THK TIMES, NEW BL00MFIEL1), PA. MAltCH 10, 1880.
Proposing to the Wrong Girl.
I WAS a young surgeon, Just free from
college and walking the hospitals,
when I got my flif t practice In the little
town of Dunfleld. Dr. Thompson, of
the place, was au old friend of ray
father's, and It was arranged that I
bhould aslst hlin with an ultimate
view to the whole practice. It was a
good look-out for a young man just be
ginning life. Above all as my friends
vehemently prophesied, "Thompson
can't possibly live another ten years
you know." Bo with many pleasaut
dreams about dead men's shoes and
other cheerful subjects, I moved myself
and dry goods and chattels to W shire.
Most naturally I had ft good deal of
curiosity as to my new friend's patients.
Mine was. a sociable temperament; and
as I had about two hundred and fifty
pounds a year of my own, in addition to
w hat l)r. Thompson was to give me, I
fancied I was already In a position to
liuve a little home and a wife of my
own, provided of course that I could
rind Borne really nice girl who suited
tuy ta9te and liked me. I had a sort of
grand feeling that the medical profes
Mon ought to be obliged to me for enter
inglt. " It isn't as If I were a fellow who had
ijulte to earn his daily brefad," was a
remark I made to my bosom friend,
Vharlle Somers.
I arrived at Dunfleld In the early part
of May. It was settled that at the first
I was to live at Dr. Thompson's, whom
i found to be a cheery old fellow, and
liis wife a most kind, motherly soul.
They had no children, and the house
hold was quite well ordered. The prac
tice, too, was very good.
The town had its squire, Blr William
Crowhurst. His wife, Lady Crowhurst,
was the grandee of the place ; and by
good fortune, their two little girls were
my first patients being conveniently
seized with a mild touch of measles soon
after my arrival, and when the doctor
happened to be luld up with lumbago.
This of course gave me a good etert, and
was the best Introduction I could wish
for to the other swells of the town, such
as the clergyman and his wife Mr. and
Mrs. Perkins who had seven children,
of whom one or the other was always
ailing; Mr. Gordon, the lawyer, who
had alao a wife and two grown up
daughters; and many others.
It Is true there was a rival doctor in
the place there always are rival med
ical men in a small towu but then " he
hadn't even a stray dog to experimen
talize upon," as old Thompson chuck
ingly told me. Mr. Snares was his
unlucky name. As, however, I can
only mention one or two of these people
again In my story, I will not weary you
with a lot of dramatis persona?, who
will never be accounted for ; else the
postmaster, chemist, dissenting minis
ter, school-master, and others, are all
' well worth being described, each in his
or her own peculiar way.
About three weeks after my arrival
Thompson showed me a note from Mrs.
Gordon, saying that her daughter had a
bad cough would one of us come to
see her i
" Now, Mr. Gwynne," said the doctor,
" here's a chance to distinguish yourself.
Lawyer Gordon is a smart man and
making no end of money. Mrs. Gor
don is a great one for being on the sick
list. Unfortuately, she doesn't like me,
because she suspected me once of send
ing her bread pills and water mixture
when her imaginary illness drove me
beyond bounds, so that lean and hungry
.Snares was called in ; but he injured his
cause by persisting to remain for lunch,
which Mrs. Gordon thought very im
pertinent on first acquaintance ; and so
it was. Now my firm belief is that this
cough is more than half to decide if you
will do, or if she must send to Colchester
for Dr. Sims, which will of course cost
her a great deal more. They are good
patients too good to loose; so go and do
your best for us. On no account be
sparing of grave shakes of the head and
plenty of medicine, though it may be as
innocent as you like, provided it be judl
clously nasty."
" All right, sir," was my reply ; " I'll
goat once;" and as I spoke I rose from
my seat and proceeded up stairs to put
on a clean collar and a better tie, trying
to think I wasn't a bit nervous. But I
was ; for when I was a young man I
was very nervous and never could, to
save my life, give a repartee answer or
get out of a mess neatly, I pushed my
hair up and then patted it down again ;
it would not look as curly as I fondly
fancied it did whenever I took the pre
caution of wetting it well over night and
brush it up against the grain.
" Come, come, Gwynne, make haste,"
at last sounded from below.
I ran down to obey , the doctor's call,
and soon after proceeded up the town to
Mrs, Gordon's. After I had conversed
with that lady for a few minutes that
ts to say she talked and I listened she
ushered me into a morning-room to see
uiy patient.
4 We are quite anxious about dear
Hetty," she said; "she's had a bad
cough for some time past, and our home
remedies seem to be of no avail."
The two girls rose as I entered and
returned my very nervous bow. I saw
that one was tall and graceful, with a
niRss of black hair, loosely drawn from
ofT her face, large, black eyes, a clear
complexion and regular features; a
grand beauty, I thought. The other
was different, evidently two or three
years younger, with sunny, chestnut
hair, that tossed In loose waves down
her back, blue eyes, a little pouting
mouth, a most bewitching nez retrousse,
and a short, slight figure. A more com
plete contrast could hardly exist between
the two sisters. The dark one looked
about twenty, the little one about eigh
teen. As I suld, I bowed nervously aud
coughed two or three times, because I
did not know quite what to say.
"This is our dear invalid," said Mrs.
Gordon, patting the youngest on the
shoulder.
"Oh, we'll soon cure her, Mrs. Gor
don," I said, with alarming cheerful
ness, and coughed again.
"Physlclau, cure thyself," I heard
the invalid remark In a mlschevlous
undertone.
" Oh, I've no cough, thanks only a
little tickling," I said, stupidly, as
though the whisper had been for me.
However, I plucked up courage, and
proceeded to make my professional In
quiries, which were diversely answered ;
the mother making the cafe out to be
' very bad,' 'quite serious,' and suggest
ing the south of France; the daughter
quizzing every thing and turning it all
intoajoke. I wound up my visit by
again remarking as I shook hands,
" You've got a nasty cough, Miss Gor
don, but we'll soon cure you."
"Tert little thing!" I mentally ejac
ulated as I left the house. " The dark
one seems nice. How beautiful she
is!"
After this I paid many more profes
sional visits at the Gordon's, and soon
lound myself on a very pleasaut, famil
iar footing at their house. Bo from
professional, I began to make friendly
visits, and often joined the girls, in
leisure half hours, at a game of croquet
or archery, or would take them for a
quiet row on the river on warm summer
days. Had I been a cheeky fellow, very
likely I might have become far more
intimate than I was might have called
them Alice and Hetty, as everybody else
In the house did. But I was far too
nervous and too shy, and so to me they
were always the " Misses Gordon."
When the autumn tints were begin
ning to appear in the woods of Dunfleld,
I discovered that I loved Alice, the dark
one, and that if she would like to live on
three hundred a year, in a snug little
house of her own, I should like it too ;
but I dared not tell her. I could laugh
aud joke with Hetty, but with Alice I
was always Bhy and nervouB.
Time went on. I perceived that with
Mr. and Mrs. Gordon I was a favorite.
I could see that Hetty, too, liked me,
aud I hoped that Alice did ; but she was
so quiet and matronly I could not judge
so well.
When Christmas approached there
was a good deal of sickness about aud I
could not go home, as I had intended ;
so Mrs. Gordon kindly begged me to
come and dine with them.
" Go, go, my dear fellow," said friend.
ly Dr. Thompson, when I demurred at
leaving them. " Go and enjoy yourself,
and look out for the mistletoe." So I
gladly accepted the invitation.
On Christmas eve I met the girls out
walking, and they kindly said they were
glad I was coming.
"Cousin Willie is coming too," cried
Hetty, and she glanced slyly at Alice.
"Who is Cousin Willie V" I asked,
wishing I might mix a pill for him.
" Oh, he's our only cousin and papa's
ward," was the reply. "He always
comes at Christmas."
" I'll come early," I said, making a
mighty effort, " as I want to speak to
Mr. Gordon."
" Oh do come as early as you can,"
said Hetty.
" Old Thompson wants me to look out
for the mistletoe," I said foolishly, by
the way of saying something.
" Oh we've got plenty of that ready
eh, Alice V" said Hetty.
" How tiresome you are, Hetty !" said
Alice, warmly and blushing a painful
crimson.
Well, it was silly of Hetty ; and before
me, too ! But I was so glad to see the
blush that I did not notice the little
show of temper. Between you and me,
reader, she had once or twice before
shown she had a temper.
I went home, pondering on the way
what I should do. I could not dine
there with my heart bursting with its
secret and feeling it might explode at
any moment. Then there was Cousin
Willie, too. If he should pay my beau
tlful Alice any attention, I might not
be able to control my feelings. So I de
termined to write to her. ask my fate
and go before dinner for my answer. If
I were accepted, have a merry Christ
mas; If rejected, go home, and and
well, nearly die of a broken heart.
I was delighted with the Idea, and al
most ran home to put it into execution.
But how easy to get pen, ink and paper I
how difficult to write! I tore up letter
after letter; again and again I tried, but
the hopelessness of expressing my feel
ings was great. Bhould I leave it and
go and say my say in person V No, no,
I could not do that. My tongue would
cleave to my mouth ; the very thought
seemed to deprive me of all power of
articulation. Hern goes I said at last.
I will write it off at once and I won't
read it over.
1 My dear" Here I w&9 at a full stop
already. How was I to begin 1 If I
were doing It personally, I might try
the effect of " Alice," spoken in a low,
deep tone, but it looks so cool on paper
Therefore I began again: "My dear
Miss Gordon" I can't remember the
the words, though no doubt my wife
does, but I know my letter was very
tender, aud I hope very earnest and im
pressive. I was once more puzzled how to end
my epistle, but at last decided on
" Believe me, dear, dear Miss Gordon,
yours in life, and death, yours only and
iorever,
rillLIP GWYNNE.
This I dispatched to Miss Gordon, en
closing a note to the young lady's papa,
to be delivered at her discretion. You
may believe I scarcely closed uiy eyes
all that night.
Next day, Christmas day, I was too
busy to attend church ; but I got clear
about four o'clock, and hastily dressing
myself, Btarted for Mr. Gordon's. He
met me warmly.
" Come in here, my dear fellow," eald
he ; "I can't tell you how pleased she
Is my wife, I mean. And I am quite
satisfied as to money and worldly
a flairs. Quite. Old Thompson's is a
good practice. We must have a settle
ment you know ; but that'll be all right.
Rather you have her than an earl. God
bless you ! I am proud to call you son.
I've Bpoken to her. She loves you, my
boy loves you dearly, Bhe Bays, and has
done bo long. And now that you are
one of the family, I may as well tell you
a secret. My youngest daughter is en
gaged too. Yes, Alice 'and my nephew
are going to make a match of it. Don't
look so astonished. She'll make him a
good wife; for though Bhe is a year
younger than dear Hetty, she looks
older, you know, and is more steady and
sedate. But Hetty's a dear girl, and
will, I'm sure make you happy. Don't
speak, don't speak! There, I'll Bend
her in," and off the lawyer bolted in his
usual jerky way before I could speak a
word.
'Was I mad! Was I dreaming J"
Alice the younger Alice engaged!
Hetty loving me dearly 1 Hetty coming
to me! Ye powers what was it all
about How could I have been Buch a
foolr" A thousand hitherto unnoticed
facts crowded on my brain, confirming
the statement. How could I have trust
ed appearances so utterly, and taken her
for the oldest without being certain V
Bhe engaged ; and wild, merry, sweet
Hetty loving me I It still would not
enter my brain. What should I do V
Get up and bolt and explain after
ward?
I sprang up to obey my impulse. As
I did so the door opened, and with down
cast eyes and rosy blushes Hetty came
in. I rushed eagerly toward her and
grasped her hands. I would confess all,
I thought. " Hetty" I began. She
mistook my action, my words, for affec
tion. She came nearer to me, responded
to my warm clasp, and then, overcome
by shynes9,hld her pretty curly head on
my shoulder. My embarrassment mo
mentarily increased. "-Oh Hetty, Het
ty" I began once more.
"Dear Philip," she whispered, in
reply to what she deemed affection, " I
am so happy, Philip."
What could I do y Tell her it was all
a mistake, aud thus blight the bright
young life and heart for ever 't In that
one second I made a great decision. My
chances of happiness had fled. I would
sacrifice myself and marry her, and she
should never know the truth.
God bless you Hetty ; I will try and
make you happy ;" and I kissed the
wild, teasing, merry girl, now so gentle
so wlnnbag, so sweet. I could not rude
ly break her heart.
She looked up, and then hid .her face
again on my shoulder, and clung to me
to hide her emotion. Was it not possl
bletolove her? Ought I not to be
thankful 1 Had I married Alice no, I
mean proposed to her I should have
only been rejected,and gone away miser
able; now I had a real, true heart to
love me. Surely, surely in time I might
return her affection.
" Can you be happy with me, Hetty?'
I asked. . .
" Oh PJiillp, indeed I can," she re
plied.
" I always feared you laughed at me,'
I said.
" I only laughed to hide my feelings,"
said Hetty.
I am not rich, Hetty," I continued.
will be a careful little wlfn.Phllln."
she said.
' I am riot worthy of you," I said.
'Yes you are," she exclaimed; "I
am not worthy of vou."
There was no escape for me. Rhe
wouldn't see me in my worst light. Bhe
would love me.
We sat down Bide by side. She Brat
tled to me how Alice and Willie had
long loved each other, but that It had
never been a settled thing until now, for
his position had not been such that he
could marry.
' And Alice Is so glad for me," went
on
Hetty, little thinking what mv feel
ings were. She says you're just the
nd of a man she would like for a
brother. You know it would not do for
us
both to want you for a husband eh.
hlllp V"
" No, dearest." I stammered. " it
would not."
I could not talk to her. but she seemed
not to mind my silence. We sat hand
In hand, dreaming, thinking. Inward
ly I was repeating my letter to Charley
Somers, telling him all about my love
lor Alice. JNowImust hasten to tell
him It was Hetty I meant. Oh dear!
w
hat a wild wjilrl my poor brain was
n.
At last, to my great relief. Mr. and
Mrs. Gordon entered. Mrs. Gordon
shook me warmly by the hand and said,
uear Mr. Gwynne, there is no one I
would rather give my wild younar birdie
to than you. Alice though younger, is
so quiet and steady ,she is far more capa
ble of acting for herself : but von'll al
ways be kind and tender to Hetty .won't
you ?"
" Of course he will of Course he will'
cried Mr. Gordon, " Come Gwynne,
and wash your bauds."
Deeply grateful for the chance fnnt
that my hands were dirty, but because I
felt I should burst out crvino- or ln
something equally absurd if I stopped
there), I followed him.
" What time do you dine. Mr. Gor
don " I asked.
" Six," he replied. " It is now a
quarter-past five."
" Ah, I shall just have time," I said.
I find I have forgotten to leave or.
ders about a certain medicine. If you'll
allow me, I'll just run down to the sur
gery, for it will not do to be careless
about physio."
"Certainly not, certainly not..' Bald
Mr. Gordon ; though very excusable un
der the circumstances ; make haste, six
sharp."
I almost ran off. I let m vself in with
the latch key. Oh joy, It was empty.
I sank into a chair and paused to think
What should I do ? The only time for
escape was now. Bhould I send up a
note to say I was suddenly called out.
and see what to-morrow would do V
Should I pack up my things, throw my
profession to the winds, and boltV
They were not tempting alternatives. I
almost did the first. But was I not a
mean coward t was I not going to act
unworthy a gentleman t After plight
ing my troth, receiving her shy kisses,
could I now explain 1 And yet, was it
right to marry one sister, loving the
l. 'J H7 1. .. 1 1 .1 . -r . -
uiuci ( ijjf unu mey uoi seen i iovea
Alice, and told me at once my case was
hopeless V Why did not I open mv
eyes and see that, contrary to appear
ances, she was the younger? No use to
ask that now,
My duty was clear, my course olaln
I smoothed my tumbled hair, bathed my
hot temples in cold water, and deter
mined to be a man and no coward.
would act my part and trust to time to
make It natural tome.
So I retraced my steps, and entered
the Gordons' drawing-room just aa the
clock struck six. I was of course In.
troduced to Cousin Willie. He was a
tall, fair-bearded fellow,looked and spoke
like a gentleman, and seemed very fond
of Alice, and she of him. Somehow I
felt better when I saw them together.
After all, Hetty was just as pretty with
her wavy, glossy hair, her bright eyes,
with their new softened expression, and
that shy smile around her rosy mouth,
I declare I found myself comparing
them to my little one's advantage, and
felt quite proud as I led her to the din
ing room.
What need I say more ? Day by day
my lot grew sunnier, my little Hetty
grew dearer ana dearer to me. X never
knew her otherwise than bright and
good-tempered ; while Alice but I must
not tell tales Alice Is a dear girl and I
am very fond of her, and of my neph
ews and nieces ; but all my heart and
my love is my own merry netty's.
We have now been married some years
and little ones patter about our home
and as I write my own sweet wife leans
over my shoulder and reads how out of
my mistake grew my life's best and tru
est happiness ; and she says mischiev
ously, " My dear old Phil, what a happy old
man you are, although you had to get
married tnrougn a provoking mistake.
C3 Whv Buffer sleertless nlcrhts. with
a distressing cough, while a quarter of a
dollar invested in " Sellers' Cough Syr
up" win give instant rener.
SMLLEHS'
COUGH
SYlWPt
50 Years Before the Public !
Pronounced by all to be the most Pleasant
id efTlnnnlnnn mmpflv nn In ti.a tnw tk.
cure of Coughs, Colds, Croup, Hoarseness,
Tickling BCDBatlon of the Throat, Whooping
Cough, etc. Over a million bottles sold
within Itia F T 1 I 1 1 f
wherever used, and has the power to impart
k..ltt , 1. - . L . 1 1 f ... .
ueiicuk iunit l'kuuui uq una irora loo cougn
mixtures now In use. Bold by all Druggists at
85 cents per bottle.
SELLERS' LIVER FILLS
are also highly recommended for curing liver
coinpiaim, constipation, BlcK-bcadacbes, lever
and ague, and all diseases of the stomach and
liver. Boldly all by all Druggists at 25 cents
per box. io ly
R. E. BELLERS & CO., Pittsburg, Pa.
J. M. Girvin. J. H. Gmvm
J. M. GIRVIN & SON.,
FLOUR, GRAIN, SEED it PRODUCE
Commission Merchants,
No. 61 South (Jay, St.,
BALTIMORE, MD.
We will nnv strict attention to tlie snln nt all
kinds ol Country Produce and remit the amounts
promptly. . 45 lyr.
J. M. U1KV1N B BUN.
jypSSER & ALLEN
CENTRAL STORE
NEWPORT, PENN'A.
Now offer the publlo
A RARE AND ELEGANT ASSORTMENT OF
DRESS GOODS
Consisting si all shades suitable tor the season
BLACK ALPACCAS
AND
Mourning Goods
A SPECIALITY.
BLEACHED AND UNBLEACHED
MUSLINS,
AT VARIOUS PRICES. '
AN ENDLESS SELECTION OF PRINTS!
We sell and do keep a good quality of
SUGARS, COFFEES & SYRUPS
And everything under the head of
GROCERIES !
Machine needles and oil for all makes of
Maohlnes.
To be eonvlnced that our goods are
CHEAP AS THE CHEAPEST,
IS TO CALL AND EXAMINE STOCK.
- No trouble to show goods.
Don't forget the
CENTRAL STORE,
Newport, Perry County, Pa.
DRUGS.
DRUGS.
JACOB STRICKLER,
(Suvoessor to Dr. M. B. Strlckler)
PHARMACIST,
NEW BLOOMFIELD, PENN'A.
HAVING succeeded the late firm of Dr. M. B.
Strlckler In the Drug Business at his Store-room,
on MAIN STREET, two doors East of the Big
Spring, I will endeavor to make It la every way
worthy the patronage of the public.
Personal and strict attention AT ALL TIMES
given to the compounding and dispensing Physi
cians' presclptlons, so as to insure accuracy and
guard against accidents.
BEAR IN m.M
that my stock has been recently selected and car
taken to have everything ' of the BEST QUALI
TY. The publlo may rest assured that ALL med
lolnes that leave my store shall be as represented
-PURE and UNADULTERATED.
I HATE CONSTANTLY OS HAND
HAIK OIL and POMADES
HAIR, TOOTH and NAIL-BRUSHES.
BUBGEONS, TOILET, and
CARRIAGE SPONGES.
PUFF BOXES, TOILET POWDERS,
CASTILE and FANCY SOAPS.
PERFUMERY OF ALL KINDS,
Together with Fresh and Genuine Patent Medi
cines of every description.
ALSO.
Segars, Tobacco, School Books, tic.
ORANGES, LEMONS & BANANAS,
In season.
Pure Wines and Liquors for Medicinal
Purposes.
Tonus, Strictly Cash.
By strict attention to business. I hope to merl
the coutldeuue and favor of the public.
JACOB STRICKLER, Ph. O.
April 19, 1979.