Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1899-09-06

With scorn from those who listened
not,
Wishing but bread,
Her simple word frightened their lot,
Whom thus she fed.
Leslie W. Sprague in Christian Regis
ter.
THE BROKEN ENGAGEMENT.
BY Helen Forrest Graves.
When Mary Clarimont's engagement
was proclaimed to the world, there en-
sued general expression Of surprise
People generally are surprised at
matrimonial engagements. There is al
ways some cogent reason why things
should have been adjusted otherwise
why John should have married Joan
and Peter should prefer Betsey. No
body ever yet was married to suit
everybody.
But in Mary Clarimont's case 1t did
really seem rs II the course of true love
had interfered seriously with the cur
rent Of common sense and prudence.
Miss Clarlmont was only one-and-
twenty, a tall, imperial beauty, with
dewy black eyes, a skin as fresh as
damask roses, and dark-brown hair,
cOiled in shining bands at the back Of.
her head. Moreover, Miss Clarlmont
had a Career before her. She had
just graduated from Medfleld Medical
University, and taken out her diplo-
ma as an NJ. d.
And only to think of it," said Aunt
10, bursting into tears of vexntion and
disappointment. .that she must needs
go and ruin all her prospects by getting
engaged to Harry NARROW, down in
New York;
1T does seem strange, Aunt 10, when
sit down and think over It." said Doc
tor Mary, laughing and blushing. "Six
months ago, my profession was all the
world to me. I neither wished nor
cared for anything outside its limits.
The future was all mapped out before
me, without let or hindrance; and
now"
"Humph!" growled Aunt 10. "Any
brainless idiot can get married, and
keep a mans house and mend his
shirts for him, but you were made for
something higher and more dignifed,
Mary"
Mary smiled.
Dear Aunt Jo,' said She, 81 shall
not let my sword and shield rust, be-
Sltted me. Harry has only his own tai
tn nd Ii; tn. -
. 1t will be at least a year before we
shall be ready to marry. In the mean
time shall accept the post of visit
Ing physician to the Aldenbury Aims
house, and practice my profession in
Aldenbury, just the same as II there
were no engagement
II wish to goodness there wasn't"
said Aunt 10. 81 tell you what, Mary,
don't fancy that smiling, smooth
tongued young man of yours. and
HlsssSsr shall" y
n Htilk Doctor Mary Clarimont kept her
temper.
Il am sorry, Aunt Jo." she said,
pleasantly. But hope that you VIII
eventually change your mind.'
Z eoSo " hSCp u
store when was young woman" re-
marked Aunt 10, drily, "and always
could tell the ring of a counterfeit half
dollar when n customer laid 1t on the
counter. could then, and can now
and tell you what, Mary, there's base
metal about Harry Marlow!'
Doctor Mary bit her lip.
HparhOnc yVa will pot .ltco,,.r A..
subject further, Aunt Jo,' she said,
with quiet dignity, and the old lady
said no more.
aunt 10 is wrong" persisted the
pretty young NJ. d. to herself.
MARY is making fool of herself!"
thought Aunt 10.
Aldenbury was pretty manufactur-
ing village, with a main street shaded
Z by outrageous maple trees, n .'west
end" where people who had made
their fortunes lived comfortably in.
roomy old houses, surrounded by vel
vet lawns and terraced gardens, and
!. an .east end;' where people fought
desperately, and not always successful
~, to keep soul and body together on
the merest pittance.
And a little way out of the village,
the almshouse, built and endowed by
a certain smuggling sea-captain, whose
conscience had stricken him during his
Inter days, raised its gray-stone gables
to the sky, and made picturesque
background to the landscape.
Doctor Mary Clarimont made some.
thing of a sensation at Aldenbury. Up
to this time, all the resident NJ. DIS
had been snuffy old gentlemen, with
wigs, or pert young ones, with eye
glasses.
A beautiful young lady, who wrote
prescriptions and compounded pills
and lotions, was novelty III the town,
and by no means disagreeable one.
People rather liked the idea, once they
had convinced themselves that the
lady doctor thoroughly understood her
self and her patients.
And the poor old people at the aims
house grew to love Doctor Mary, and
listen with eager ears for the sound of
her carriage wheels over the blue
gravel drive which led up to the por-
tico.
1t was brilliant December day
when the young physician stood in the
neatly-carpeted reception-room, draw
ing on her fur gloves, previous to enter
ing the neat phaeton once again, while
she reiterated to the white-capped
maid some direction respecting old
Ann Mudgett's rheumastism, when the
matron hurried in.
ooh, beg your pardon, Doctor Clari-
mont" said she, "but clean forgot
the new old woman!'
'"The new old woman!' repeated Doc
tor Mary, with smile.
THAT is" explained Mrs. Cunning
ham, "she only came last night-a
quiet old soul, half blind and quite bad
with the asthma. Perhaps you'd bet
ter just see her before you go. She
brought card of admission from Doc
tor Merton, the New York clergyman,