Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1880-04-30
Kate's Leap Year Party.

"No place for me !" muttered DR..
Elwell. " In a barren, plodding ex-
istence like mine there is no room for
even glimpse of such gay butterfly life
as this"
The young man stood in corner with
folded arms and forbidding aspect,
making himself unnecessarily miser-
able. Unnecessarily, because he ought,
with his good looks, good health and
youth, to have been able to cast aside
the cares of his daily life, and take
whatever of pleasure or happiness came
in his way. To be sure, he had some
excuse for thinking that he was singled
out to be different from other men, and
that his twenty-five years shou. d carry
the wisdom and soberness of fifty; for
" he was the only son of his mother, and
she was a widow" Moreover, that
mother had been left poor and with
three little gir,s to bring up and educate
the eldest of them many years the
junior of their brother whom they idol
lzed. Yes, William Elwell was hero
to four loving hearts that watched his
self-made career as he worked himself
through college, teaching and doing all
kinds of work that he could get to do in
one term, in order that he might spend
the next in his beloved study, through
vacation and holidays bending efforts
toward earning little for those who
loved, him, working with eager haste
and desperate energy, the sooner to
grasp the knowledge he sought and
finish the course. He had finished at
last with honors; but honors are empty
and unremunerative. He had found a
country village where-marvelt to relate
there were not already more physi-
clans than patients, had established
himself there in the plainest manner
which would possibly answer for a
ewly-fedged M. D., and-waited.
And all through the self-denial and
hardship, through the uncertainty and
waiting, he had carried light heart, a
sunny temper and firm trust in Provi-
dence. At last his waiting mother and
sisters had received a jubilant letter; he
had o patient, Squire Burleigh, the
wealthiest man in H. The old
physician was away on professional
visit to the country. Squire Burleigh
was attacked with a severe cold which
aggravated his chronic bronchitis, he,
DIR. Elwell," was called, was lucky,
gave the old gentleman the advantage OF
some OF his advanced views, and, thank
heaven! he had placed himself under
treatment and taken the young doctor
up in a wonderful friendly style.
And just at this point, when his for.
tune seemed to be made, immediately
after his rejoicing and triumphant lettel
to the dear ones at home, he had sud
denly becon morose and sullen, his
letters were gloomy and misanthropit
and his views OF life cynical and bitter
How to account for this change was
mystery. His loving mother feared tina
her boy was ill; but this he stoutly de
MED; and truly, his firm, elastic step
clear eye and ruddy. complexion CAV
no indications of jaundice or dyspepsia
AS for new acqualntances, perhaps the,
set the doctor down as rather too sterl
for so young a man; but they wer
obliged to wait for further development
to find the key to his behavior, and W
will do the same, taking occasion t,
observe the different personages at thi
brilliant gathering in Squire Burleigh'
parlors, while DIR. ElwelI ohews the cu
of bitter meditation in his corner. Th
squire, a genial gentleman of fifty, wa
making himself agreeable to young an
old-for this was family party ~
and his daught II, the brown eyed an
golden-haired Miss Edith, distribute
her smiles and attentions with eharnin
impartiality, drawing together those c
similar tastes, finding partners for les
! attractive girls, making bashful youth
feel at home, exchanging sparkling sa
lies with gentlemen OF witty turn, an