days are in store for u.s."
Then Colonel Pride came away.
"An' this" said Benson slowly, ''is
the doctor we air goin' to run out!"
"Who says sO?'' demanded Ike Eos
dick, briskly.
No one answered.
When next the prominent citizens met
in conference in Colonel Pride's office it
was upon the afternoon that found DR..
Harry so far recovered that he had been
able TO leave jeans modest little house
and walk weakly over to his own office.
Colonel Pride was reticent and i'll at
ease, Hank Fanshaw taciturn, Banning
and Benson well-nigh dumb, and Ike
Fosdick grumpy almost to pugnacity.
Gentlemen" began the colonel, awk-
wardly, 1--WE have canvassed this subject
thoroughly, and-er-ah--
81 reckon" agreed Fanshaw.
"And-er-" continued the colonel.
shave reached the conclusion that in
considering the interests of our fellow
citizens we-er-cannot discriminate
We-er-"
''The case stands thus" went on the
embryo legislator. islands thus-er-
Islands this away" broke in Benson,
steady. poor girl, tryin' her best to
make a livin' for herself an mother
kin do it, too, if it want for opposition.
If she has to go-I-er-only her dear
Lord knows whatll become of her an
the little mother! I-I-"
And there he stuck,
Opposition" began Banning, usually
the most taciturn of men, taking up the
thread that Benson had dropped, kin
make start somewhere else. A man
kin always do that, but little girl"
And Banning stuck.
"But Harry" said Colonel Pride, in
an almost accentless way.
Harry" added Hank Fanshaw. 81
reckon we love himw
And Fanshaw never spoke truer words,
Love him? I've; they loved him with
the deep, quiet love of strong men.
but" began Colonel Pride.
"But Harry II have to gor' uttered Ike
Fosdick, sternly.
And the others wagged their heads.
DR.. Harry was not at his Office when
the prominent citizens, marching slowly
and dejectedlY, reached it. They shuh-
ed solemnly over to Jean Ransom's
cottage. At the gate Colonel Pride, the
embryo legislator, held back. They had
decided to break it to him gently.
II can't tell him, boysv' he said,
hoarsely.
"Pn tell him." growled Ike Fosdick,
with desperate energy.
The cottage door was open. As they
crowded up to it there was flutter with
in, and Fosdick's astonished senses told
him that he would have been warranted
in taking oath that DR.. Harry's uninjured
arm had been around DR.. Jeanie's
waist.
Boys" cried DR.. Harry, heartily, the
while a decided dash of red shone in his
pale cheeks, but less decided than the
red that dyed Jeanie's face, 81 am glad
you have come. Wei should not have
told you for some time yet but now you
may as well know the happy news, for 1
know your congratulations will have the
hearty ring of truth. Jeanne has promis-
ed to become my wife. /"
'WhoOpr' roared the sphinx-like Ban
ming. THAT settles itallm
Dr. Harry did not understand him, but
was too polite to inquire
Ladies' and gentleman, er-er-" be-
gan Colonel Pride, grandiloquently, as
Harry, right before them all, placed his
hand in that of blushing Jean. ''Er-er
dear boy an girl, we do congratulate
you, and-er-"
Come away, Prider' whispered Ike
FOsdick, hoarsely. Come out where
we kin all yell?"
When next the prominent citizens gath
cred at the Office of Colonel Pride that
gentleman felt called upon to say some
thing.
"While have always maintained, "he
began, that woman should not go out
side of her proper sphere in life, =
But her proper sphere is jest where
she blame pleases to go!" broke in Ike
Fosdick.
81 reckon it isr' agreed Fanshaw.-
Frank LeSLie's Illustrated WeeklV.