Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1878-04-12
THE DOCTORS DAUGHTER.

"Dear, dear, how it rains!'' said Hett,
Wallis.
She had opened the door the least littl
bit in the world, to see if there was an,
prospect of it's clearing up, but the rush o
wind and rain that swept in at the crevic
compelled her to close it almost instantly
It was a little brown house on the edg
of the lonely Western forest-a brown
house with sloping caves and bay-win
dow, and a dooryard full of roses, who's
crimson clusters cleaned family in tn
late autumn twilight.
Doctor Wallis lived here-Doctor Wallis
who had come West. with his two daugh
! tiers, scarcely six months ago, and who wa
the only physician in radius Of thirty
miles around.
Hetty stood by the fire, one foot on thu
fender, her dark, dreamy eyes fixed on TIT
red glow of the burning logs. Sibyl. thu
other sister, lay luxuriously back in a cush
Toned easy chair, waiting for the lamp
to be lighted before she went on. with TIT
bit of Berlin wool work in her lap.
Sibyl Wallis was rose-cheeked:, scarlet
Tipped beauty-one of those fair human
flowers which, like the lilies of Solomon
are destined neither to toll nor to spin.
Doctor Wallis was poor man, and KEEP
no servants; but no one ever expected
S byl to do any of the rough and disagree
able offic S consequent upon housekeeping
Sibyl busted the parlors, kept the vase
full of flowers, washed the tea-china, ant
Ibid up'' her own pretty laces and pocket
: handkerchlefs; and Hetty, the secont
daughter-a brown little elf, with jet.
hair growing low on her forehead, and ;
colorless olive skln-cheerfully undertook
the prosaic part of life, as if it were he
natural Inheritance
"To think of poor papa out in all thi
tempest" said Hetty, mournfully.
"Gentlemen don't mind such things,
said Sibyl, serenely. And, of course, IT,
just what doctor must expect
"Hush p Said Hetty, suddenly turnin,
her bead in a quick, bird-like fashion
''Some one is knocking at the door,"
"Perhaps you'd better go and see who i
is" remarked Sihyl, ssrenely.
1t was a man all wrapped up in oil-skin
until nothing more than the tip Of yer.
red nose was visible.
sob, say, MISS said the dripping visi
tant, "where's the DOCTOR"
"He isn't in,' said Hetty.
"Where's Doctor Wallis?" reiterated thu
man.
Hes out!'' answered Hetty. speaking
loud and distinctly, under tie impression
that the inquirer was deaf.
'It's Dakin's boy" SAID the man-"he'
chokin' to death!''
"Oh!' said Hetty. Group. l suppose?'
''Don't know what it isl said the mes
senger. ''Ain't no doctor myself. Ali
know'is that | must bring back Docto
Wallis,'' with nod at his lumber Wagon
at the gate.
"But you can't, if he is OUT" sale
Hetty.
one foot to the other, evidently in a guam
| Diary.
Tin blamed if | know what to DO" salt
he. "Well, I'll tell-ee what, miss! You
just send the doctor CHI to Dakin's just a
quick as he comes back. Ii Dakin's DO.
ckokes to death, it amt no fault of mine!'
And away rumbled the wagon into tn
mist and twilight.
i 1t had hardly disappeared when a littl
lad arrived with note for Hetty.
"It's from papa," said Hetty, hurriedl
opening it. and reading aloud the follow
ing brief message:
"DEAR GIRLS old Eldwood is yer
bad. and shall probably be detained a
night. Lock up the house as usual. an
don't expect me until come.
Affectionately, ii. W..
"Oh, dear p said Hetty, blankly; tam
what is to become of Dakin's child ~
81 never saw such girl as you, Hetty,
said lovely Sibyl, with pettish contra(
ton of the brows. your always shoul
dering other peoples troubles. What
Dakin's child to us, I'd like to know ~
''But only lhink of it. Sibyl," said He'
ty. clasping her hands-s'a dear little bab
suffocating to death, all for want OF III
simplest remedies ~
"We can't help it," said Sibyl, settlln
back composedly among her cushlons'
But I am not so sure of that' Sal ID
Hetty, brskly. II know the re"eqie
papa uses for case Of Group, ana no"