Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1867-03-23

"Oh, that we're beside her nowi
Oh, will she answer IL / cali2
Oh, would she give me vow for VOW
sweet Amy--ifI told her all2
he hummed, half unconsciously, as he
walked on.
Soon he came in sight of Rock Cot
taQe, the place to which he was going,
and began thereupon to speculate about
Miss Colchester. OF course she was
one of the summer boarders OF whom
Rock Cottage was full. He wondered
whether she were young or old,-whet-
her he should like her,--whether she
would be good pay;--and by this time,
he had rung the bell, and was inquiring
for her of the tidy girl who answered
hissummons.
He was shown into a little parlorson
the first floor. and, pausing moment
at the door, he looked at his patient
A very beautiful woman, he said TO
himself, but just such an one as he did
not like. She sat in a low chair, her
back to the window and her face turn
ed toward him. She wore a simple
white cambria wrapper. Her beauty
had no external adornment whatever.
IT shone upon him startlingly and I'M
expectedly, as if you should open
closet, where you we're prepared TO find
an old family portrait OF some stiff
Puritan grandmother, and be confront
ed, instead, by one of Murillo's Span
ish women, passionate and Splendid
For Miss Colchester was not unlike
those Murillo-painted beauties. Size
had clear, dark skin, through which
the changeful color glowed as if her
cheeks were transparent; dark, heav-
ilv-falling hair; low brow; great pas
sionate, slumbrous eyes; proud, straight
features. There was nothing like a
New England woman about her. That
was DIR. Hugers first thought; and she
read it, either through some subtle
clairvoyant power, or, a simpler sOlu-
ton, because she knew that every one,
who saw her under these cool skies of
the temperate zone. would naturally
think that thought first. Her full ripe
lips parted in a singular smile, as she
said.-
"You are thinking that am not of
the North. You are right. L was born
in New Orleans. 1 am a Creole of the
Creoles. 1 don't like the people here.
l sent for you because you were Ger
man. at least by descent"
Chow did you know it?'
Tt was an abrupt question for man
of the doctors habitual grave courtesy,
but she seemed to him unique, and it
was impossible to maintain bis old equi-
poise in her presence. She had read
his thought like witch. Was there
something uncanny about her?
"How did / know you were Ger
man?" She smiled. Because your
name suggested the idea, and then I
saw you in the street, and your feat
ures Endorsed the hint your name had
given me.
81 am glad that anything should have
made YOU think of me.
1t was one of the conventional plati-
tudes, of which self-complacent men,
like DR.. Huger, keep stock on hand
for their lady friends. Miss Colchester
saw its poverty, and smiled at it, as she
answered him.
at think of every one with whom i
come In contact; aud thought of you.
especially, because / intended from the
first, ii there were good physician
here, to consult him."
The doctor looked into her radiant
face.
''Is it possible that you are ill.,"
He had sat down beside her by this
time, and taken her hand. IL gave
him a curious sensation as it lay quiet
~ in his. He felt as if there we're more
life, more magnetism, IN it than in any
hand he had ever touched.
THAT you must tell me- she said,
quietly. my heart feels strangely,
sometimes; it beats too rapidly, 1 think,
and sometimes very irregularly. have
lived too fast,-suffered and enjoyed
too keenly. The poor machine is worn
out, perhaps. look TO you to inform
me whether am in danger"
81 must have my stethoscope. / will
go for it. Are you sure you can bear
the truth?"
She smiled.-a cool smile touched
with scorn.
ST have not found life so sweet, sh9
said, ''thst its loss will trouble me. /
only want to know how long / am like
~ to have in which to do certain things.
Ii you can tell me, shall be satisfied"
AS DIR. Huger went home, he met
Amy. Something In the sight of her
fresh, blonde beauty, wlth its fulness of
life and health, Jared on his mood
He bowed to her with a preoccupied
air, and hurried on. When he went
back TO Rock Cottage, Miss Colchester
was sitting just as he had left her. To
sit long at time in one motionless ate
titude was a popularity of hers. Her
manner had always singular COM
pcsure, though her nature was impetu-
GUS
he placed over her heart the instru-
ment he had brought, then listened a
long time TO its beating. He dreaded
TO tell her the story 1t revealed TO him,
and at last made mp his mind to evade
the responsibility. When he had come
to this conclusion, he raised his head.
81 do not feel wiling" he said, "to
pronounce an opinion. Let me send
for medical man who is older, who
has had more experience"
She raised her dark eyes, and looked
full in his face.
''You are afraid to tell me, after all
L said? Will you not believe that 1 do
not care to live? / shall send for no
other physician. / look for the truth
from your lips. You find my heart
greatly enlarged?"
81 told you / did not like to trust
my own judgment; but that is my OPT
niOn."
Sand if you are right shall be like
ly to live-how long?"
Possibly for years. Probably for a
few months. There is no help,-I
mean, no cure. If you suffer much
pain, that can be eased, perhaps. T"
Miss Colchester was silent few mo
ments. DIR. Huqer conId see no chanpA |