The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1896-11-10

p"no' w IIcu ms temper so have J.
She wasn't christened Witch. God
fathers and mothers have much to
answer for, still | never heard of their
giving Witch MS abaptismal name to n
Christian child. No; her namo is
Julia Felicia, which is simply absurd.
Fancy little dark-eyed bewitchino
five feet nothing having n name like
that.
My name is John, and John I'm al
ways called. Had been christened
Robert or Thomas should have been
called by either of those plain, SEN
slble names. There is nothing for the
imagination to catch hold of in NV
face or figure. I'm not feet in my
stockings; I'm only feet TO- I
haven't ''crIsp golden hair" and n
''tawny beard" No; my ewes. hair
and beard arc brown, and for the rest
L have nondescript features and good
teeth. Moreover, rs ! said before. 1
have temper, vile one, and in all
things, apart from my profession, am
3 born fool.
1t was over game of tennis that
Aunt Betsy Jane made us quarrel.
Witch didn't play up, and l Slated"
her. I've "slatCd" Witch ever 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 matter of
that, she wouldn't have bothered her
head about it if it hadn't been for INV
beloved aunt Witch states me
ferociously sometimes, but it never
makes any difference.
Well, it was at one of Mrs. Douglas
cat Homes" that the row began.
Witch, Miss White, Dougal and |
were playing tennis. Dougal and
Miss White were against us. As n
rule Witch licks the other girl into
tis. but on this occasion, for some
reason or other, she missed nearly
every ball. l was annoyed, and | ex-
pressed myself little moro strongly
than | ought to have done. but I'm
sure ] said nothing ono whit stronger
than I've said scores of times without
nny offence being taken. Be that as
ii may, Witch refused to plny any
more aud went and sat down by Aunt
Betsy Jane
am q doctor, and soon after that
come one fetched mo away. 1t was n
bad case, and l didn't get home til
midnight. In the dining room some
cold meat and coffee wcre waiting for
me so was n note from Witch ate
mouthlul ard drank u cup of coffee :;
then | opened the note. For n mo.
ment / felt as if | had knife in nv
heart. 1t was such a cruel stab. Witch
my little Witch would have moth.
! ing more to do with me. Ny conduct
at Mrs. Douglas hal proved TO her
that she no longer possessed nv re.
4 spect, and without respect love was
not likely to last long, etc, etc. She
ended by saying that she would have
q returned my ring, but could not re.
move it from her finger, but that she
A would get the jcwelcr TO cut IL OF TO.
morrow. | smiled, grim smile mt The
last sentence. had no intention of
u allowing that ring TO be cut off,
The lovely efJsion puzzled me nj.
io2cther. It wasn't in Witeh's usual
s;yle. Naturally, note oil that kind
- oming from her woui have run in
his way "Jobn, I botc and md dc
8 est you, and hope you'll keep out ~;
ny sight forever" or something like
3. Well, / wcntto bed was such MI
SIS That ! never slept q wink uIl night
pa. made mp my mind what / woul
u. got mp carly md made % good
lrcakinst then won't into tho sur.
Roy, saw my assistant and talked
vcr the cases. and told h.m ! should
be away all day After thnt I went
town, straight 10 WItcbs fathor'a
flee. flo hadn't arrived, but bis
eOp'o knew me, nul showed INC int,
is private room. Hc and nre great
lends always hn'o been So 1t was
Eute natural 60 mo 60 go 60 him scr
vice, or rather % Talk over things.
hen bo came i'm he seemed rnthor
rprIaed nt fccinR mo but after hc
,d shaken hands he looked over bis
ttcr-, gave some directions, and then
IoEiog calmly OF mo said
~ "Now, John 80
Can sou spare mo half nn hour,
IS f,r MS ] knoS. Go abcad.
Neil, I'm making cJJp year, and
practice is increasing
Ihots good"
DON'T you think Witch and might
rry on that?'
Certainly"