The morning call., 1892-05-22
WHO WAS WRONG?

an very sorry to have TO say Il, yet l
must speak the truth, even Of her love
mostl and repeat what / have always
maintained, not only that she was CON-
pletely In the wrong, but that she ought TO
confess It.
We had loved each other all our lives.
Our fathers were old brother officers and
the closest Of friends, and each being
widowed and the father OF an only child,
what was more natural than that when
they left the service and her father settled
on his estate my father should take up his
quarters in pretty cottage on his friends
domains? What plans the two old fellows
used to make for their childreE's futuTei
l, Of course, should enter the old regiment {;
and she, Of course, should marry me. Alas !
l myself was the cause OF SCATTERING the
first dream; and subsequent events very
nearly put an end to all chance Of the
seconds being realized.
When had reached the age Of II, when
my brain ought to have been on fire for the
sound of drum and my sleep disturbed by
dreams of the giOTies Of war, my dear old
father discover ed-through an intoleTable
edor which peTvaded the house and was
traced TO a mysterious box in my bedroom
v
that q maceTating pot or the disSectiDg
table was more TO me than the extermina-
ton OF the entire British army. / often
sigh now as | think Of the sad headslIakings
the poor old gentlemen must have INDUCED
In as they discussed my extraordinary fancy
over their wine; and | know that my little
playfellOw, Avis. treated me 10 a good deal
Of contempt when 1t was confessed that
actually turned from ''the only profession
suitable for gentleman" and deliberately
chose that of mere sawbOnes.
Poor old fatherl He loved me too we'll to
oppose me; and one dull autumn morning
left the old home to enter upon my studies
at the University Of Edinburgh. Why did
! 60 to Edinburgh and not to London /?
Well, think 1t was partly because 1 had a
feeling that was breaking with all the old
life, and, therefore, wanted to put hundreds
Of miles between me- md the old home, as |
had put hundreds Of difficulties between my
father and the realization Of his old hope.
How well l remember my arrival that
cold, gray morning in the beautiful city!
left my luggage at the station and climbed
up the steep hill that leads from the land Of
steam and noise to the most beautiful street
1 have yet seen In my wanderlngs. How
grandly away to my left rose the magnif-
cent "Old Town." topped with its castle,
and to my right the gardens and splendid
buildings Of Princes street, while behind
me cOucbed the Lion" watching over the
safety Of the maiden ethyl How lonely l
felt among il all-hOW utterly lost! | think
that, If all had approved my design to be-
come doctor, [ should at that moment have
turned and gone back TO England and prom
fsed my old father to do anything he might
wish. But the vision of a child with long,
flowing hair, defiant face, and hands fast
clasped behind her, came across my mental
vision. she had refused to bid me goOd-by.
How she would triumph If / came home
again, my work undonel Mol Unjust 20 on.
30 plucked up heart and wandered on
alone In that unknown city, looking for a
place wherein TO lay my weary head. Be-
lore long l found lodgings, and had my
things removed to little street near the
tbeater. And not many weeks had passed
before was as happy as a king drinking
In all the new mysteries Of my chosen pro-
fession. ALL that first enthusiasm, why
doesn't 1t last? Why as years 90 on, does
there come in It's stead such utter loathing
Of each fresh stepP did not In the least
mind the disSectng-TOOm but the Oper-
ating theater-the hospital-the horror of il
ALL Well, it is over; and to that supercili-
Gus little figure with the flying hair and the
eIiBched hands do l owe the Obstinacy that
carried me through these four years OF sun
shine and shadow. Give in, when she had
said: II know you will bate IT, l hope
Won will give 1t upP Shall / give it up:
Neverl The thought Of the look of triumph
I should see in the eyes Of that young girl
acted as a spur to me.
worked on. / hardly ever went home,
for / was really keen on" my work, and
spent most of my spare time among the
foreign hospitals aud schools. Then Q
serioIs illness coming upon me just as had
completed my course made me decide on
INV recovery TO go as a doctor on board a
great ship sailing TO the other ends OF the
earth. So, thanks to one thing and another,
e was not till the slim, AWKWARD boy OF le
Mad changed into a great weather beaten
Ean of four or five and twenty that 1 once
more stood on the old walled terrace Of the