Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1876-11-24
A Blight In Summer.

1 was not the regular doctor, for the prac-
tice at Burnley belonged to Fred Garnet,
an old hospital friend OF mine, who had
taken to a simple country practice, while
had been roaming the world as surgeon in
emigrant ships, and during the Franco
German war. We had met after seven
years, when 1 wanted a months quiet in
the country, and he had asked me 10 attend
to his practice, while he came up TO town to
pass a degree, for he was hard studying,
ambitious fellow.
A man at the door desired me to come
over and see his master, who was dying Of
gout. This was the announcement by the
servant. Saving that had been consulted
about "terriblo wherrilin' pain" in the
back of an old lady of fseventy-five, this was
my first call.
"Thcre's Miss Kate a-watching for u.s."
could see the fiutter OF a while dress by
the gate as we drove on, but my attention
was too much taken up by the prettiness of
the place, and was gaping idly about,
thinking nothing of "Miss Kate" and her
cares, when the gig stopped, and jumped
down.
"Here he is, uncle dear" she cried.
"Time he was here" exclaimed some one
with savage roar.
After giving various little orders placed
the tender leg in an easy position, the pa
tient breaking out into furious exclama-
tions the while. Then, by means OF some
hoops from a small wooden tub, made q
little gypsy tent over the limb so that the
coverings did not touch the exquisitely
tender skin. and at the end of half an hour
had the pleasure of hearing a sigh OF sat
isfaction, of seeing a smile steal over the
face, which was now smooth and believed
with a gentle perspiralion, and directly af-
ter, in drowsy voice, my patient said:
"Kttty, my darling, he's trump. Take
him into the next room and apologize TO
him, and tell him that I'm not always such
q beast"
He was half asleep already, while l.
even In that short hour-I had fallen into
q dream, dream of love; who had new
er loved before, nor thought of 1t, but as
sickly boy-and-girl stuff, unworthy OF busy
men.
cannot tell you how that day passed,
only that Kate Anstey had implored me
not 10 leave her uncle yet; and II 1 was
her slave, and would have done her bid
ding even TO the death.
He was soon better, but my visits to the
farm were more frequent than ever. went
one day as usual, but instead OF Kate be-
ing at the window and running out 10 meet
me, the old gentleman stood at the door,
looking very angry, and he at once caught
hold of my coat and dragged me into the
kitchen.
"Is anything wrongf" I said, trembling.
eyes, lots" said the old man. "What do
you come here forf"
"For mercy's sake, don't keep il back T.
said, for the room seemed to swim around
me. "Is Kate ="
"Yes-I think she is" he said grufiy.
"But look here, young man, what does this
mean ~
"Mean ~ said. 'Oh, Mr.. Brand, II she
is i'll let ME sec her at oncei"
"She don't look very bad" he said, peer
ing through the crack OF the door into the
parlor, where could see her white dress /;
''but say young man, you'd better not
come any more. She's growing dull and
can't have my darling made fool Of"
shade fool Ofp' 1 stammered.
"Yes," he said, gruffiy; "what do you
come here for"
was silent for a minute, with q won
drous feeling stealing over NE, as at last
my lips said-I did not prompt lheh-"be-
cause love her with all my heart"
And you've told her sof"
rNot word" said, slowly. My hand
was being crushed Is in a vice the next
minute.
"Pm not a gentleman, but know one
when meet one. There, you may go and
talk 10 her, If IT'S as you say; for II it's
true you wouldn't make her unhappy but,
my lad, the man who triaed with that girls
heart would be the greatest seoundrel that
ever stepped on Gods EARTH"
The whole of this part Of my life Is so
dreamy that it is all like some golden WIS.,
ion, Bot 1 was at her chair know, and
that glorious evening 1 was content 10
watch the soft, dreamy face beside me as
she sat there with hands folded in her lap,
watching the sunset.
At last we rose anu WhlAeu toSetno'
through the wood, to stop at last beneath
an oyersbadowed tree, and there, in low,
broken words told her loved her, and
in her sweet, girlish simplicity she laid her
bands upon my shoulders, looked up in
my face, and promised to be my little wife
went home that night, ridlngin a won
derful triumphant chariot instead Of gig
and to my great surprise ON reaching the
house there was Fred Garnet. .,.'..
.Back already r. l stammered. ...
"Alreadyf Why the month Is up" he
said, laughing. "You must have had good
sport with your ishing, Master Max"
It came upon me like thunder, this re-
turn, and I lay that night awake-haPpy
but miserable, for this meant the end OF my
visit, and what was TO come In the future