The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1878-09-30
DR.. Thorne's Prescription.


ny IDA ROWLAND.
"Therc is one thing l nertr will do, and
that is, marry q widower," said Laura,
with more energy than she had displayed
before in a week, the idle white fingers,
meanewhile, beatinga quick tattoo on the
pane covered with rain drops, and her
head, with its bright-bronze hair, nodding
30 emphaticalIy that the ivy.leaves above
her were all in a tremblc.
"Nor q DOCTOR" said Aunt Prudence,
shrewdly, as she glanced ont other win
dow in time to see DR.. Thorne's buggy
we'll spattered with country mud, go
around the corner, and the stately doe
tor, under his umbrella, in the act of re-
placing his hat on his head. 81 knew q
girl once
ooh, spare me, Aunt Prue! / know all
about it; she married just rs she had
vowed she wopll not. It does not follow
that I am to be SO foolish, does it? had
rather be a blessed old maid, like you, il /
could only be half as good, than to be Mrs.
Somebody number two?"
GLOW is It about doctors?"
''They are my especial abomination.
They smell OF drugs, and are given to
lecturing people," said Laura, her color
deepening under the spinster's keen gaze,
and her fingers beating a quicker meas
ure.
at seems odd that you have taken such
a dislike to Dr.. Thorne, Laura; everybody
else likes him." said that young lady's
mother from her seat By the fire, where
her fingers were busily doing her darling's
mending, while her thoughts were plan
ming how she might in some other way
take every shadow OF care from her young
life.
~ did not mention his namei in p~articu-
lar mother"
"Well, / knew you ment him, for you
have not liked him since called aim IN 10
prescribe for your headaches. BY the
way. YOU never showed me his last pre-.
scription; l noticed it was quite lengthy
"Oh, 1t was some nonsense about exer-
else and early hours! quite a little lecture,
in fact, for which he received no thanks
said Laura, evasively.
Then the conversation was changed by
Mn: Lamont consulting her sister about
the pudding for dinner, while Laura's
thoughts ran on in this needless fashion:
"The ~impudence Of the men! All those
fine words meant simply this, you are a
LAW. good.tor-nothing girl; go to work,
and YOU will be better Not that | think
I am ANYTHING else; but one does not care
n he reminded OF such things. ] wonder
n be knows that this dear little mother OF
mine has made it the II object OF her
lie 10 anticipate all my wishes, and make
me the IGNORANT butterfly OF fashion that
I am? And Aunt Prue Is in league WITH
her, Dear souls, they want to make me
happy. How disappointed they~ouid De
II tliev knew how restless n miserable l
ami To work in this house is impossible;
and vet 7 would like to be OF use TO some
one. don't believe | am naturally lazy;
or this kind OF a life would suit me. l
suppose he thinks Agnes Bell q paragon.
She knows all about housekeeplng, any
visitsthe poor. Everybody says sne wouia
make him a splendid wife. Well, l nope
she likes widOwers-l n
Here the soliloquy was ended by laura
turning TO the piano and dashlng on w
most brilliant thing she knew-anything
To draw her thoughts. Presently the
notes grew softer, and she heard Aunt
sSTberc is our new neiShbor out at the
uate: and such q carelesSlooking Great
fi1rei How can people be so houghtlesS
absnt their appeannce?" glancing over
her own spotless attire.
pori,ans there is some excuse for her,
prre." said the other sister, who always
iornd n cloak for everyone's shorteom'
;ncs, "Katie says she has three little
chTIdren. and does her own work: A SICK
Lahv TOO, who cries half the night. You
tnow Katie's room is IN that side OF the
house: she saws she often sees the niue
woman walking the floor late at night
with the baby in her arms
WIl habit, this walking the floor win
children" said Aunt Prudence, who would
bayeeyery child brought up by rule as iaf
"a sleepinc and eating were concerned. ~,
GWhy Layn't you been in to see herr,
manfred Laura, wheelingsuddenly around
on the p~ianostooL.
strangers" answered her mother. Ia,
Then the sisters conversation dtitteS I
away upon other topics, while aur te4I
into brown study that lasted about yen
minutes, when she suddenly rose my
taking her waterproof from a closet. sac
abruptly
nWhcre? echoed mother and aunt, hav'
ing forgotten their previous conversation
55Our pext.door neighbours
care YOU crazy child? It Is morning,
and She will not have her work done,
"Yonr hair is in crimp.pins,' called
Aunt Prue. for the wilful girl bad by this
time reached the gate, D. G
The door.bell next door was broken, 50
Laura rapped; but there was sich-a com
motion in the hall that she knew sne
couId not be heard, so she opened tne
Ioor and walked in. A boy of five was IN
the net OF sliding down the banlstersr
which feat he accomplished with sue
ranidity that the astonished visitor held
i'ar hrcath till she saw that he landed safe
iT, 4 little girl with tangled cnris and
xerv dirty apron was shouting and ciapplng
her hands as audience. a.,
Were playing circus; mamma Is IN tne
si%tting.room," they replied, IN answer &c
The door was opened, as Laura tapped
bv n pale, ured-looking woman with q
b9by IN her arms just freshly dressed, ou'
~ fretful that nothing but constant toss
ING M and down would keep him quiet
There were traces Of tears on the m9th'
er's face, and the room was in disorder
she evidently was much surprised at hei
visitor, but Lura's easy manner reas
- L.
~ am Laura Lamont, your neighbor. ]
only heard this morning that your bah!
va; sick, aud came over TO rest you Z
l;ttIa. Let me carry him around Q httlt
while; I am sure your arms must ache.
And without waiting for a reply, she
took The baby, who was so surprised e
ace the lovely face bending over him tina