The record-union., 1897-12-25

lSTtAALSV, tuCuSn i WILL CONFESS tlISy
do their share. There are card parties,
theater parties, teas, luncheons, dances,
and all the regular routine Of social
doinss that go on everywhere, but, TO
tell you the truth, I don't take as much
interest in such things as / should do.
and am always glad when my place
can be filed by one Of the other boys.
But the length of this letter is over
whelming, and 1 will reserve the rest
of my news for another time. 1 am
afraid my long letters will have to be
few and far between for some months
now, as every moment viii be taken up
with my work, but the short ones will
come as usual, no work shall interfere
with that .pleasure-making you bear
me in mind.
With much love for all at home,
especially your own dear little self,
believe me. as ever, yours, affectionate-
ly. WALLACE"
Jan 1st.
MY Dearest Mag: I wrote you a
long letter just before Christmas, but
again to-day, at the beginning of this
new year, 1 must send you all good
wishes and sincere hopes that the new
year T"ill bring you much happiness and
prosperity. l have made so many eff
forts to get to you during the past
six months, since you have had SO much
trouble and undergone so many changes
at home. You have had your hands
and heart so full that 1 can quite re-
alize that you have been unable to
send me your usual long letters, and
have felt very much at loss to know
what your plans for the future were
to be. However, thanks to the dear.
ever faithful Dick, from whom 1 had
long, newsy letter two or three days
ago, l have had my mind put at rest
on many points that have troubled me.
He tells me that as your mothers
death has left you entirely alone and
independent, you have decided to give
yourself up to the carrying out of your
lifelong hobby, to organize a real hos
pital for our village, and become
head nurse yourself! He also says that
instead of putting up an entirely new
building, you are going to have your
old house in the village enlarged and
remodeled for hospital purposes, etc.
The building will be ready for use in
another six months, l understand
Il feel sure you will hardly believe
me when / tell you that nearly two
years and four months have passed
over our heads since l wrote that let
ter telling you of my decision to be-
come a physician. 1 can scarcely be-
lieve it myself have been so interest
ed in my work that the time has fairly
flown. In another five months I will
have taken my degree, and 1 shall once
more launch out into the world of
money-making. My uncle has been
more than kind, and insists in starting
me out in my profession just as he does
his own boys. Fred also has offered
me post as assistant to him: so you
see my prospects are pretty bright But
before l settle on my course 1 want
first to consult with YOU
You know I have always been anx-
1ous to return home as soon as possi-
bic and work among the people there,
especially in partnership with you
Now, how would you like to establish
me as physician in charge Of your new
hospital? I know that it is hardly
modest for me to push myself on you
in this way, but you are at perfect
liberty to refuse my offer, in which
case [ Shall settle down to a practice
here disappointed, of course, but know
ing that you will have acted for the
best
Another thing I have to speak with
you about is this-I have decided to
take unto myself a wife as soon as DOS
sible after have settled down to work.
You Entw they say a wife is an abso-
lutte necessity to the establishment Of
good practice! You will then appre-
ciate that I have made up my mind
to launch out in every direction. And
now, before I can expect your congrat-
uiatons, L must give you a minute de.
scription Of the fortunate, or unfortu-
nate, young woman. How shall I be-
gin? You know men are not generally
very happy at such descriptions, but 1
suppose / must begin with her person
al appearance.
''Sne is short and fair-not fair fat
and forty, but rather slender. with blue
eyes and fair golden some call it) hair,
and, without entering into more minute
details, the world in general calls her
pretty. Her age, I believe, is about %,
though / must confess she hardly looks
more than Is. 1 met her here at my
aunts, where she spends the greater
part of the time. Her mother is dead,
and her father, having married again,
she feels at liberty to run about as
much as she sees fit; her own mother
and my aunt We're most devoted
friends, and this house has been her
second home. She is very bright and
happy in disposition, and simply re-
fuses to harbor care or anxiety of any
kind in her heart. One can come home
tired In mind and body and find almost
instant rest in her bright, happy face
She is always willing to cheer and
soothe one by trying to distract ones
attention, but she will allow no men
ton of 'shop'-she refuses to hear any
thing about sorrow and pain; they GER
tainly have always been to her life un-
known quantities. and it is to be hoped
they ever may be! Sometimes I al
most wish I might turn to her for SYM
pathy iii my work, too, but one can't
expect the earth, can one?
Il would have told you Of this soon
er. but l could not bear to force such
matters upon you at time when you
could not be expected to be in sympa-
thy with them. I had fully made up
my mind that Dicks patience and per-
severance had about been crowned
with success until this last letter tells
me that he has given up all hope that
you can ever look upon him as anything
but friend, SO for the rest of his days
he is willing to remain your devoted
slave, instead of accepted lover! Poor
Dick, he Is one Of the best fellows, and
/ am awfully sorry for him.
II hope nothing will in any way in
terfere with Ollr cOrrcsSy,ondopoa DURING