Walker Lake bulletin. (Hawthorne, Nev.) 1883-1926, 1896-10-28
WITCH AND |.

Witch and l had n quarrel! Who Is
1t that says 1t takes two to make
quarrel? Whoever 1t Is makes mis-
take. 1t took only one to make our
quarrel, and that was my precious
Aunt Betsy Jane. Witch has n temper;
so have l. She wasn't christened
Witch. God fathers and mothers have
much to answer for, still l never heard
o. their giving Witch as baptismal
name to a Christian child. No, her
name Is Julia Felicia, which Is simply
absurd. Fancy a little dark-eyed, be-
witching five feet nothing having
name like that.
My name Is John and John I'm al
ways called. Had l been christened
Robert or Thomas | should have been
called either of those plain, sensible
names. There Is nothing for the mag
nation to catch hold of in my face or
figure. I'm not six feet in my stock
irgs; Pm only five feet ten. l haven't
crisp, golden hair" and a ''tawny
beard" No; my eyes, hair and beard
ore brown, and for the rest l have non
descript features and good teeth. More
over, as l said before, | have temper,
vile one, and In all things, apart from
my profession, am born fool.
1t was over a game of tennis that
Aunt Besty Jane made us quarrel.
Witch didn't play up and l Slated"
her. I've SLATED" Witch ever since
I've known her, and I've known her
since she was 10, so she ought to have
got used to 1t. For the matter Of that,
she wouldn't have bothered her head
about it If it hadn't been for my be-
loved aunt. Witch states me ferocious-
~ sometimes, but 1t never makes any
difference.
Well, 1t was at one of Mrs. Douglas
lat homes that the row began. Witch,
Miss White, Dougal and l were playing
tennis Dougal and Miss White were
against u.s. As rule Witch ticks the
other girl into Ats, but on this occasion,
for some reason or other, she missed
pearly every ball. l was annoyed, and
i expressed myself perhaps = little
more strongly than l ought to have
done, but I'm sure l said nothing one
whit stronger than I've said scores of
times without any offense being taken.
he that as it may, Witch refused to
play any more and went and sat down
by Aunt Betsy Jane.
| am a doctor, and soon after that
someone fetched me away. 1t was
bad case, and didn't get home till mid
night. In the dining-room some cold
meat and beer We're waiting for me; so
was note from Witch. ate a mouth
full and drank glass of beer. then
opened the note. For moment | felt
as IL | had knife in my heart. 1t was
such a cruel stab. Witch-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 re-
spect love was not likely to last long,
etc. She ended by saying that she
would have returned my ring, but could
not remove 1t from her finger. but that
she would get the jeweler to cut it off
tomorrow. | smiled a grim smile at
the last sentence. had no intention of
allowing that ring to be cut off.
The lovely eifusion puzzled me alto
gether. 1t wasn't in Witch's usual
style Naturally, note of that 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 1t. Well,
went to bed. l was such an ass that
i never slept wink all night, but
made up my mind what l would do.
got up early and made good break
fast; then went into the surgery, saw
Eiy assistant, talked over the cases and
told him / should be away all day
After that l went to town, straight to
Witch's fathers office. He hadn't ar
rived. but his people knew me and
showed me into his private room. He
and / 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 came in lie
seemed rather surprised at seeing me,
out after he had shaken hands he
looked over his letters, gave some di-
Iections and then, looking calmly at
NE, said:
Now, John"
Can you spare me half an hour, sir?'
$50 far as know. Go ahead"
well, I'm making $4,000 year and
my practice is Increasing"
That's good"
"Don't you think Witch and l might
marry on thatT
Certainly"