Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1904-06-02


cried, and for the first tins In her pro-
fessional career she had lost her wits. |
The carriage had been dismissed, and |
in tremor Of fright she ran-yes, ac-
tually ran to the home Of the man for !
whom, not an hour ago, she had told
herself she cherished only a sincere |
friendship. AS she entered the sick |
mans room, he stretched out both his |
hands, and with a hollow laugh lie |
exclaimed, 'Trixie, my darling, have
you come at lastr' With that he seized !
cheek. ''How have been longing for
you," he continued "And to think
that she thought all the time that l
wanted her. Bah, she's a cranky old
maid, and blue-stocking in the bar
gain. was foolish enough to think l
was in love with her before she studied
medicine. She can go on rolling pills
until the crack of doom SO far as l
am concerned. No sane man would
want her after he had seen you"
For moment the physician vanished
and jealous, wounded woman took
her place. Louise drew her hand away,
and it was fortunate for certain Miss
Beatrice Alden that she was still in
Albany. Then the physician returned
and set to work to quiet the rawlings
of her patient. Together she and the
little mother labored and soon the sick
man fells into a tranquil sleep. Then
she sent the mother off to bed and
alone she kept the vigil. The gray
light of morning was creeping in at
the windows when the sleeper awoke
to perfect consciousness.
"'Mother," he began family, II have
had such wretched dreams the blessed
night long. thought Louise was here
and she had the faculty Of changing
herself into a fascinating young girl
and then a sour old hag. Mother, do
you think che cares even little bit
for me?"
''She loves you more than anything
in the world, even her darling profess
sion,' a trembling voice whispered in
his ear, for Louise was on her knees
| at his bedside and had her arms around
him. 81 never knew how I loved you
until saw you so desperately ill.," the
voice continued, and in her heart Of
| hearts Louise Alden knew that she
| was lying.
When the little mother came in, some
three hours later, Bernard Informed her
| that DIR. Alden said he might be ill
long time, with suspicious stress on
the might and, that she could the
better care for him, they had decided
to be married at once. Mrs. Holme
was willing More than that, she went
herself to secure the license and the
preacher, for she had no notion of Civ
ing Louise an opportunity to change
her mind. She had always believed
that some day the wilful girl would
| come to her senses and do the rational
thing. Now that she was in the humor,
the consummation of a twleve-year-old
devotion could not be brought about
too quickly. "If he ever tells her that
he wasn't de1irious bit and that we
plotted the whole thing, she'll want to
murder us BOTH" the old lady re-
fected.
That afternoon Louise sat, happy and
radiant, at the bedside of her husband,
who was already clamoring to get up,
when guests were announced.
"Can't go right up?" a merry voice
in the hall below asked. II thought
she would be at the station, and when
I could not find her in the crowd we
went to her Office, and the maid sent
us over here"
1t was Trix; but whom had she
: brought with her? Overcome with GU
riosity, Louise went to the head of
the stairs. The young girl was at her
side in moment and had both arms
around her neck.
"Oh, Auntie, darling" she whispered,
her face crimson with bushes, "we've
eloped. Isn't it simply too delicious
) What will papa say? Frank begged SO
} hard, and you know it is impossible to
: resist the man you love. He met me
| at Buffalo and we were married be.
t tween trains this morning. His mother
was there to swear that was Of age
Now, Auntie, won't you be good to poor
I Mr.. Holme? I met him Gu the train
r last week and think he is charming
t And besides, it would make things sc
: much easier for me if I could write
r papa that you were married. too"
Of "Mr. Holme is suffering with Sc
r we're ease of grip" Louise said earnest
j ~, "and you are foolish child to r1l1
|. away and get married. You will neve]
o halfway appreciate your love because
g you will never see it slipping away
q from you. But, come, bring Frank NJ
e stairs and present him to his new
l. uncle. Then, when my husband get
well. we will all go to Albany and per
O suade your father that you had ia
u better sense than your aunt had a
v your age."-Emilie Ruck de Sehell. il
y the Valley Magazine.
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