The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1877-08-08
A Blight in Summer.

IL
Garnet, an old hospital friend of mine,
vino had taken to a simple country prac-
tice, while had been roaming about the
world as surgeon in emigrant ships
during the Franco German war. We had
met after seven years, when I wanted a
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 a hard studying, ambitious
fellow.
A man at the door desired me to come
over and see his master, who was "aying
of gout." This was the announcement
by the servant Saving that had been
consulted about "terrible wherrtlin
pain in the back of an old lady of
seventy-f this was my first call.
"There's Miss Kate a-ws>tching for
u.s..
I could see the futter of a white dress
by the gate as we drove in; but my at
tcntion was now too much taken up with
the prettiness of the place, and I was
gaping idly about thinking nothing of
"Miss Kate" and her cares, when the
gig stopped, and I 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 ex-
clalnations the while. Then by some
hoops from small wooden tub made q
little gipsy tent over the limb, so that
the coverings did not touch the exquisite
" tender skin. At the end of haitian
hour I had the pleasure Of hearing a sigh
of satisfaction, of seeing Il smile steal
over the face, which WIS now smooth and
betlcwcl with gcntlc persp;ration; and
directly :.fter,. Ill n drowsy voice, my
patient said:
"Kitty, my darling he's a trump!
Take him into the next room and apollo
gize to him, and tell him I'm not always
such beast
He was half asleep already, while l.
even in that short hour-had fallen into
a dream-a dream Of lore-I, who had
never loved before, nor thought of it but
rs sickly boy and girl stuff, unworthy of
busy men.
cannot tell You how that day passed,
only that Kate Anstey had implored me
not to leave her uncle yet; and II 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.
I 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.
Is anything wrong?" I asked,
trembling.
"Yes, lots!' said the old n an "What
10 YOU come here for?"
For mercy's sake, don't keep it
backw I said-for the room seemed to
swim around me. els Kate i'll 2"
eyes, think she is, he said, gruffiy.
"But look here, young man! what does
this mean!"
"Mcan 2" I said. "Oh! Mr.. Brand!
if she is i'll, let me see her at once"
"She don't look very bad" he said,
peering through the crack of the door
into the parlor, where I could see her
white dress but say, young man
you'd better not come any more. She's
growing dull, and I can't have my
darling made fool of.
"Made a fool os?' I stammered.
eyes" he SAL, gruffly. "What do
you come here for?"
1 was silent for minute, with q
wondrous feeling stealing over me, as at
last my lips said-I did not prompt
them" Because love her with all my
heartw
"And you have told her SOP
"Not a world" said slowly. My
hand was being crushed as if in q wise
the next minute.
I'm not a gentleman, doctor, but 1
know one when I meet one. There, you
may go and talk to her-if it's as you
say; for if it's true, you wouldn't make
her unhappy. But, my lad, the man
who trihed with that girls heart would
be the greatest scoundrel that ever
stepped on Gods earth!'
The whole of this part of my life is 80
dreamy that it is all like some golden
vision. But was at her chair, I know;
and that glorious evening I 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 be-
meath an overshadowing tree, and there
i'll low, broken words told her I loved
her; and, in sweet, girlish simplicity,
she laid her hands upon my shoulders,
looked up in my face, and promised to
be my little wife.
I went home that night riding in o
wonderful triumphal chariot, instead of
a gig. To my great surprise, on reach
ing the house there was Fred Garnet.
"Back already ?" I stammered.
"a" Already? Why. the months up!"
he said, laughing. "You must have
had good sport with your fishing, Mas
k,, Nov -