Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1878-05-09

Even then she would not admit to
herself that she was in the least timid,
but resolutely fixed her thoughts upon
Group, and quickened her footsteps as
she did so.
Darker and darker it grew-lonelier
and lonelier; but Hetty pressed reso-
lutely on, until drenched with rain and
ready to drop with the fatigue of max
ing her way through muddy roads
and against the wind. she knocked at
the door of Squire Dakin's red brick
house.
An elderly woman opened it.
" Is it the doctor?" said she eagerly.
No" said Hetty; " but it's the doc
tors daughter"
" Lords sake alive p said the woman,
desparingly; "what good can you do,
and him SO mortal bad ~
GA great DEAL" said Hetty. "Let
me come in if you please. L under
stand my fathers treatment, and I have
some medicine here"
At this the woman stood back, mo-
tioning toward the stairway, and Hetty
ran up and entered the sick room with
a confidence born of her womanly
courage and kindness
But it was no Graded babe nor plump
four year-old who lay there. Dakin's
boy was one-and-twenty at the very
least, pale and handsome. with closed
eyes. and face set as with mortal pain,
as it lay on its pillow.
Hetty Involuntary recoiled.
" lit isn't Group, then "' said she,
clasping one of the little bottles in her
hand.
cts quinsy," said one of the atten-
dants and it is fatal case, Pm
thinking"
And little Hetty, all her bravery ooz-
ing out, like Bob Acres courage, at her
finger ends, sat down behind the door,
and began to cry.
The sick man opened his eyes-large
and soft, and dark they were, with long
lashes-and asked family: g.
Who is that?"
Hetty rose and came forward.
" It's me, the doctors daughter"
said she. Thought it was little
boy with the Group, and"
Don't cry said he gently, sit will
soon be over"
And he closed his eyes again, while
poor Hetty cried harder than ever. An
incipient case of Group she thought she
could manage, but "quinsy" was en-
tirely beyond the range of her capaci-
ties. She had never been in death
chamber before, and the hour and So
lemnity of the scene impressed her
with a sense Of vague terror. ...
Just then a brisk, heavy footstep
sprang up the stairs, two at time.
There was stir and commotion in the
the room.
ooh, thank heaven p cried Hetty,
it's papa"
Doctor Wallis it was. Released
earlier than he expected from the other
sick bed, he had returned home and
learned from his eldest daughter Hetty's
errand-and here he was flushed and
breathless from the haste he had made.
An hour later he came down to where
Hetty sat on the lowest stair, pale and
anxious.
Papa" said she, chow is he?"
"Better, my dear Doing we'll. But
it was an even chance between death
and life for one while. Come, dear,
Pm going home now. Dobbin is at the
door.
Hetty climbed silently into the chaise
and nestled down by her fathers side
" Papa" said she presently, "was L
very silly to come here!'
ono, my dear, you are very kind
hearted But as you see, there is some
difference between a simple case of
Group and malignant quinsy."
Dakin's boy recovered with mar
velous celebrity, and the first place he
visited in his convaleseuce was Doctor
Wallis house, to thank the doctors
black-eyed daughter for coming to see
him on that stormy night.
g [ wish | was little chap with the
Group" said he, laughing, to put my
self under your professional care"
"What nonsense said Hetty, turn
ing very red.
"But, indeed, l shall never forget the
plying look in your kind eyes," said
Hector Dakin, gently. 1t seemed
somehow to draw me back to life"
And by the time Dakin's boy was
quite recovered, he had gotten into the
way of spending his time at DR.. Wallis
that seemed decidedly chronic; and no
one was surprised when he became en-
gagged to the doctors daughter.
It's very strange, though, said
Sibyl, fretfully, that the only eligible
and decent looking man within ten
miles should fall in love with our brown
little Hetty."
Il don't think it strange at ALL" said
DIR. Wallis, dryly.