Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1878-06-12
How the Doctors Daughter Won Dakin's

How the Doctors Daughter Won Dakin'
Boy.
Dear me, how it rains, said Hetty Wal
lis.
She had opened the door the least bit ir
the world, to see if there was any prospect
of its clearing up. but the rush of win,
and rain that swept in at the crevce
compelled her to close it again almost
instananeously.
1t was Il little brown house, on the edge
of the lonely western forest-a brown
house, with sloping caves and bay win.
dow. and a dooryard full of roses whose
crimson clusters cleaned family in the
late autumn twilight.
Doctor Wallis lived here-Doctor Wal
lis, who had come west with his two
daughters scarcely six months age, and
was the only physician in radius OF
thirty good miles around.
Hetty stood by the fire, one foot on the
fender, her dark, dreamy eyes fixed on the
red glow of the burning logs. Slbyl. the
other sister, lay luxuriously back in a
cushioned easy chair, waiting for the
lamps 10 be lighted before she went on
with bit of Berlin wool work in her lap
Sibyl Wallis was rosy checked, scar
let Tipped bcauty-one Of those fair human
| flowers, which, like the lilies of Solomon,
are destined neither to toll nor to spin.
| Doctor Wallis was a poor man and kept
no servants; but no one ever expected
Sibyl to do any of the rough and disagree
| able offices consequent upon housekeep-
ing.
Sibyl busted the parlor, kept the vases
G,ll Of nl 81 oh; 4
did up her own pretty laces and pocket
handkerchiefs; and Eletty, the second
daughter--a brown little elf, with jctty
hair growing low on her forehead. and "A
colorless olive skin--cheerfully took the
prosac part of life, as if it were her nat
ural inheritance.
70 think Of poor papa out in all this
tempest! said Iletty, mournfully.
Gentlemen don't mind such things, said
Sibyl, serenely. And, of course, it's Just
what Il doctor must expect
Hush! said Hetty, suddenly turning her
head in quick. bird-like fashion. Some
one is knocking at the back door.
Perhaps you had better 90 and see who
it is. remarked Sibyl sercncly.
1t was II man all wrapped up in oilskin
until nothing more than the tip of very
red nose was visible.
Oh. say, miss. said the dripping visit
art, where's the doctor?
He isn't in. said lIctty.
Where's Doctor Wallis? reiterated the
man.
He's out, answered IIelty, speaking
loud and distinctly, under the impression
that the inquirer was deaf.
It's Dakin boy, said the man; he's
cboking to death.
Oh! said Het'y. Group, suppose?
Don't know what it is, said the messen-
ger. Amt no doctor myself All know
is that must bring back Doctor Wallis,
said be, with II nod at his lumber wagon
ut the gate.
But you can't if he is out, saiI Hetty.
The man stood moment. shifting from
one foot to the other, evidently in a guam
dary.
I'm blamed if | know what to do, said
he. Well, Il tell.ee, miss! Ye just send
the doctor on 10 Dakin's just us quick rs
he comes back If Dakin's boy chokes to
death. it amt no fault of mine!
And away rumbled the wagon into the
mist and twilight.
1t had hardly disappeared when little
lad arrived with a note for Hetty.
It's from papa, said lletty. burriedly
opening it, and reading aloud the follow
ing brief message:
DEAR GIRLS old EIdwood is very :
bad, and | shall probably be detained all
night. Lock up the house as usual and
lon't expect me until come. Affection s
ltely, H.w.
Oh, dear, said Helty. blanklv; and what S
is 10 become of Dakin's child?
never saw such a girl as you are, {
Iletty, said lovely Sibyl, with pettish
contraction of the brows. You're always |
other peoples troubles. What
is Dabin's child to us. I'd like to know I
But only think of it, Sibyl said Iletty. {
,lasping her hands, II dear little baby suf- c
oc ,tng to death, all for want of the SIM :
plcst remedies.
We can't help it, said Sibyl, settling |
,acA composedly among her cushions. 1
But am not sure of that, said Hetty. !
,riskly. know the remedies papa uses ]
or case of Group and how to use them.
I'n 90 myself. :
HeLly. cried the elder sister, are you i
,razy? c
Crazyp said Helty. No. I'm only ordi- ]
larily human. The child shan't die if l |
AN help it. t
She went to her fathers drug closet, r
opened it. and took out several little vials. I
Syrup ipecac, said IIetty, with little e
rod of her head to each. Asafetida, hive u
syrup. Simple remedies, hut very effec- I
ual if taken in time. J
But, Hetty, pleaded Sibyl, you're never
,oing to walk, nobody knows how far, in
III the rain? S
Yes l am, said Hetty, buttoning on a =
,apncious waterproof cloak, and pulling a
he hood over her head. C
And you don't even know where these 5
Oakins live. q
Yes, | do. Its big red brick house, Z
ust beyond the woods by the church. +
Papa showed it to me the other day. b
Full two miles away. 4
can't help that, said Hetty. a
And me all alone!
Sibyls voice grew plaintive. '
! can't help that. either, returned Hetty.
l little impatiently. But don't fret, Sb-
III not be long. ~. /
And out the brave little gill walked into
he tempesluous twilight, with her pockets !
fell of medicines and the waterproof cloak i
buttoned snug around her. S
Not until she had left the friendly light
of her home far behind, and was lost in |
the black, rustling depths of the forest.
whero the dark boughs met over her head