The Mena weekly star., 1896-09-09

l saw buggy coming down the street. A sudden hope took possession of me. He always came when 1 was in some and ridiculous plight. And -yesl
 "Oh, Doctor Griffin!" l called out.
 He pulled up at that quavering cry and looked at me for a moment in the blankest amazement.
 And what are you doing in Rockets, miss?" he demanded, as he helped me in.
 A wild wave of exhilaration had come over me when l felt myself safe in the vehicle.
 "I was only paying some calls" I said, in an off-hand way. Aren't the claims of society burdensome? I am really tired
 "Calls!" he repeated. And where were you calling in Rockets 2"
 "I was going to the Plunketts'," I said But never mind-it isn't their day anyway"
 began to repent my nonsense when he took little red notebook out of his pocket and, utterly ignoring my pres ence, began to look over it with knitted brows. We drove on in perfect silence for several blocks, and he manifested no intention of resuming the conversation at all, while I, on my part, was occupied in regretting that had totally forgot ten that was lon my dignity" as my old nurse would say.
 Well Miss Frances, he said, sudden ly. without looking up, have you for given me?"
 Forgiven you, for what?" question ingly replied, but reminiscent wave Of modification swept over me.
 He gave a short laugh, still turning the leaves of his book, but did not an- swer.
 As he sat looking down. with his brow furrowed and his rugged face showing very hard lines at it's hardest in the clear daylight, stole timid glarces at him and wondered how I had the temerity to recite those miserable, sen timental verses of mine to him, of all men! 1 blushed hotly as I thought of my folly.
 The horse had slackened his pace, but the doctor did not seem to notice it.
 Have you been writing any more poetry?' he asked, as if becoming con- scious os the claims of civility.
 No 1 said, stiffly.
 He made no pretense of interest in my answer. Indeed, he was quite evident ly not at all attending to what I said. II didn't like that-what's its name sonnet of yours ?' he remarked, flap ping the horse with the reins.
 An said, as if had not already been crushed by the snubbing which it had received.
 Do you want to know why I did not like it?" he went on. He put his book down and looked at me with a queer smile.
 "Yes," "1said, but stillwith the haught- mess born of inward humiliation.
 He took off his hat and looked care fully into the crown, frowning as if he had that moment remembered leaving there something of the highest value which seemed to be missing. And then he put it on again. He cleared his throat and ierlxed at the reins.
 "l didn't like to think of your whim. pering about some whippersnapper," he said, when want you myself"
 When the trees and houses had set tied back into their normal places, and the waterfall had ceased rushing and roaring in my ears. I looked at him and saw that he was talking on, but of wnat he said had only the vaguest notion The blankness of my face must have struck him at last, for he stopped abruptly.
 Wait, don't say anything yet he said.
 We were drawing near to my own home, but the horse went very slowly.
 If you could tell me-" he began there was something positively un. canny and awful to me in the humility of his tone-''but don't say anything unless i. is yes Take time-any length of time."
 Time! It seemed to me that it had been a thousand years already. It wa: such an old, old fact that Dr. Griffin had asked me to marry him that felt that had been born with the consciousness o1 it. l tried to remember how things were before it happened, but no, there was nothing before that. Neither spoke as he helped me out q the buggy and solemnly walked with me up the long green yard. He paused at the porch.
 "If,' he said, you could possibly sey 'yes'-don't make me wait" ran up the steps without replying and opened the door, stopping with my