The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1879-05-07
DR.. THORNE'S PRESCRIPTION.
By IDA ROWLAND.

y L ~
By IDA ROWLAND. r.
There is one thing l neoer will do, and
that is marry widower," said Laura,
with more energy than she had displayed
before in a week, the idle white fingers
meanwhi!e beating quick tattoo on the
pane covered with drops, and her head,
with its brig ht- bronze hair, nodding SO
emphatically that the ivy leaves above
her were all in tren bic.
Nor DOCTOR" said Aunt Prudence,
shrewdly, as she glanced out of her
window in time to see DR.. Thorne's bug
gy, we'll spattered with country mud, 90
around the corner, and the stately doctor
under his umbrella, in the act of replac-
ing his hat on his head. II knew a girl
once"
30, spare me, Aunt Prue! I know all
about it; she married just as she had
vowed she would not. 1t does not follow
that am to be so foolish. does it? I had
rather be blessed old maid, like you,
if could only he nalf as good. than to
be Mrs. Somebody number two ~
"How is it about doctols2" q.
'TheY are my especial abomina:icr.
They smell Of drugs, and are given to
lecturing people, said Laura, her color
deepening under the spinter's keen gaze,
and her fingers beating a quicker meas
ure.
1T seems odd that you have. taken
such a dislike to Or. Thorne, Laura;
everybody else likes him." said that
young lady's mother from the seat by the
fire, while her fingers were busy doing
her darling's mending, while her
thoughts were planning how she might
in some other way take every shadow Of
care from her young life.
II did not mention his name in partic-
ular, mother" -,
"Well, knew you meant him, for you
have not liked him since I called him in
to prescribe for your headaches. By the
way, you never showed me his last pre-
scription; I noticed it was quite
lengthy"
"Oh, it was some nonsense about exer-
else and early hours--.quite little lee
ture, in fact, for which he received no
thanks" said Laura, evasively.
Then the conversation was changed by
Mrs. Lamont consulting her sister about
the pudding for dinner, while Laura's
thoughts ran on in this needless fashion:
1.-THE impudence OF the mcnl All
these fine words meant simply this: You
are lazy. good or-nothing girl; 20 to
work and you will be better Not that
think am anything else, but one does
not care to be reminded of such things
wonder if he knows that this dear little
mother of mine has made it the one OBJ
ect of her life TO anticipate all my wish
es, and make me the ignorant butterfly Of
fashion that ANA And Aunt Prue is in
league with her. Dear souls! they want
to make me happy. How disappointed
they would be if they knew how restless
and miserable am! To work in this
house is impossible; and yet I would like
to De of use to some one. I do not be-
ieve I am naturally lazy, or this kind Of
life would suit me. l suppose he
thinks Agnes Bell paragon. She knows
all about housekeeping, and visits the
poor. Everybody says she would make
him splendid wife. Well, I hope she
likes w1dowers; I dont.''
Here the soliIoquy was ended by Laura
turning to the piano and dashing off the
most brilliant thing she knew-anything
to draw her thoughts. Presently the
notes grew softer. and she heard Aunt
Prue say:
''There is ournew neighbor at the gate,
and such careless looking creature
How can people be SO thoughtless about
their appearance?' glancing oyer her own
spotless attire.
Prue," said the other sister, who always
found cloak tor every ones shortcom-
ings. "Katie says she has three little
children, and does her own work. A sick
baby, too, who cries half the night. You
know Katies room is on that side Of the
house. She says she often sees the little
woman walking the floor late at night,
with the baby in her arms"
GAIL habit, this walking the floor with
children" said Aunt Prudence, who
would have every child brought up by
rule, as far as sleeping and eating were
concerned.
"Why haven't you been in to see her?''
inquired Laura. wheeling suddenly
around on the piano stool.
"She has her hands full without seeing
strangers" answered her mother
Then the sisters conversation drifted
away upon other topics, while Laura fell
into brown study that lasted about ten
minutes, when she suddenly rose, and
taking her water proof from closet,
said, abruptly: - r. ill., :
sim going over there.'' fs3"- l.
"Where?" echoed mother and aunt,
= having forgotten their previous converse
ton. a. .n= - .
sour next door neighbours" a
Are you crazy, child? It is morning,
and she will not have her work done,
said her mother. IS s... ...1 sHt :
Your hair is in crimp-pins,' called
Aunt Prue, for the wilful girl had by this
time reached the gate. a50s j. aL.s rs
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