The Shasta courier., 1866-05-19
SHASTA COURIER,
Doctor Holford's Patient.
THE GovERNEss' MISTAKE.

What on earth am l to do ?'' asked the
doctor. in tone half humorous, half sad, as
be walked up the High street with his friend,
Mr.. Bailey. " If l warn her she won t stay
with me week; Pve lost two governesses
already by listening to your ADVICE
'Well," doubtfulv rejoined Mr. Bailey.
perhaps you are right. He may be safe
enough after all but what silly girl she
must be !"
''On the contrary" interrupted the doctor,
warmly, "she's treasure As like her
poor father as can be- full of good sense and
right feeling. | can't think what possesses
her not to let that unfortunate man alone.
and | can't warn her. Nobody has managed
my poor brats the least like her since-'' and
the doctor coughed away Sigh
A somewhat whimsical exnression passed
over his friends face. Dr. Holford had lost
his wife six months before, and had been in
peck of troubles ever since about his three
children, the youngest an infant of six
months old. The doctor knew no more of
the details of household economy than his
baby, and 1t had become evident to all his
friends that he could not exist long without
wife; but whom should he marry ?-that
was the question. To complicate matters,
DR.. Holford was obliged to exc out the profits
OF a not very remunerative practice, bv re-
celvlng patient at his own house, and rich
patients were not always easy to find. At
the time we write of he had just received as
an inmate sol distant nervous invalid,
Walter Some by name, whom he watched
with singular carefulness, for in his secret
soul the doctor knew the man was insane,
and although in truth he believed him to be
perfectly harmless, yet he daily expected
some mad freak or folly to appear None
had as yet, and all things had gone smoothly
f"r two or three weeks, when, according to
the usual mallgnity OF circumstances, a most
lnconvenlent and aggravating interest in
waiter Stone began to appear in the conduct
OF MISS Stuart, the child ems governess.-
1t Is true that Mr.. Stone was handsome
young man, with manner in which none
cut professional eye could detect any faint
OF madness, but that made it all the more
alarming; and feeling himself as not vet
thoroughly acquainted with the state of his
patients mind, the doctor was on tender.
hooks. A nervous patient might be all very
we'll. bat no governess would stay with a
live lunatic loose about the house. So DR..
Holford was fain to let matters take their
course, trusting to tie chapter of accidents
and to Miss Stuart's good sense to set her
right In time. After all, he thought. there
C 'uld be no great risk. Walter Stone had
come to him with an excellent character for
quietnes', and might, for all he knew, be
durable. So he determined to hold his
tongue, and hope that no bad consequences
ensue. What did ensue we shall presently
see.
day or two after this conversation with
MIR. Bailey, the doctor happened to look out
from his surgery window on the little plot
OF ground at the back of his house which he
was pleased to dignity with the name of
garden. DR.. Holtord worked in it good
deal himself, and took great interest in the
one or two flower BEDS and the border rich
with bright colors, in the arrangement of
which he f1attered himself Sir joseph Pax.
ton Gould not hold candle to him. The
air was scented with the breath of hacs and
hyacinths, and the perfume of two gnarled
hawthorns, covered, one with white and the
other with pink blossoms, that stood ON the
grass plat by the side of the path. and that
were the pride of the doctors heart. The
garden was a kingdom for bees and butter.
flies, and they hummed and danced merrilv
in the sunshine. On this particular Nav
afternoon, a fresh little human flower moved
quickly to and fro among the butterflies clad
in soft grey stuff gown, with pink ribbons
at the throat and wrist. 1t was the vopng
governess, Lizzie Stuart She was n nrprtv
girl of about twenty. with large grew ewes
and fair shiny hair. A sprig of pink NAV
was stuck in the waistband that pirded =
small round waist, and they were very little
feet that tapped impatently upon the gravel
walk. The doctor could not help WATCHING
her from the window as be SIN ked his nine
she made such pretty foreground to his
favorite flowers as she went and came under
the hawthorns. Presently younc man
came out, and walked across the prassnlat
towards her. She met him with an ont.
stretched hand, and they strolled along the
path together. 1t was perfectly natural that
they should do SO, and the doctor ouobt IN
have been glad that his patient should be
subjected to such soothing influences but
some how he sighed little as he saw how
earnestly they were talking, her face raised
uD to him, and his bent down to her Ger.
tainlv Lizzie did not seem afraid of Walter
Stone. The doctor put his pipe in the corner
OF his mouth with another sigh. and went
upstairs to dress for dinner.
The pair in the garden did not remain lo,r
edunterln ma in
to the house. and Lizzie went on walkinn
up and down the short gravel walk For
fear of mistake, we bad better let the read
er into secret at once. Almost from the
first moment three months ago. when Dr.
Holford had done her the immense honor of
confdlng to her care his motherless children.
Lizzie Stuarts tender little heart had hean
in the doctors keeping. Indeed she had
loved him all her life as her fathers friend
and her own but of late what was il tbat
made Lizzie blush. all of herself, in the sol.
itude of her own room. when she tbouubt of
the gratitude and atfec ion she owed the doe.
tor! Alb what wealth of pity and de.
votion she poured out upon bis in secret and
what romantic castles were built up in that
graceful little head of hers, as she sat of an
evening looking out upon the hawthorns of
the wonderful ways in which she was IN ba a
help and a comfort to him, without his know.
ing who had dune the work But thouub
L.. t4r. -