Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1877-01-25
a BLIGHT IN SUMMER.

Fred Garnet, an old hospital friend of
mine, who had taken to simple
country practice, while | had been
roaming about the world as surgeon
in emigrant ships, and during the
Franco-German war. We had met
after seven years, when / wanted a
months quiet in the country, and he
had asked me to attend to his prac-
tice, while he came up to town to
pass a degree, for he was hard
working ambitious fellow.
A man at the door desired me to
come over and see his master, who
was dying of the govt. This was the
announcement by the servant. Saw
ing that | had been consulted about
'terrible wherttin'pain" in the back
of an old lady of seventy five, this
was my first call
"There's Miss Kate a-watching US. !"
coul2 see the futter of a white
dress by the gate as we drove on,
but my attention was too much taken
up by the prettiness of the place, and
l was gaping idly about, thinking
nothing of 'AIiss Kate" and her cares
when the gig stopped and | jumped
down.
"Here he is, Uncle, dear" she cried.
eTime he was here" exclaimed
some one, with savage roar.
After giving various little orders, |
placed the tender leg in an easy posi-
ton. the patient breaking out into flu
rious EXPLANATIONS the while. Then
by means of some hoops from a small
wooden tub, l made a little gypsy
tent over the limb, so that the cover
ing did not touch the exqusitely TEN
der skin, and at the end of half an
hour had the pleasure of hearing a
sigh of satisfaction, of seeing a smile
steal over his face, which was now
believed with a gentle perspira-
ton and directly afterward, in drow-
sly voice, my patient said
"Kitty, my darling, he's a trump.
Take him in the next room and apollo
gize to him, and tell him I'm not al
ways such a beast.
He was half asleep already, while |
even in that short hour had fall
len into dream, dream of love; /
who had never loyed before, nor
thought of it, but as sickly boy and
girl stuff, unworthy of busy me.
cannot tell you how that day
passed, only that Kate Ainsley had
implored me not to leave her uncle
yet; and /? | was her slave, and
would have done her bidding 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 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 wrong?" said trem-
bling.
eyes, lots" said the old man. What
do you come here for?',
s'For mercy's sake don't keep it
back" ! said for the room seemed TO
swim round ME. as Kate i'll ?"
eyes, | think she is" he said gruff-
~. But look here, young man, what
does this mean ?"
~Mean - | 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 her
white dress shut | say, young man,
you'd better not come any more. She
is growing dull, and | can't have my
darling made a fool Of"
"Made fool Off ] stammered.
yes" he said grufiy; what do
YOU come here for 2"
was silent for a moment, with a
wondrous feeling stealing over me, as
at last my lips said-I did not prompt
them "because | love her with all
my heart"
"And you've told her so ?"
Not word" | said slowly My
hand was being crushed as in vice
the next minute.
"I'ul not a gentleman, Doctor, but
know one when | meet one. There,
You may 90 and talk to her if its as
YOU say for if it's true, you wouldn't
make her unhappy; but, my lad, the
man who tritled 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 gold
en- vision. But | was at her chair, ]
know, and that glorious evening | was
content to watch the soft, dreamy face
beside me as she sat there with hands
folded in her lap, watching the sun
set.
At last we rose and walked togeth-
err through the wood, to stop at last
beneath an over-shadowing tree, and
there, in low, broken words | told her
/ loved her, and in her sweet, girlish
simplicity, she laid her hands upon
my shoulders, looked up in my face
and promised to be my little wife.
went home that night riding il q
wonderful triumphal chariot instead
of a gig, and to my great surprise
on reaching the house there was Fred
Garnet
Back already ?" ! stammercd.
Already! Why, the months up
he said, laughing. "You must have
had good sport with your tishin g,
Master Max"
1t came upon me like thunder, thi;
return, and lay all night awake
happy, yet miserable, for this meant
the end of my visit. and what was tc
come in the future? ] had not thought
of that
put it off for the time, and having
obtained willing permission from Gar
net, went his rounds the next morn.
ing. aud of course found my way 10
the farm.
fancy the servant locked at me in
rather . peculiar, constrained way, as
.bo saiI thaf ha~ ,oaSfar had roma n