Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1896-10-28
WITCH AND /.

Witch and I had quarrell Who ID
1t that says it takes two to make q
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 q temper;
30 have l. She wasn't christened
Witch. God fathers and mothers have
much to answer for, still never heard
o" their giving Witch as . baptismal
name TO n Christian child. No, her
name Is Julia Felicia, which Il simply
absurd. Fancy n little dark-eyed, be-
witching five feet nothing having .
name Ike that.
My name is John, and John I'm al
ways called. Had l been chfistened
Robert or Thomas ] should have been
called either Of those plain, sensible
names. There is nothing for the imag-
ination to catch hold OF in my face or
figure. I'm not six feet 10 my stock
Irgsi I'm only five feet ten. 1 haven't
crisp, golden hair" and a '.tawny
beard" No; my eyes. hair and beard
ole brown, and for the rest have nom
descript features and good teeth. More
over. as | said before. / have a temper.
vile one. and II all things. apart from
DIy profession, am a 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 it. For the matter Of that,
she wouldn't have bothered her head
nbout 1t il 1t hadn't been for my be-
loved aunt. Witch states me ferocious-
Is sometimes, but II never makes any
difference.
Wen. it 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 us. As a rule Witch licks the
other gill into rit5, but on this occasion,
for some reason or other, she missed
rearly every ball. l was annoyed, and
i expressed myself perhaps a little
more strongly than l ought to have
done, but I'm sure | said nothing one
whit stronger than I've said scores Of
tunes without any offense being taken.
play any more and went and sat dowr
by Aunt Betsy Jane.
| am u doctor, and soon afte. that
someOne fetched me away. 1t was a
bad case, and didn't get home till mid
night In the dinlng-room some cold
meat and beer were waiting for me; 80
was note from Witch. l ate mouth
ful aud drank glass OF beer, then l
opened the note. For moment felt
as If had a 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 tina,
she would get the Jeweler to cut 1t OF
tomorrow. l smiled a grim smile a,
the last sentence. had no intention Of
allowing that ring to be cut of.
The lovely enusion puzzled me alto
cether. 1t wasn't in Witch's usua
style Naturally, a note OF that kline
coming from her would have run IL
this way: John, hate and detest you
and hope you'll keep out Of my sigh
forever" or something like II. Well,
went to bed l was such an ass tha
never slept a wink all night, but
made up my mind what would do.
got up early and made a good break
fast; then | went into the surgery, sa v
pIy assistant, talked over the cases ant
told him | should be away all day
After that l went to town, straight Il
Witch's fathers Office. He hadn't ar
rived. but his people knew me ant
showed me into his private room. H
Gud | are great friepds-always hav'
been. SO 1t was quite natural for nj
TO go TO him for advice, or, rather, Il
talk over things. When he came in b,
seemed rather surprised at seeing me
out after he had shaken hands b,
looked over his letters. gave some di
Iections and then, looking calmly q
NE, said:
Now, John"
"Can you spare me half an hour, sir 2
$50 far as l know. Go ahead"
We'll. I'm making $4,000 a year ant
my practice is increasing"
That's good"
Don't you think Witch and nigh
marry on thatf"
..Cprtaff,Iy"