The Neihart herald. [volume] (Neihart, Mont.) 1890-1901, 1896-11-28

hOtO VI G10b
kind coming from her would have
run in this way: John, / hate and
detest you and hope you'll keep out
of my sight forever" or something
like it. Well, l went to bed. I was
such an 8 that / never slept a
wink all night, but I made up my
mind what / would do. I got up
early and made a good breakfast.
Then | went into the surgery, saw
my assistant. talked over the cases
and told him / should be away all
day. After that I went to town,
straight to Witch's fathers office.
He hadn't arrived. but his people
knew me and showed me into his
private room. He and I are great
friends-always have been. So It
was quite natural for me to go to him
for advice. or rather to talk over
things. When he cams in, be seem.
ed 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:
Nov, John"
Can you spare me half an hour,
sir?"
"As far as I know. Go ahead"
well. I'm making $500 q year,
and my practice is increasing"
That's good"
Don't you think Witch and I
might marry on that?"
Certainly"
you have no objection to our
marrying next month, if she con.
sents?"
"None. I have 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 bard.
Just so," said he, removing it
from my grasp and looking anxious
~ at it.
"But why this fervor?"
I put Witch's precious epistle In
front of him. He read it twice
through at%tentively, put it down
and. looking calmly at me, said:
Very interesting, but scarcely
to be regarded as a prelude to very
speedy matrimony, l should think"
"Ah. but it is, sir. A girl doesn't
write a note like that and have done
with it. No, she continues to write
them. / shall probably get a similar
note once a month now, and that
will be every firing. l give you my
word that I did not sleep a wink all
last night. The practice won't stand
that sort of thing long, you know"
said / earnestly.
You 9 to have an accurate
knowledge of women and their
ways" he remarked dryly.
allowed that speech to pass with
out comment. Comment seemed SUI
pe1fuous.
IF ! might ask, / should like to
know whom you would consider in
fault in this little misunderstand-
ing?" he asked.
~ am, sir. It stands to reason. I
should not be so anxious If she were
In fault" and then / explained the
whole matter, finishing up with, II
can t remember exactly what called
her. but whatever it was / didn't
mean it." 81
II am not able to refresh your
memory as to what you said on that
occasion, but l a tell you what I
have heard you call her myself"
said Mr.. Druitt quietly. And then
he told me.
His tone was a revelation to me.
Not that I'd call Witch anything
worse than a ''little fool" But I re-
allied what it must have sounded
like to the hearers, and to him. her
father. I don't know how l looked,
but l felt, mean, cheap, worthless
utterly SO. l began to stumble out
apologies. He waved his hand.
"All right, said he, ''but you see
your language is at times forcible. y
He is a wise man. so be said no
more. He showed his wisdom there
in, for ! went at once to see Witch
in a very contrite frame of mind. !
was ready to make a mat of myself
and let my darling trample Oh me
if it should SO please her or to do
any other extravagant thing, such
was the depth of my humility. Still.
as / journeyed Putnoyward' I won
dered as to who could have stirred
up the strife between us. Suddenly
it flashed across my mind that Witch
had seated herself beside Aunt Betsy
Jane, and that Aunt Betsy Jane was
her godmother and therefore licens.
ed to interfere.
! am not going to explain how
Aunt Betsy Jane came to be Witch's
godmothsr. am not a lady novel.
list. and therefore don't think it nee.
essary to explain everything. 1t has
nothing to do with this story. Be.
oslo1 rc- ~-1- q ia .-l--