Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1849-07-20
The Village Doctor.

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I was greatly troubled, aud knew not
what 10 say OF how 10 look. Suddenly 1
remembered III was a doctors thought)
that Eva. engrossed by her uncasiness. had
taken nothing siuee morning, aud her si,u-
ation rendered IL imprudeni to prolong the
fast. At my FIRST reference TO Tie subject
she raised her eyes TO mine with rcproach-
ful expression, and the motion Of her eye.
lids caused two tears to flow down her
cheeks. ~
"For your child's sake, madam" said /,
"Ah, you are right" shc murmured.
and she passed into the dining-toom; but
there the little table was laid for two, and
at that moment this rifle so saddened ME
assto deprive me Of speech and motion. -
My increasing une asiness rendered me quite
awkward; l had no, the wit to say what I
did not think. The silence was prolonged /;
"and yet," said ! to myself, al am here TO
console her; she sent for me for that pur-
pose There must be Fly ways Of explain
irg this delay--lci me Aud onc's sough,
and soughi-and still remained silent, in
wnrdly cnrsing the poverty of invention Of
poor village doctor. Eva, her head rest
ing on her hand, forgot TO eat Suddenly
she turned 10 me and burst out sobbing. :
"Ah. doctorp she exclaimed, al see
plainly that you too are uneasy" Hs
."No, so, madam--indeel TO, so" replied
j, speaking at random. ''Wly should
be uneasyf He has doubtless dined with
the notary. The roads are safe, and no
one knows that he went for money"
j had inadvertently revealed one Of my
secret causes Of unessinrss. knew that
band Of foreign reapeIs had tina, morning
passed through the village, on their way 10
a neighboring department.
|. Eva uttered a cry.
"Robbersl Robbers !" she exclaimed
81 never thought OF that danger" u isa
'But, madam. ! only mention tito tell
you il does not exist" ~ 3f'
] "Ohi the ,hosgh, struck you, doctor,
because you thought the misfortune pos.
sible ! William, my own William why
did you leave me r. cried she, weeping Bit.
terly. VIZ o r.i
Twas in despair at my blunder, and
fell my eyes I'll with tears. Ny distress
gave me an idea.
mrs Meredih."I said, al cannot see
you torment yourself thus, and remain BY
your side unable to console you will 90
and seek your husband: l will follow At
random one Of the paths through the for
est;I will search every where and shout
his name, and go. il necessary, TO the town
itself" a s7af4 ''iF.trae Ed
"Oh, thanks, thanks, kind friend r. cried
Eva meredith, take the gardener with you
and the serxani ) .~areh in ali directions /"
We hurried back into the drawing room,
and Eva rang quickly und repeatedly. All
the inhabitants Of the cottage opened at the
same time the different doors Of the apart
ment. "Follow DR.. Bnrnaby," cried Mrs
Meredith. M 40 ~ -
AT that moment horses gallop was dis
iincily heard upon the gravel of the gasden.
Eva uttered a cry Of happiness that went
home 10 every heart. Never shall J for
get the divine expression OF Joy that j.
umined her face. still inundated with seaIs.
She and l, we aew to the house door
The moon, passing from behind cloud,
threw her full light upon riderlcss and
foam-coyered horse, whose bride dragged
upon the ground, and whose dusty Ranks
were CALLED BY the empty stirrups. A sec.
ond cry, this time OF inienrest horror, burst
from Eva's breast 1; then she lurned towards
me, her eyes fixed, her mouth half open, Der
arms hanging powerlcss. vi ',ai n
The servants were In CONSERVATION. p E.
"Get torches. my ffiendsl' cried ]. "and
follow me /! Madam, we shall soon return,
hope, and your husband with Us. He has
received some slight hurt, a strained ancls,
perhaps. Keep up your courage. We will
soon be back i.ai ~
III 70 with you p mnrmured Eva Mere
di,h in choking voice. 's tFse iis
'Impossiblc r ! Grind ave must
go fast, pe,haps far. and iB your stste-is
would be risking your life and that Of your
child" pq ~ as4g sif2s ~
81 20 with you p repeated Eva. tgiai a
Then | did feel how cruel was this poor
womaR's isolationI Had father, moth
sS, bsen there, they wouldhaye ordered he'
to stay. they would have reiained her BY
force |; but she was alone upon the earth,
and TO all my hurried entreates she still re.
piled N a hollow voice ~ go With Jou e
| we set out. The moon was again dark
encd BY dense clouds; there VAS Ugh. mel
Their in the heavens nor on shs earth, Ths
uncertain radiance Of our torches barely
showed Us the path. A servant went "a
| front lowering bis torch 10 the right and u