The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1897-11-27
WITCH AND I.

Witch and I had a quarrel. Who
is it that says that it takes two to
make quarreli Whoever it is
makes mistake. It took only one
to make our quarrel, and that was
my precious Aunty Betsy Jane.
Witch has temper; so haveI. She
wasn't christened Witch. God ia
theirs and mothers have much to an
swer 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 alb
surd. Fancy a little, dark eyed, be-
witching five feet nothing having q
name like that!
My name is John, and John I'm
always called. Had I been chris
tened Robert or Ehomas I should
have been called by either of those
plain, sensible names. There is
nothing for the imagination to catch
hold of in my face or figure. I'm
not feet in my stockings. I'm
only 5 feet 10. T haven't ''crisp
golden hair" and "tawny beard. {"
No, my eyes, hair and beard are
brown, and for the rest I have nom
descript features and good teeth.
Moreover, as said before, I have a
temper, a vile one, and in all things,
apart from my profession, am a
born fool.
It was over a 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
I've known her, and I've known her
since she was 10, so she ought to
have got used to it. For the mat
ter of that, she wouldn't have both
cred her head about it if it hadn't
been for my beloved aunt. Witch
states me ferociously sometimes,
but it never makes any difference.
Well, it was at one of Mrs. Dou-
gals lat homes" that the row be-
gan. Witch, Miss White, Dougal
and I were playing tennis. Dougal
and Miss White were against us.
Asa rule, Witch loks the other girl
into fits, but on this occasion, for
some reason or the other, she missed
nearly every ball. I was annoyed,
and I expressed myself perhaps a
little more strongly than I ought to
have done, but I'm sure said moth
ing one whit stronger than I've said
scores of times without any offense
being taken. Be that as it may,
Witch refused to play any more and
sat down by Aunt Betsy Jane.
I am a doctor, and soon after that
some one called me away. It was
bad case, and I didn't get home
till midnight. In the dining room
some cold meat and beer were wait
ing for me; so was note from
Witch I ate a mouthful and drank
glass of beer. Then I opened the
note. For moment I felt as if I
had a knife in my heart. It was
such 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 respect love was not likely
to last long, etc. She ended by say
ing that she would have returned
my ring, but could not remove it
from her finger, but that she would
get the jeweler to cut it off tomor-
row. I smiled grim smile at the
last sentence. Ihad no intention Of
allowing that ring to be cut off.
The lovely effusion puzzled me
altogether. It wasn't in Witch's
usual style. Naturally a note of
that kind coming from her would
have run in this way: John, I hate
and detest you and hope you'll keep
out Of my sight forever, " or some
thing like it. Well, went to bed.
was such an ass that I never slept
wink all night. But I made up
my mind what I would do. got up
early and made good breakfast.
Then went into the surgery, saw
my assistant, talked over the cases
and told him I 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 for me to 60 to
him for advice, or rather to talk
over things. When he came in, he
seemed rather surprised at seeing
me, but after we had shaken hands
he looked over his letters, gave
some directions to his clerk, and
then, turning to me, said, "Now,