The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1876-11-09
A BLIGHT IN SUMMER.

was not the regular doctor, for the
practice at Burnley belonged to Fred.
G unet, an old hospital friend of mine,
who had taken to a simple country prac-
tice, while l had been roaming about
the world as a surgeon in immigrant
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 to attend d
to his practice, while he came up to
towr 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 had been
consulted about "teriible wberritin
pain in the back of an old lady of
seventy five, this was my first call.
eth, res Miss Kate watching for
u.s."
could see the futter of a white dress
by the gate as we drove on, but my at
tention 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.
81 Here he is, uncle DEAR" she cried.
"Time he was here" exclaimed some
one, with savage roar.
After giving various little orders I
placed the tender leg in an easy posi-
tion, the patient breaking out into
furious ordinations the while. Then,
by means of some hoops from small
wooden tub, I made small gypsy tent
over the limb so that the coverings did
not touch the exquisitely tender skin,
and at the end of half an hour ha / the
pleasure of hearing sigh of satisfac-
tion, of seeing smile steal over the
face, which was now smooth and bedewed
with gentle perspiration, and directly
after, in a drowsy voice, my patient
said
"Kitty, my darling, he's a trump,
Take him into the next room and apolo-
gize to him, and tell him I'm not always
such beast"
He was half asleep already, while I
even in that short hour-I had fallen
into a dream, dream of love 1 who
had never loved before, nor thought of
it, but as sickly boy and girl stuff, I'M
worthy of busy men.
1 cannot tell you how that day passed,
only that Kate Austey had implored me
not to leave her uncle yet; and I
was her slave, and would have done her
bidding even to the death.
He was soon better, but my visits to
the farm We're more frequent than ever.
went one day as usual, but instead of
Kate being at the window and running
out to 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.
SIS anything wrong9" 1 said, trem-
bling.
"Yes, lots," said the oldman. "What
do You come here for p
"For mercy's sake, don't keep it
back |" said, for the room seemed to
swim round me. SIS Kate ill ?"
"Yes-I think she is," he said,
gruffly. "But, look here, young man,
what does this meana"
"Mean |" said. "Oh, Mr.. Brand,
if she is i'll let me see her at once I"
"She don't look very bad" he said,
peering through the crack of the door |
into the parlor, where l could see her
white dress "but I say, young man,
) ou'd better not come any more. She's |
growing dull, and L can't have my dar-
ling made fool Of.
"Made fool of |" 1 stammered.
"Yes," he said, grufiy "what do
you come here for9"
I was silent for minute, with won
irous feeling stealing over me, as at
last my lips said-I did not prompt
them" because 1 love her with all my
heart"
Sand you have told her so9'
"Not word," said, slowly. NV
hand was being crushed as in wise the
next minute.
SIM not a gentleman, doctor, but I