Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1874-07-02
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of velvet satin, and brocatelle; and,
thanks to their united industry and perse-
verance, the great work of fitting up the
new house was most satisfactorily inau-
gurated by dinner-time.
Fred was too busy to accompany her to
the doctors next morning, and Flossy
went off quite courageously alone. The
physician seemed little surprised to see
her thus, and thought better Of her nerve
than he had done the day before He
Thought better Of it still, when he saw with
what quiet fortitude she underwent the
very painful application which he present.
ly proceeded to make. The poor infamed
eyelids were turned inside out, and paint
ed" with some pungent salve; drops of
someifiery liquid fell like living Goals upon
the sore and quivering balls, but she made
no sign of suffering after the first long,
shuddering sigh She sat quite still, grow
ing white to the lips, and with her finger
tips pressed tight together, but she neither
hinched nor cried out and when it was
over, and she lay back for u moment with
the poor, smarting eyes closed, and the
tears running down her pale cheeks, the
doctor was faiH to comfort her as he would
have done child.
There. the worst is over now, he said,
gently, "for the first is always The worst;
and you have the consolation of having
proved your heIoism at least"
THAT isn't the least bit of consolation,
thank you," retorted Flossy, piquantly,
coming out of her forced calm, as the pain
subsidized little, and drying her tears with
a drolly pathetic air. II am not at all am-
bilious of being considered heroic. Of
course, if must suffer, want to behave
like woman, and not like a baby; but
much rather, if you please, not to have to
suffer at ALL
"You don't believe, then, in the
Strengthening and purifying power Of
pain ?' said the doctor.
II am afraid don't. have no faith in
the be good and you'll be happy doctrine;
are other people, believe, and they can't
be happy while they are suffering. Hence,
as we used to say at school. if could ban
ish pain from the world, I'd do it, and
then we'd all be happy, and all be good"
What would the orthodox people and
the poets say to such heresy?" asked the
DOCTOR amused at her fippancy.
knowledge by suffering enterethi'
you know, and you surely wouldn't ven-
ture to oppose Longfellow's dictum, inn
pressed upon you, doubtless. in your first
reader that It's very particularly sublime
thing
To suffer and be strongp
"Oh, know all they say" said Flossy,
Struggling her shoulders; "but it seems
to me, if we were spared the suffering, we
wouldn't need the strength. At any rate.
I'm Sybarite enough to wish could try it.
| think they were the wisest of the old phi
losophers, after all. There is Mrs. Brown
ing, now, who asks in sad amaze if we
would
Refuse the baptism Of salt tears?'
| wonder if she ever had sore eyesP Doc
tor. what have you done to to make me
cry so incessantlyp You will ruin me in
pocket handkerchiefs -
She held up little cambria trihe, conf
pletely saturated with the moisture which
the scalding APPLICATION had caused to flow
plentifully from her eyes, and the doctor
gravely presented his own handkerchief.
1t was large, and fine. and cool, and Flos-
sy took it simply, and pressed it to her
smarting eyeballs.
IL like the smell of Florida water" she
said, naively; 1T is so refreshing. while
most perfumes are, on the contrary, op-
pressive.' And she again applied the fra
grant linen to her eyes.
The doctor flushed with an odd sense of
pleasure, and gave an amused assemble
ginning meanwhile to fold up his pow
ders.
"You ought to feel quite honored," he
said. presently, sat being allowed to share
St. Paul's infrmity. You know the learn
ed in those matters have decided diseased
eyes to have been his thorn in the fesh'"
II don't believe it," said Flossy, irrever-
emily; sit is only their opinion and have
as good right to mine. l think he was
Tilted, and that was the reason he re-
manned a bachelor, and was so cross on
the subject of marriage -
DR.. Buchanan laughed outright
when have l heard so much hetero-
doxy in one day P" and he said 'but
course, no woman would admit that man
would ever remain unmarried of his own
free choice
''Not such sensible a man as St. Paul
was, at any rate" retorted Flossy; and
the doctor thought involuntarily, of the
tall and hand dsOme young man who had
accompanied his fair patient on the pre-
ceding day, ard Of the housekeeperly
confab which he had partially overheard.
| can easily imagine that you would
| have no trouble in winning converts to
your opinion" he said, cOurteously, but
Flossy never noticed compliments. and
drying her eyes, finally, on the Doctors
handkerchief, returned it to him, and rose
to go. AS she took up her bonnet, slight
sound behind her attracted her attention,
and turning she saw door leading to
another apartment open hesitatingly. A
sweet young face appeared for moment
at the opening and a soft voice said ap-
ologetically;
81 beg pardon for interrupting, but
must see you just moment. Alec. about
something important"
Immediately" answered the doctor;
and Flossy, thinking that it was plain. not
| only that he was no imitator of st. Paul
but that he had displayed uncommon good
taste in his choice for wife, took the
package of medicine which he handed her,
and made her way ont through room
fast filling with patients.
| Flossy went the next day, and the next,
and continued to go each day, at the same
hour, to her new physician; and strange
to say, in spite of all the inquisitorial tor
lures he subjected her to--the scalding,
|