Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1878-06-12

.ne uty leaves did Hetty's valiant heart
begin TO quail.
Even then she would not admit to hor.
sell that she was in the least timid, buI
reSolutely fixed her thoughts upon Dakin's
boy. suffocating TO death with Group, and
quickened her footsteps AS she did 80.
Darker and darker it grew-lonelier
and lonelier; but lielty pressed resolutelv
on, until drenched with rain and ready Ia
drop with the fatigue of making her way
through muddy roads against the wind.
she knocked at the door of Squire Dakin's
red brick house.
An elderly woman opened it.
Is 1t the doctor? said she. eagerly.
No, said lletty; but it's the doctors
daughter.
Lords sake alive! said the woman, de-
sspairingly; what good can you do, and
him so mortal bad?
A great deal, said Hetty. Let me come
in. If you please. | understand my faith
er's treatment, and have some medicine
AT this the woman stood back, motion.
ing toward The stairway, and H,tty ran up
and entered the sick room with a conf
dchce born OF her womanly courage and
kindness.
But it was no cradled babe or plump
fonr-year-old who lay there. Dlkin's boy
was one and twenty at the very least pale
and handsome. with closed eyes, and Il
face set as if in mortal pain, as it lay on
its pillow.
lit isn't the group, them said she,
clasplng one of the little bottles in her
hand.
Its quinsy, said one of the attendants;
and it's fatal case. I'm thinking.
And little Hetty. all her bravery oozng
out like Bob Acres courage. at her fin
tiers' ends. sat down bdhind 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:
Who is that?
lletly 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, it will soon be
over.
And he closed his eyes again, while
poor Hetty cried harder than ever. An
incipient case of Group she thought shr
could manage, but quinsy was entirely
beyond the range of her capacities. She
had never been in death chamber before,
and the hours and solemnity of the scene
impressed her with sense of vague Ter
ror.
Just then brisk, heavy footstep sprang
up the stairs, two at Time. There was "A
stir and commotion in the room.
Oh, thank Heavens! 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 elder daughter Hetty's errand-and
here he was, flushed and brealhess 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, how is he?
Better, my dear. Doing we'll. But it
was an even chance between death and
life for one while. Come, dear, I'm 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 | very
foolish to come here?
No, my dear, you are very kind hearted |
But you see there is some difference be-
tween simple case Of Group and malig-
nant quinsy.
Dakin's boy recovered with marvellous
celerity, and the first place he visited on
his convalescence was Doctor Wallis
house, to thank the doctors black eyed
dauhgter for coming to see him on that
stormy night.
wish | was little chap with the Group.
said he, laughing, to put myself under
your professional care.
What nonsense! said Hetty. turning
very red.
Bnt indeed, l shall never forget the
oitying look in your kind eyes, said Hec-
or Dakin, gently. 1t seemed somehow 10
lraw me back to life.
And by the time that Dakin's boy was
quite recovered. he had gotten into the
way of spending hi, lille at Doctor Wal
is that seemed decidedly chronic; and no !
me was very much surprised when he $
became engaged to the doctors daughter. /
It's very strange, though, said Sibyl.
refully. that the only eligible and decent /
ooking man within ten miles should fall 9
n love with our brown little Hetty. b
don't think it is strange at all, said v
Doctor Wallis, dryly. q