Middletown transcript., 1901-06-22

that morning.
Archier' Aunt Emily cried aghast,
half an hour later. You surely are not
going out in this broiling sun9'
Only for walk to the village, Z he
answered.
''But you can send Tom for anything
you want, his anxious relative persisted.
II shall not walk far
The sun was hot, and Archie was not
strong, in spite Of his tall figure and
broad chest. Very soon he felt he must
either sit or fall down; and, very pale,
he entered little cottage porch and sank
on a seat there.
When the first dizzy sensation had
passed he became conscious Of familiar
voice on the other side of the window.
near which he was seated.
Remember" the voice said, and Ar
chic wondered at its low, sweet tone,
"you are to make no exertion for the
present. I have engaged a woman to
come here and do all the work, and care
for you. When you are quite strong
again I will see that you have sewing to
do"
A rustic at the door, and Archie saw
Linnet staring at him III such utter
amazement that her expression was
actually ludicrous
II came to escort you home, he said,
and the heat was two much for me!'
He was still deadly pale. Without
word Linnet stepped into the house, and
returned with her handkerchief wet with
cold water to lay on his head.
"You'd better postpone your next
walk till after sunset" she said, dryly;
stnow, be good enough to wait here, and
I will go for the carriage. I"
''No, I will walk back" Lynne per-
sisted, and his cousin attempted no fur.
ther protest. Presently the two set cut
on their return.
Linnet's ample sunshade was relief,
but Archie fully justified his aunt's fears
by the condition in which he entered the
house.
'rYou see what a useless animal am"
Archie said.
'I see that you chose wrong time to
walk, after living in cell all summer"
was the reply This room is like a
Vault should die herel"
"Do you know, Archie, she continued,
mercilessly, "my whole hospital ward
does not give me so much trouble as it
does aunt to keep charge of that troop of
bottles"
'eBut I can't sleep or eat without medi-
cine"
''Poor fellowp
He saw very little of her during the
next week.
DR.. Morris, rightly judging that work
would prove the best cure for loneliness,
had hunted up a few cases during his
weeks stay in the village, so that Linnet
could minister to the sufferings caused by
overwork and poverty.
Letters from Nice informed Linnet
that her aunt was far too i'll to return
home The poor lady grew worse, and,
at the close of two months, death ended
her sufferings.
DIR. Morris hastened back to England,
and as soon as he reached London sent
for his daughter.
A sudden dismay seized Archie. For
the first time he realized how much sun
shine LinEet would carry away with her.
He studied tie matter well, and to his
Cousins unbounded amazement made
her an offer of marriage.
"Thank you,' she said, shortly. 81
do not fancy living in private hospitalp
She was touched by his panied face, but
she went on ruthlessly, in the hope that
her words, spoken at such moment
might have lasting effect. "When I
marry, my husband must be man do
ing mans work-not wretched hy-
pochondriac, wearing out his life on a
sofar'
It was caustic treatment, and Archie
rejected it at first, hurt and indignant,
but as days wore on the sting, ranking
deeper, touched chords of conscience,
and he reused his faculties to self COM
muning which, though bitter, proved
wholesome.
It was not easy to cast off habits al
most lifelong, which had been fostered
by some actual suffering, encouraged by
his aunt, and most assuredly not dis
couraged by the village doctor, who lad
drawn nice yearly income therefrom.
Linnet's astonishment reached a eli
max when, short time after he and Lis
aunt had gone up to town, Archibald
Lynne walked into the room where Eer
father was giving her lesson in practi-
cal chemistry
"Uncle Rolf" he said, "Linnet objects
to home hospitals but have come to
you professionally"
''My dear boy, what can do for you?
Look out, Linnet-if you mix those acids
and alkalies we shall have an explosion!,'
''To avert which calamity" said Lin
net, demurely, 81 will retire, while Ar
chic tells you of his new ailments. Poor
fellowp'
She hurried away, and Archie, looking
after her, said;
"Uncle Rolf, love Linnetr
"Dear me! I thought she tormented
you to the verge of insanity" cried the
doctor.
$50 she does. Nevertheless, I want
her fer my wife. She objects to nerves,
SO have come to get rid of mine. Sc
riously, Uncle Rolf, want you to take
me for your patient, and see if there is
stuff in me for man, useful and honor
able-a man, in short, whom you will
not object to for a son-in-law, if Linnet
will take me for husband"
''With all my hearth said the doctor.
"You only want waking up to develop