The true Democrat. [volume] (Bayou Sara [La.]) 1892-1928, 1896-10-24

t~EPE Whoever it is makes a
IVA mistake. 1ttook only
~N Ia n one to make our quar-
~ rel, and that was my
~ precious Aunt Betsy
Jane. Witch has q temper; so have I.
She wasn't christened Witch. God.
fathers and mothers hive much to
answer for, still I never heard OF their
giving Witch as baptismal name to a
Christian child. No; her name is
Julia Felicia, which is simply absurd.
Fancy little dark-eyed bewitching
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 I should have been
called by either of those plain, sem
sible names. There is nothing for the
imagination to catch hold of in nv
face or figure. I'm not feet in nv
stockings; I'm only feet 10. /
haven't "crlsp golden hair" and a
"tawny beard" No; my eyes, hair
and beard are brown, and for the rest
have nondescript features and good
teeth. Moreover, as I said before, |
have temper, vile one, and in all
things, apart from my profession, am
born fool.
1t was over game of tennis that
Aunt Betsy Jane made us quarrel.
Witch didn't play up, and I "slated"
her. I've "slated" Witch ever since
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
tlat, she wouldn't have bothered her
head about it if it hadn't been for nv
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 I
were playing tennis, Dougal and
Miss White were against us. AS a
rule Witch ticks the other girl into
fits, but on this occasion, for some
reason or other, she missed nearly
every ball. I was annoyed, and I ex-
pressed myself little more strongly
than I ought to have done, but I'm
sure I said nothing one whit stronger
than I've said scores of times without
any offence being taken. Be 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
some one fetched me away. It was q
bad case, and I didn't get home till
midnight. In the dining room some
cold meat and coffee were waiting for
me; SO was note from Witch. / ate
mouthful and drank cup of coffee ;
then / opened the note. For mo-
ment felt as if I had knife in nv
heart. It was such cruel stab. Witch
my little would have moth
ing more to do with me. My conduct
at Mrs. Douglas had proved to her
that she no longer possessed my re.
spect, and without respect love was
not likely to last long, etc., etc. She
ended by saying that che would have
returned my ring, but could not re-
move it from her finger, but that she
would get the ]eweler to cut it off to.
morrow. l smiled, grim smile at the
last sentence. l had no intention of
allowing that ring to be cut off.
The lovely efusion puzzled me al
together. It wasn't in Witon's usual
style. Naturally, note of that kind
coming from her would have run in
this way: "John, I hate and and de-.
test you, and hope you'll keep out of
my sight forever" or something like
it. Well, went to bed. 1 was such an
ass that never slept wink all night ;
but l made up my mind what I would
do. l got up early and made a good
breakfast; then I went into the sur
gerry, saw my assistant and talked
over the cases, and told him 7 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 to me to go to him fer
advice, or rather to talk over things
When he came in he seemed 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,
sir?"
GAS far as know. Go ahead"
"Well, I'm making $500 year, and
my practice is increasing"
"That's good"
'Don't YOU think Wit