Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1899-08-31
THE BROKEN ENGAGEMENT.
BY Helen Forrest Graves.

When Mary Clarimont's engagement
was proclaimed to the world, there en-
sued a 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 it did
really seem as If the course Of true love
had interfered seriously with the cur
rent of common sense and prudence.
Miss Clarimont was only one-and-
twenty, a tall, imperial beauty, with
dewy black eyes, n skin as fresh as
damask roses, and dark-brown hair,
coiled in shining bands at the back of
her head. Moreover, Miss Clarimont
had a Career before her. She had
just graduated from Medfield 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 vexation 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. l neither wished nor
cared for anything outside it's 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 mans house and mend his
shirts for him, but you were made for
something higher and more dignified,
Mary"
Mary smiled.
Dear Aunt Jo," said she, 81 shall
not let my sword and shield rust, be-
lieve me. Harry has only his own tai
ents to advance him in the world, and
1t will be at least 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 if there
were no engagement
II wish to goodness there wasn't"
said Aunt 10. Il tell you what, Mary,
don't fancy that smiling, smooth
tongued young man of yours. and l
never shall"
nnnfnp ari,,, I.n, I,
temper.
IL am sorry, Aunt Jo," she said,
pleasantly. But / hope that you will
eventually change your mind"
II used to keep n thread-and-
store when was n young woman" re-
marked Aunt 10, drily, land l always
could tell the ring of a counterfeit half
dollar when n customer laid it on the
counter. l could then. and can now
and tell you what. Mary, there's base
metal about Harry Marlowv'
Doctor Mary bit her lip.
Perhaps. We will not discuss the
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. ID. to herself
Mary Is making n fool of hersef."
thought Aunt 10.
Aldenbury was pretty manufacture
ing village, with main street shaded
by outrageous maple trees, "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 least end" where people fought
desperately, and not always successful
ly, to keep soul and body together on
the merest pittance.
And little way out Of the village,
the almshousc, built and endowed by
certain smuggling sea-captain, whose
conscience had stricken him during his
latter days, raised its gray-stone gables
to the sky, and made a 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 In the town,
and by no means a 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