The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1895-02-25
A BRIDAL PARTING.

Hattie Furman was great favorite
with the gentlemen, and her Partially for
the sterner sex was as great as theirs for
her. She was engaged to young DIR. Hart
ley, but he had one year more at the uni
versity before his studies were completed,
and his flanceo seemed nowise Inclined ito
mourn his absence. There were admirers
in plenty ready to take his place, and she
never lacked an escort to any of the neigh
borhood festivities. where she was always
the life and mischief of the party.
Then she would write o full history of
each affair to her absent lover, never for
getting to tell him how much she had en-
joyed herself, how agreeable Mr. So-and-
so had been, what pretty speeches Mr..
Such-a-one had made when she accepted
his escort for the next dance at tho ball,
land he's such an elegant Walter, yon
know" she added tantalizingly Tho
young doctors blood fairly boiled when he
read these missiyes and imagined some
other mans arms where he considered
mono but his had any right to be. Yet he
dared not protest. lie ventured once to as
sert his rights on his last vacation home,
and his ring had been offered him with
such promptness that 1t fairly took his
breath away.
IT don't want it. Iwon't take It," he
gasped.
Just as you like" replied Hattie
coldly. "I thought you were tired of me.
II you arc, just take back your old ring
Fred Fox offered me a nicer one last
week"
"Oh, Hattiep' was all the doctor could
say.
His grieved tone and white face touched
the girls heart and she burst out with:
"Oh, Frank, didn't mean It'll I'd rather
have your ugly old ring than all the other
rings in the world, and I'd rather have
you than all" Hero she threw her arms
around his neck impulsively, hid her face
on his shoulder and burst into tears.
Then, of course, he begged her pardon
and called himself brute, and she for
gave him and when he went away flirted
more than ever.
She was usually very prompt in fulfill
ing their compact Of writing weekly letters
to each other, but on two occasions the
weeks had made month before the
longed for letter came to the absent lover,
and then she made no excuse but that she
had been having SO much fun she had
quite forgotten to write
The young doctor really believed shc
only meant to tease him, yet he felt indig-
nant and mutually vowed that il the reins
were ever in his hands she should repent
her seeming heartlessness. 1t is a wonder
the poor fellow could study at all, but he
did at last graduate with honor.
Hattie seemed as proud as he of the
hard earned diploma, and tho young cou-
pie spent a delightful fortnight making
plans for the future and trying to decide
upon tho most desirable location for a
young physician to gain a lucrative prac-
tice and home for his bonny bride He
was far too manly to ask Hattie to link
her fate with his until he could offer her
homo that would in some degree approach
the comfortable one she would leave, even
If her parents had been willing for such
pr 'eeding.
While still undecided position was Of
fered him as physician and surgeon with
an exploring and surveying party that
were making a tour to the far northwest.
There was money in it, and the needed
practice without fear of competition or
failure. 1t seemed the chance of a life
timo and had been rendered him through
the influence of one of the university pro-
fessors, yet It would involve three years
separation from Hattie, and what assur-
dnce ii;s1 lie that some of those other fell
lows would not win her from himf Even
If they did not he felt as II he never could
endure three such years of torture as that
last one at the university had been. Still
he could not refuse, especially whom her
parents urged him SO strongly to accept,
Hattie seemed very sorry to have him
go and promised very faithfully to be truo
to her troth.
"But you can't expect me to DO an old
woman, Frank" she said. why, II
couldn't have any fun for three years, I'd
be wrinkled and gray haired when you
came back, and then you wouldn't want
me at all. ;"
Frank laughed and said he'd run the
risk, and If she'd only wait for him twas
all ho'd ask but 1t was with aching heart
he kissed her a last farewell and a tortur-
ing fear of what that long three years
might bring forth.
1t was IL miles from the pretty little
village, where their childhood days had
been spent to the nearest railway station,
and he arrived there at IL O'Clock one
beautiful June night. Ilo found that
schedules had been changed, and that he
could make better time in reaching his
party to wait for the morning express. He
felt aggravated to think of waiting six
long hours that he might have been spend
ing with Hattie, who, he knew, was al
most crying her pretty eyes out over his
departure. Tho more he thought of it the
more torturing 1t became, and with sud
den resolve he bought his ticket checked
his baggage, visited the nearest livery
barn, and in Is minutes horse and bug
gy were making the best possible time over
the home road.
He could hardly tell just when tho mo.
mentous Thought did occur to him, but as
no rode along, dwelling upon Hatties
earnest assurance that she would marry
him this minute, u If he could only take
her along, a possibility flashed across his
min I,at bn har to
still greater speed. He could not take her
with him, but
His heart seemed lighter already, and
tho horse fairly flew along the smooth
turnpike. Within a mile of Mr.. Furman's
there lived a Justice of the peace. DIR.
Hartley paused long enough to arouse this
worthy functionary and held a hurried
consultation with him. Then he drove on.
Hattie's parents were somewhat sur
prised at being disturbed in their slumber,
but not SO much surprised as when, after
a shorrconforence between the young doc.
tor and his fancee, who had needed no
waking, they We're summoned to give
their consent to an immediate marriage
They could think of no valid objection II
the young folks wished it, and an hour lat.
err Justice Evans pronounced the couple
man and wife.
1t was then 0 o'clock, and the young
husband had only time to leave his wife In
her parents care again, bid her another
loving farewell and hasten to reach the
train that WAS to bear him SO far away
from his native Pennsylvania village and
her whom he had loved since his earliest
recollection
sshree years trip was ono Of mingled
hardship excitement and pleasure in all
very enjoyable ono to DIR. Hartley.
part of every Sabbath day was spent in
writing long, loving letters to Hattie, and
although he often longed for a sight of tho
dear face he felt no anxiety on her &C.
count, knowing that when he did return
she would be watching for him.
EcAr h.. 4 IL IL