Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1867-09-20


Shaving for him, nursing him. Now and
then he would upbraid her bitterly for some
fancied neglect of him, the poor child with
a twHching face, patiently standing by him
the while, replying only by her tears, her
caresses, and her increased exertlons for
his comfort Then he would make her the
audience of his repinings, tell over and
over again the story of his sufferings,
bursting out occasionally into passionate
I lamentations over his broken health and
ruined fortunes. What could she say?
What could she do? 1t was tiring cruel
work for poor Milly Lance.
He was poor The fact was too often
/ harped on and groaned over for Milly not
to be conscious enough of it.
Yet it must be said that DIR. Dendy had
made no inroads on the sick officers strait
ened means.
/ No, my DEAR" he said to Milly, on
his first visit, putting from him with a
smile the proffercd fee 'mustn Mt be-" 1--WE
doctors have all our crotchets Each of
US has his free list One enters clergy
men upon it; another artists, third au-
thors. For my part, | never take fee
/ from soldier. | should be ashamed to do
/ it. Nv own father was soldier, and
served III India, as your father has served,
only he was more fortunate. He was a
! general of division when he died Don't
let Us hear any more talk about fees. 1t
mustn't be thought of for moment"
.'Oh, DIR. Dendy, how good of you
But-vou'll come and see him aga II !? -
Milly said, timidly thankful, yet alarmed.
Would 50 great man as the physician be
content to continue laboring without his
/ due reward?
My dear, shall come again and again,
a. often as possible, till, between US, we've
made poor papa quite well again
This was on the occasion of Dr. Dendy 5
first visit to Calthorpe street Milly 5
gratitude seemed to know no bounds And
then, thanks TO Providence and the doc
tors remedies, her invalids health had
certainly mended Of late He had not
scolded her for nearly three days, and for
about a quarter Of an hour he had been
almost cheerful Indeed, she had reason
TO be grateful.
The doctor left Milly Lance with fiut-
tering sensation about his heart, such as he
had taken no account, made no mention of
whatever, in his famous treatise upon that
organ He returned TO Calthorpe street
often. He alleged that it was very neces-
sary for him to watch closely the effect Of
his prescriptions upon his patient. And
each time that he saw Milly Lance-and
he now felt a curious desire to see her as
frequently as possible-he experienced a
return of that strange fluttering sensation
in the cardiac region. lie was not alarmed
at it-he did not think it was disease and
if ii was. he didn't care, for it was not at
all disagreeable Indeed, he liked it.
Professionally, he was inclined 10 regard
it as a new development Of action-quite
healthy in it, nature
/ For the first time he felt the chosen pur-
suit, Of his life not sufficiently attractive
or absorbing. Thoughts OF a new kind
broke III upon his studies, disturbed his
! practice, interrupted the flow and harmony
Of his lectures. His great house seemed
to him very dreary, his existence very des-
/ olate Who would nurse and tend me, =
he asked himself, if | were to fall i'll
/ like that poor Capt. Lance ?" Yet he dis
missed the reflections suggested by that in
quiry as selfish and unworthy. No he
said. = wouldn't wish to chain a fair
young creature like that to my side only
to be my nurse and my servant. If / fall
ill-which heaven forbid Il must have
a paid attendant from the hospital; that
will be quite good enough for me. 1t isn't
for such a reason | should wish TO make
her mine.
For il had come to that IIe wished to
make Milly Lance his wife
Ii was love that was 50 restless in his
heart-playing as many pranks with him
a. that shrewd and knowing sprite called
Robin Goodfellow," among maidens OF
the yillagery," housewives and night wan
derers. At least, he surmised that love
was the disturbing cause of his hearts
pulsing. He had had no experience of the
sort Of thing before; but still he thought
he could hardly be mistaken. His disor.
der must arise from what people generally
called love
II got to be more than he could bear at
last. 50 he plucked up courage, and il
an old-fashioned, formal way, he spoke tc
Capt. Lance on the subject, and besoughi
permission to address himself to Mis-,
Lance. And he named very handsom,
sum he proposed to settle on his futur,
wife-if he might regard Miss Lance il
that light
1t shall make no difference TO you
captain" he said in conclusion, with al
adroit consideration for his patients sci
tishness. There's plenty Of room in m,
house. lou must pitch your tent there
Yon Shan't he deprived of your nurse
And your medical attendant will be on tn
spot always. Well soon make you you
old self again
4 congratulate YOU, Milly," Capt
Lance said presently to his daughter, TIL
doctor having taken his departure . y ou'l
accept him, Of course He's ill-lookin,
enough, but he can't help that, and on
gets accustomed to ill-looks. [ dom
think him nearly so plain as | first though
) him And he's old; he cant help tha
: either, and he'll the sooner make you hi
widow. And he's rich, Milly-very rich
Thank goodness, we shall have done witt
this Internal poverty. You will accep
him at once :"
lou wish it, papa -
| Her face was very white, and there wa
: sort Of choke in her throat as she spoke
"Of course | do" he answered, sharply
= You must be "a fool to ask You don
expect such another chance, do you? An
l there's no one else in the way You don
love any one else :? =
No. she answered, family.
: II congratulate you. You'll be happ
woman You'll have more money tha
you'll know what to do with. The luck
:, turned at last. Give me a glass Of wine