Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1897-05-06
YOUNG DOCS" WAGER.
BY PAUL DANDY.
[Copyright. 1871

tNopSIISHlB 4oSGl
The real beginning of this story was
at about midsummer some 13 years
ago. Melville Opdyke, who was read
ing medicine here with old Doc Thomas,
had been driving over the hill to the
Wilsey settlement pretty regular for
some time. One afternoon he started
rather earlier than common, and as
usual drove straight to Gavin Migrants.
young Doc" as we all called Melville
then, got to Ingram's just as the old
man had comfortably settled himself
on his front stoop to enjoy his after
supper pipe. Opdyke tied his horse in
front of the house and went and sat
down by Ingram, and told him why he
had driven over. Ingram smoked hard
while the young man was talking.
When he had finished the older man
took his pipe out of his mouth, threw
back his shaggy head and laughed till
his big chest heayed like a blacksmith's
bellows. When he had got his breath
he looked the young man over with
great care.
Il declare, Young Doc" he said at
last, in his strong north of Ireland way
of talking which l can't quite repro
duce, 1.-The very notion is enough to
make old Bald Hill turn over between
the valleys and smoker. To think of my
Meg a-marryin' with slim young chap
like you, that don't do enough work
from one years end to another to make
water blisters come in the palms of his
hands.
Nay, nay, No young pill-roller with
soft paddles and lace shoes, who wears
n white collar all the time as if every
day was the Sabbath, can have my lass.
II would be as easy for the lunatics
that are hankerin' to see the cars here
in this valley to get the line of the new
railroads changed as for the likes of you
to win Meg.
Take no offence, lad," Gavin Ingram
went on commiseratingly, Il don't dis
like ye-not I-you can't help it that We
were born to tend sick folks instead of
doing good, honest hard work, and of
course We can't help being taken up
with Meg, but you must surely get that
foolish notion out of your boys head"
Young Doc" heard Gavin through
as patiently as Gavin had listened to
him. Just as the older man finished,
the younger one looked up and saw
Meg, pale and with blazing eyes, stand
ing in the doorway. She put her fin
ger on her lips and stepped softly back
into the house.
We'll. Gavin Ingram" said Melville,
as calmly as he could, I'm right sorry
YOU feel that way. But I'll tell you one
thing. I'll marry Meg and you'll see the
railroad trains running through this
valley and right across your own flats.
This seemed to amuse Gavin more
than ever, and again he laughed long
and hearty.
"WeT. we'll" he said after awhile,
swell see. And I'll make a bargain
with you right now, my fine fellow. II
the railroad is ever built through this |
valley We shall have Meg and welcome, |
providing she'll have you, unless in the |
meantime we've gotten tired of waiting. |
But if it don't then We must say no |
more about marrying with her. fe |
NAV come and see her once in awhile, !
IL we're so minded, for can trust my /
lass: but that's ALL Is't n bargain?'
young Doc" saw that his bluff had |
been called and he didn't quite see his |
way clear to back out; so he put out |
his hand for a shake on the compact, |
though he was hardly prepared for
Gavin's next move
the lass and explain it all to her so that
everything ill be fair and above board
She was at first inclined to be indig-
nant at Melville, but she masked her
feelings very well, so far as her words
were concerned, and it was too late
in the evening for her father to read
her face. After the situation had been
made quite clear, old Gavin went into
the house and left the lovers to talk
it over together on the porch while the
stars came out.
Young Doc" did not have a long
conversation with Meg that evening.
There were still traces of tears on her
face when he drove away, but her last
words to him showed that she was not
altogether sure her lover had the worst
end of the bargain.
well, MELVILLE she said, maybe
you're right. but suppose you should
be wrong? You wouldn't dare break
your word to Gavin Ingrami" !