Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1896-12-03
WITCH AND |.

quarrel? Whoever 1t is makes a
mistake. 1t took only one to make
our quarrel, and that was my pre-
cious Aunt Betsy Jane. Witch has
temper; SO have l. She wasn't
ChristonCd Witch. Godfathers and
mothers have much to answer for;
still never heard of their giving
Witch rs n baptiSmal name TO
Christian child. No; her name is
Julia FCliCia, which is simply alb
surd Fancy little dark eyed be-
witChing > fcCt nothing having a
name liko that
My name is John, and John m
always called. Had boon christen-
cd Robert or Thomas l should have
becn called by either of those plain,
sensible names. There is nothing
for tho imagination to catch hold of
in my face or figure. I'm not feet
in my stockings; I'm only feet 10.
l haven't "Crisp golden hair" and a
"tawny beard. No; my eyes, hair
and beard are brown, and for the
rest have nOndCsCrlpt features and
good tcCth. Moreover, as l said be-
fore, | have Temporal vile one
and III all things apart from my
profession am born fool.
1t was over n game of tennis that
Aunt Betsy Jano made US quarrel.
Witch didn t play up, and slated"
her Two "slatCd" Witch over since
l have known her, and I've known
her since she was 10, so she ought
to have got used to it. For the mat
ter of that, sho wouldn't have both
orod her head about it if it hadn't
boon for my beloved aunt. Witch
states me forOciousi,, sometimes, but
it never makes any difference
Well, it was at one of Mrs. Dou-
gals lat homes" that the row be-
gan. Witch, Miss White, Dougal
and | wero playing tennis. Dougal
and Miss White were against US. AS
n rule, Witch licks the other girl into
fits, but on this occasion, for some
reason or other, she missed nearly
every ball. l was annoyed, and
expressed myself perhaps a little
moro strongly than l ought to have
done, but m sure l said nothing
one whit stronger than I've said
scores of times without any offense
being taken. Be that as it may,
Witch refused to play any more and
went and sat down by Aunt Betsy
Jane.
am n doctor, and soon after that
some ono fetched me away. 1t was
a bad case, and l didn't get home
till midnight. In the dining room
some cold meat and beer were wait
ing for me. So was n note from
Witch. ate mouthful and drank
glass of beer. Then opened the
note. For II moment / felt as if I
had n knife in my heart. 1t was
such cruel stab. Witoh-my little
Witch-would have nothing more
to do with me.
My conduct at Mrs. Douglas had
proved to her that she no longer
possessed my respect and without
respect love was not likely to last
long, etc. She ended by saying that
she would have returned my ring,
but could not remove it from her
finger, but that she would get the
jeweler to cut it off tomorrow. l
smiled grim smile at the last sem
tence. / had no intention of allow
ing that ring to be cut off.
The lovely effusion puzzled me al
together. 1t wasn't in Witch s usual
style. Naturally a note of that
kind coming from her would have
run in this way: John, I hate and
detest you and hope you II keep out
of my sight forever" or something
like it. Well, / went to bed. / was
suoh an ass that l never slept q
wink all night, but l made up my
mind what l would do. l got up
early and made n good breakfast.
Then l went into the surgery, saw
my assistant, talked over the cases
and told him l should be away all
day. After that I went to town,
straight to Witch 8 fathers office.
He hadn't arrived, but his people
knew me and showed me into his
private room. He and l are great
friends-always have been. So it
was quito natural for me to go to him
for advice, or rather to talk over
things. When he came in, he seem
cd rather surprised at seeing me-
but after he had shaken hands he
looked over his letters, gave some
directions and then, looking calmly
at me, said:
Now, John"
Can you spare me half an hour,
sirp"
LAS far as know. Go ahead"
well, I'm making $500 a year,
and my practice is increasing"
That's good"
Don't you think Witch and
might marry on that?"
Certainly"
You have no objection to our
marrying next month, if she CON-
sentsp"
none. 1 nave no wish that she
should marry at all, but if she must
marry, I'd rather she married you
than any one else"
THANK you, sir, for saying that.
Thank you very much, said I, seiz-
Ing his hand and wringing it hard.
Just So" said he, removing 1t
from my grasp and looking anxious
1y at it.
HRnt Tybu thic faryorpD