Knoxville journal. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1874-1986, 1875-02-18

Pauline, DOCTOR"
The doctor tried his best to be cross,
but he could not do it. Pauline's lovely
face, framed in soft golden curls, her
great, pathetic, black eyes, had a power
and charm which no one could with
stand. He examined her in silence,
wrote short prescription, and then
said:i
81 She will get well. All she really
needs is plenty of sleep, good food and
pure air. These you can probably give
her."
"Yes, sir; our food is simple, but
good"
All the better for being simple Isup-
pose you would like to feed her on ice
cream and port wines"
would if l could afford it. 1t would
coax her appetite"
No doubt it would, but she cal do
without them"
As the doctor did not seem in hurry
to go, Miss Morette showed him her gar
den, of which she was very proud.
What are those things for?" asked
the doctor, pointing to the semi-circle of
summer-houses.
They are little greeneries for my old
ladies to sit i'm
"They look like menagerie."
DO theyS l think they look very
pretty. You see they are surrounded by
little flower-beds, with plenty of mig
nonette. l think the smell of mignon-
cite is good for people"
AS she spoke she picked few sprigs
OF her favorite flower and gave them to
the doctor, and as he did not seem to
know what to do with them she put them
in his button-hole, as she had often done
for her father.
Perhaps the smell of mignonette was
good for the doctor, for he became quiet
and almost gentle.
When they arrived at the gate he
asked:
Why do you keep this flock of old
womenr Do you think they will be
gratefully"
81 do not know. But it does me good ;
/ enjoy it,
DO your Then you must be very
81 am" she replied, softly, almost rev.
erently.
Had she seen the look the doctor gave
her she would have been almost alarmed
at the warmth of its kindness But the
innocent little lady was meditating a
great mistake.
" Doctor" she said, ~ am very much
obliged to you for coming. / dare not
ask you to come again, but-may go to
tell you when Pauline is better!"
Madam" said the doctor, savagely,
4" / do not allow my patients to destroy
the peace of my household. | do not
wish to be constantly reminded of them.
And L have the honor to bid you fare
we'll"
And he strobe away, followed by Fido.
The next day Miss Morette was seated
at her window, holding Pauline on her
lap, when a strange vision appeared be-
fore her astonished eyes. DIR. Lam
bert, or his ghost, was walking up the
garden path, with large tin can in his
hand and two long white parcels stick
ing out of his pockets and bobbing anna.
bly, on each side of him. After the
fashion of ghosts, he entered without
knocking. But it was decidedly living
and lively voice that said:
"Come, bring me two saucers and two
spoons. Be quickw
Miss Morette did as she was told, and
the doctor opened the tin can. 1t con-
tanned some sawdust and smaller can
filled with pink and white ice-cream,
which he deposited in the two saucers.
Don't say anything; eat it before it
is all melted. Be quick" commanded
the doctor, trying TO look wicked.
The ice-cream being disposed Of, DR..
Lambert emptied his pockets.
Here Is some port wine, which you
will please use generously, as there is
plenty more where this comes from.
And now that you have what YOU
wanted, madam, hope you will be more
graciors than you we're yesterday"
Miss Morette was so astonished at the
doctors doings that nothing he could
say had any power to rouse her. She
was gracious, and nothing disturbed the
peace of that visit.
After this the doctor came every after
noon; for, as he said, "the child must be
fed"
Before the summer was over he had
quarreled with every human being in the
establishment except little Pauline. He
scolded the old women, he stormed at
the children, he laughed at Miss Mo-
rette's pills, he declared Suzette was a
goose. Yet, In spite of all this, no one
was afraid of him, and every one loved
him.
Miss Morette fought for her pills and
her affairs, undismayed by frowns and
sneers II there was one thing the doc
tor enjoyed in his secret soul it was
good natured contradiction, and Miss
Morette gave him that pleasure un-
sparingly whenever II became necessary.
AS for little Pauline, she looked upon
her old friend with the eyes of love.
"You are so good and so pretty" she
said to him one day. The doctor knew
he was not "pretty," and he had serious
doubts about being good" but he was
deeply touched by the feeling that had
| inspired the words.
When the cool days of autumn had
sent away Miss Morette's guests DR..
Lambert's visits acquired certain inti-
| macy and friendliness that made them
still more pleasant. He spent his after
moons in the little parlor, where bright
| wood fire burned all day and in that
room he seemed to forget that his chief
| duty was to be cross. He played youth
| full games with Pauline and Fido, usually
ending off with touching representa-
ton Of Red Riding Hood, in which the
| doctor, crowned with red cap, greatly
distinguished himself as naughty little
girl, and mcekly submitted to being de-