The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1899-11-02

ow.plumed ca.
nary birds begin 20 grow drowsy on
their perches, aud the first star trans
bzes the dusk with its point Of silver.
jamie Coyler was sitting in her easy
chair, bolstered up with cologne.
scented pillows, aud robed ia white
muslin wrapper. She mede a pretty
ta5ieau, and she knew IL.
Guy Elmerding leaned eagerly foy- /
ward, ns he spoke--a dark. olive con-
piexioned young mau, with soft haze !
eyes, aud one Of those frank, smiling /
mouths which inspire confidence and ,
trust.
But jamie shook her mead.
Since I have been so poorly, Guy, !
7 have sometimes feared that We
should never be married." she said.
Nonsense, JANET" he remon.
strated.
Miss Coylcr turn ed away her head,
with an offended air.
IL know you think it is nonsense,
Guy, but the time may comc'when-
when--'
MY own love. | never meant to
hurt your feelingsr' cried Guy, in-
petuously.
''No ono sympathizes with memo
ono comprehends me"' murmured
jamie, with the air Of an injured Ma.
donna. ''But when Cousin Elsie
comes, shall have at least one con-
genial companion"
Mr.. Elmerding looked somewhat
discounted. Miss Coyler had, so to
speak, thrown this same faultlessly
perfect Cousin Elsie" in his teeth so
many times that he had conceived a
very cordial dislike for her, without
ever having seen her.
"A regular old maid, with spec
tacles. a nasal twang, and theories OF
her own on every imaginable subject"
suid he to himself. Il wish she was
in Jericho!"
So Mr.. Elmerding went away not in
the best hutnor. And on the street
nearly opposite the door, he met Doc
tor Madison. the snug, dapper little
disciple OF Galen who daily attended
Miss Coyler.
"Well," said Doctor Madison, when
he had exchanged a cordial grasp of
the hand with Elmcrdinr, chow is
she?"
"Your patient, do you mean. dee.
tor?"
"Of course. Whom else should l
mean?"
"About as usual, I should think.
Doctor, is she really So ill? Is she
actually doomed to spend the rest of
her existence alternating between n
bed and an easy -chair?'
Doctor Madison took snuff ont off
little enameled snuff.box.
why shouldn't she, il she likes
it?" demanded he.
"Do you mean, doctor, that it is
only fancy?"
''Nine-tenths of the feminine all
ments Of this world are only fancy, my
dear sir" oracularly pronounced the
doctor.
"But, doctor, can't you argue her
into common sense?"
Cant you?" counter questioned
the doctor. 'Ive done my best, so
have you. Miss Coyler is subject to
whims and fancies, like most of her
SEX"
"A sort of monomaniac, eh?" mus.
ingly uttered Guy.
"Well. as much that as anything 81
answered the doctor, second time
having recourse to his snuff-box.
"And is there no treatment likely to
benefit it?'
well, that is question for the
faculty" said Doctor Mattison,
shrewdly. II knew an old lady once
who was bedridden, or thought she
was, which amounted to the same
thing. She was cured by the chance
firing. off of a park of artillery in a va
cant lot adjourning her house. She
jumped out of bed and ran down
stairs. as nimbly as a cricket, suppos
ing, very naturally, that it was nj
earthquake"
'Tmpossiblei" said Guy.
"And my brother, who practices il
Venerable, had case of a hypochon
,lrisc gentleman who hadn't touched
his foot to the floor for eight years
One night there was an alarm Of fir,
IN the lower story Of the hotel ~her,
he boarded. He rang the bell en-,
bawled for his servant in vain.
good strong Whit of smoke came tear
ing up the staircase, and the invali,
1T eight years wrapped himself in
dressing-gown OF rod hanr el, an,
scampered down stairs in way tina
astonished the spectators. All thes
were counter-irritants You see--coun
ter-irritantsi Now look here, in tn
case Of our charming young friend n
stairs"
"Exsotlyi" cried Guy.
''You couldn't get up Hirtatio
with souke other young lady, coul
your"
Certainly not" answered Gu,
very decidedly.
II think that would have a yer
good effect" remarked the doctor
thoughtfully, feeling his chin. "Bu
OF course, il you're not willing, thu
ends the matter"
"But cannot you study up som
other case?' solicitious]y demande
Guy.
said Doctor Madison, gravely.
Cousin Elsie arrived within, q ds
or two, and jamie took the young LAD
into her confidence on the subject
her engagement and her ailments.
II love Guy dearly" sighed sh
"but shall never live to marry him
"Oh, nonsensel" said Cousin Elsi
chcerfully.
lyon will see," said Jennie, for
bodingly. II have presentimen
and my presentimeuts always com
true"
guy Elmending was considerab
astonished when first he saw Mi
elsie Brown. There were no bl
spectacles, no forty years, no extren
opinions about Elsie. She WAS roul