Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1870-09-10
MADELINE IFRvIs,

"
had been raging in the town, and my pa.
rents had both fallen asleep in one day,
both been buried in one grave They said
l had it lightly. do not remember be-.
ing i'll at all only remember praying
70 die. How could live? what had l to
live for and then Lucy would try to quiet
me, and DR.. Rhodes come in, draw his
chair by the side of the bed, take my hand,
and, in his own peculiar way, talk to me
till had no vii. to oppose him. Nothing
to do but to obey. Then he would lay his
hand on my forehead, and the veins that
had knotted up like tangled whip cords,
binding my temples, would smooth out
perccptibly, and sleep. quiet and refresh.
ing, steal over me, while the doctor would
tell Lucy what she must do; that, as soon
as l was able, must go into the country
it would never do for ME to stay 4here.
She will never get well, with all these
mementoes of her parents constantly in her
presence. She must be reused from this
state, or there is no hope" And l, half
asleep and half awake, but quiet as long
as the doctor was talking, would firmly re.
solve never to go: did not want to get
we'll; did not mean to. But what was
my resolve to his firm, strong will ?-his
will that so completely mastered mine and
however much l might determine in his
absence not to do, that very thing l was
led to do readily, if he said so.
Therefore it was not surprising that one
morning, after l had begun to sit up, 1
felt myself wrapped very carefully in num-
bcrless shawls aud blankets, and then Lucy
took me in her arms to the carriage, where
DR.. Rhodes received me. There, nestled
away among the cushions, he drew me up
to him tcnderly, laid my head upon his
shoulder, and talked me to sleep, while
Lucy sat on the front seat, and tried to be
very staid and dgnified as she listened to
the way and manner in which must sleep,
eat, aud take exercise.
After a drive of about two hours, we
stopped at the entrance Of charming
place. The great bronze gates swung
open, and the carriage wound along the
grsveled way, and passed on 10 where the
syringa bushes were Loaded with their
creamy blossoms; past the fountain throw
ing its diam mond spray over the japonicas,
camclliss, aud pearly-hued lilies; the
cleaning Of statuary seen through the
riffs of green leaves. while an endless va
riety flowers and fruits nodded their vel.
come. Up to this time l had not even
asked where we we're going. We were
going from home had been my only
thought; where. had not troubled me at
ALL just as this question was beginning
to tax my brain, the carriage stopped. l
had only time to see that the house was
large, with gables and turrets, and pointed
roof. and that it covered an immense
stretch of ground, with veranda of trelis-
work covered with vines, roses, and honey
suckle.
"A beautiful place." I mentally ejacu-
lated, as a sweet-browed wom,n bent over
me, her good, motherly face shaded by
little lace cap with bits of pink ribbon,
and long, flowing lappets, while the light
in her calm b'ue eye went to my heart like
a ray Of sunshine.
II have brought my little patient, Mrs.
Moore. Lucy will take care of her, and
breathing the atmosphere Of your home
will revive her better than any medicine
of nine" And the doctor seated me on
the sofa, while Mrs. Moore put her arms
about me just as my own mother used to,
and said quietly:
81 used to know your mother when
she was little girl, my dear. l am very
glad the doctor has brought you to me-"
The tears we're in my eyes, while hers drip.
ned over my face, and from that moment
there was a warm feeling in my heart for
the gentle woman who had promised the
doctor to do all in her power to make me
we'll again.
These were happy autumn days, lying
there in the shade of the trees, and look
ing out on to the sea, filed as it was with
great steamers, beautiful brigs, and grace
full schooners-a picture gallery, with moth
ing stationary, save the great black hulls
in the distance.
But if Mrs. Moorc's house was large, it
had no empty rooms. On account of my
being an invalid, was not introduced to
the inmates all at once. Mrs. Holmes,
Young widow, was the first one that re.
member. Beautiful she was not, but there
was a look in her great brown eyes, a tone
10 her voice that went to my heart at once,
for it told me that she had suffered, and |
felt nearness-a sudden outleaping Of at
fection that joy never gives.
Mrs. Holmes was accompanied by her
daughter, a little girl Of ten or eleven
years. Her hair. just the color Of ripe
hazel nut, was put away from forehead
not high, but full, and with blue branch
in. veins in the temples. Her eyes, in
hue inst like her hair, were beautiful, but
with dreamy look, as if she were trying
to fathom something too hard for her.
She had a rich, creamy complexion. pale
except when she spoke-then the red
came iu waves. The child had governess
"a good, practical woman, who, as l
grew stronger, used not untreq9ent'y 10
let mo lean upon her arm, while Lucy sup
ported me on the other side, and told me
stories of her home--of the green, dewy
hills that graded the little village where