The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1876-12-09
A Blight in Summer.

was not the regular doctor, for the
practice at Burnley belonged to Fred
Garnet, an old hospital friend Of mine,
who had taken to simple country prac.
ticc, while had been roaming the world
as surgeon in emigrant ships, and during
the Franco. German war. We had met
after seven years, when l wanted q
months quiet in the country, and he had
asked me to attend to his practice, while
he came up to town to pass 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 l had been
consulted about "terrible wherritin'
pain" in the back of an old lady of sew.
enty' five, this was my first call.
"There's Miss Kate a watching for us. +"
l could see the Autter of q white dress
by The gate as we drove on, cut my atten.
tion was too much taken up by the pretti.
ness of the place, and 1 was gaping idly
about, thinking nothing of "Nliss 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 patient breaking out into furious
exclamations the while. Then, by means
OF some hoops from a small wooden tub,
| made 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 satisfaction. Of seeing a smile
steal over the face, which was now smooth
and bedewed with gentle perspiration.
and directly after, in drowsy voice, my
patient said:
"Kitty, my darling, he's u trump.
Take him into the next room and apolo.
gize to him, and tell him that I'm not
always such beast"
He was half asleep already, while l.
even In that short hour-I had fallen into
a dream, dream of love; l who had
never loved before, nor thought of it, but
as sickly boy.and.girl stuff, unworthy OF
busy men.
l cannot tell you how that day passed,
Only that Kate Anstey had implored me
not to leave her uncle yet; and L? |
was her slave, and would have done her
bidding even to the death.
He was soon better, but my visits to
the farm were moro frequent than ever,
| went one day as usual, but instead of
Kate being at the window and running
out to meet me, tho old gentleman stood
at the door, looking very angry, and he
at once caught hold of my coat and
dragged me into the kitchen.
"1s anything wrong?" l said, trem.
bling,
"Yes, lots" said the old man. "What
do you come here for7"
"For mercy's sake, don't keep it back !"
l said, for tho room seemed to swim
around me. us Kate ill?'
"Yes-I think she is," he said gruffly.
"But look here, young man, what does
this mean 2"
"Mean!" Isaid. "Oh, Mr.. Brand,
1t she is ill let me sec her at once !"
"Sho don't look very bad" he said /,
peering through the crack of the door into
the parlor, where l could SEQ 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 a
fool Of"
MADE fool off," | stammered.
Yes" he said, grufi1y; "what do you
come here fort"
l was silent for minute, with a won.
drous feeling stealing over me, as at last
my lips said-l did not prompt them
because l love her with all my heart"
"And you've told her so ?"
"Not word" l said, slowly. My
hand was being crushed as in vice the
next minute.
"Im not gentleman. but know one
when l meet one. There, you may 90
and talk to her, if it's as you say; for If
lt's true you wouldn't make her unhappy
but. my lad, the man who triAed with
that girls heart would be the greatest
scoundrel that ever stepped on Gods
earth"
The whole Of this part of my life is so
dreamy that it is all like some golden
vision. But l was at her chair | knew,
and that glorious evening l was content
to watch the soft, dreamy face beside me
as she sat there with hands folded in her
lap, watching the sunset.
At last we rose and walked together
through the wood, to stop at last beneath
an overshadowed tree, and there, 10 low ,
broken words l told her loved ner, and
10 her sweet, grlish simplicity she laid
her hands upon my shoulders, looked up
in my face. and promised to be my little
wife.
l went home that night, riding in a
wonderful triumphal chariot instead OF
gig, and to my great surprise on reach.
ing the house there was Fred Garnet.
"Baok already" l stammered.
Already Why the month is up"
he said, laughing. "You must hsve had
Max"
1t came upon me like thunder. this
return, and lay that night awake hap,
py, but miserable, for this meant the end
OF my visit, and what was to come 10 the
futuref l had not thought of that.
put it of for the time, aud having
obtained willing permission from Garnet,
| went his rounds the next morning, and
OF course found my way to the farm.
ianeled the servant looked at me 10
rather peculiar. constrained way, as she
said that her master had gone to the off.
hand farm.
"And Miss Kate 2" l said.
"She's down in the wood, sir" said the
girl
waited to hear no more, but ran along
the garden. leaped the gate. and crossing
two fields went throuoh tha xy;lJa..aas