Windham County reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1901-1906, 1905-01-06
A BROKEN ENGAGEMENT.
How Or. Mary Clairmont Discovered
Her Fiancee's Unworthiness.

When Mary Clairmont's engage
ment was proclaimed, there was much
surprise.
People generally are surprised at
engagements. There is always some
reason why things should have been
adjusted otherwise-why John should
have married Joan and Peter should
prefer Betsey. Mol 7dy was ever yet
married to suit everybody But in
Mary Clairmonts case 1T did really
seem as IL the course of true love had
| interfered seriously with the current
OF common sense.
Miss Clairmont was only one and
twenty, tall, imperial, 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 Clairmont had
just graduated from Medfield Medical
university.
And only to think OF it," said
Aunt 10, 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 I sit down and think of it," said
Doctor Mary, laughing and blushing.
Six months ago my profession was
all the world to me- l neither wished
nor cared for anything outside 1t.
And now
"Humpn!" said Aunt 10. ANY
brainless idiot can get married, but
you were made for something higher |
Mary"
Mary's dew-bright eyes snarkled
Higher, Aunt Jo?" said she There
you are mistaken. There is no higher
Or more dignified lot in life than that
Of the true wife of a noble husband"
"A noble husband!' said Aunt 10.
AS if every poor fool who was daz-
lied by the glitter of a wedding ring
didn't say the same thing! You've
me, Mary Clairmont, and
I'm ashamed of you"
Mary smiled.
Dear Aunt Jo," said she, Il shah
lot let my sword and shield rust. be-
ieve me. Harry has only his own
u,
nd it will be year at least before
We shall be ready to marry. In the
Meantime l shall accept the post of |
listing physician to the Aldenbury
just the same as If there
we're no engagement"
Il wish to goodness there wasn't" o
aid Aunt Jo Il tell you what.
larry, don't fancy that smiling, 2
mooth- tongued young man of yours, 2
nd I never shall" ID
Still Doctor MARI Clairmont kept t
er temper. a
Il am sorry, Aunt Jo" she said "
leasantly. But I hope that you win u
range your mind" s.
Il used 20 keep a thread and needle o
ore when WIS young woman" fl
marked Aunt 10, dryly, land l al II
avs could tell the ring of counter g
it half dollar whit a customer laid s
on the counter. / could then, and h
can now-and I tell you what, Mary. W
ere's base metal about Harry Mar Ell
WI" m
Doctor Mary bit her lip. I'VE will m
It discuss the subject further, Aunt :
!" she said, with quiet dignity, and
e old lady said no more. bt
Aunt 10 is wrong!" persisted the m
city young M. d. to herself.
Mary is making a fool Of herself" 10
ought Aunt 10. III
Aldenbury was a pretty manufac-
ring village. with a main street. oil
AIDED by outrageous naples. a ca
-est end" where people who had du
lde their fortunes lived comfortably ties
roomy old houses. surrounded by
wet lawns and terraced gardens: tai
d an least end" where people
light desperately, and not always ha
,cessfully, to keep soul and body ta'
,ether. ter
little way out of the village the
nshouses, cont and endowed by cri
dggling sea captain. whose con- the
ence had nrickad him during his
ter days. raised their gray stone cor
lies to the sky. and made a pic tog
esqUe background to the land lea
pc. diff
'oetVr Mary Clairmont made I
lething OF a sensation at Alden full
Y. Up to this time all the resident .
DIS had been snuffy old gentle my
4 with wigs. or pert young ones e
b eyeglasses. And the poor OLD son
pie at the almshouse grew to love Il
Mary, and listen with eager ears %