Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1877-07-28
A Blight in Summer.

| was not the regular doctor-for the
practice at Blurney belonged to Fred
Garnet, an old hospital friend of mine,
who had taken to simple country prac-
tice, while 1 had been roaming about the
world as surgeon in emigrant ships
during the Franco German war We had
met after seven years, when 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 q hard studying, ambitious
fellow.
A man at the door desired me to come
over and see his master, who was "dyine
of gout." This was the announcement
by the servant. Saving that [ had been
consulted about q "terrible wherrtlin'
pain" in the back of an old lady Of
seventy-fve, this was my first call.
"Theres Miss Kate a-watching for
us"
I could see the futter of white dress
by the gate as we drove in; but my at
tention 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 / jumped down.
"Herc he is, uncle dear p she cried.
"Time he was here !" exclaimed some
one, with a savage roar.
After giving various little orders,
placed the tender leg in an easy position,
the patient breaking out into furious ex-
clamations the while. Then by some
hoops from a small wooden tub [ made a
little gipsy tent over the limb, so that
the coverings did not touch the exquisite
ly tender skin. At the end of half an
hour I had the pleasure of hearing sigh
of satisfaction, of seeing smile steal
over the face, which was now smooth and
bedeIed with gentle perspiration: and
directly sfter, in 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 Tn not always
such beast" -1
He was half asleep already, while /
even in that short hour-had fallen into
dream-a dream of love-I, who had
never loved before, nor thought of it but
as sickly boy and girl stuff, unworthy of
busy men. CJ @
1 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
fn71E tn r1onof tho old rraD{ Iapoo,, ety,a al
at the door, looking very angry, and he
at once caught hold Of my coat and
dragged me, into the kitchen.
4. Is anything wrong?" I asked,
trembling.
eyes, lotsi" said the old man. "What
do you come here for 2" l'a ea
t'For mercy's sake, don't keep it
backl" said--for the room seemed to
swim around me. els Kate i'll 2"
., eyes, think she is, /" he said, graffiy.
g But look here, young mani what does
this mean? r.
Mean?" l 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 / could see hel
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.
iI Made fool of % stammered.
Yesp' he said, gruff1y. r" What dc
you come here for ?" Hu
was silent for a minute, with Q
wondrous feeling stealing over me, as at
last my lips said-I did not prompt
theme Because love her with all my
heart p
"And you have told her SOL" o
"Not q word' / said slowly. My
hand was being crushed as if in wise
the next minute. lau
I'm not gentleman, doctor, but
know one when I meet one. There, yor
may go and talk to her-if it's as yor
say; for if it's true, you wouldn't make
her unhappy. But, my lad, the maj
who trifed with that girls heart woult
be the greatest scoundrel that eve
stepped on Gods earthp
The whole of this part of my life is 81
dreamy that it is all like some COLDER
vision. But L was at her chair, know
and that glorious evening was conten
to watch the soft, dreamy face besid'
me, as she sat there, with hands foldet
in her lap, watching the sunset.
At last we rose and walked togethe
through the wood to stop at last be
meath an overshadowing tree, and ther