Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1881-07-30
AUNT SUSAN.
An English Story.


"You're to go down to the railway
station, sir, at once; there has been an
accident upon the line"
On my arrival, however, I found the
train standing whole and sound by the
platform, while little knot of railway
officials and some few passengers were
collected round the motionless figure of
girl of some fifteen or sixteen years
OF age, who lay on one of the benches
In the dusty waiting-room. An elderly
woman, apparently a respectable SER
want, stood by her side sobbing help
lessly, while the officials were discussing
the accident and its causes and disputing
as to where lay the blame.
"'Twas altogether her own fault" "
said the guard; "what business had she
to be getting ont of the train till it
stopped?"
"The door ought to have been locked.
Tom, said the station-master.
$50 twas, sir, but she had key of
her own. never see such n young
lady. Didn't she offer Jim half crown
awhile ago let her travel on the engine?
She'll get no compensation anyhow"
Compensation it's fined she ought
to be-"
"Hush, " said she first speaker, ''here's
the DOCTOR"
And the little crowd, dividing, made
way for me to pass.
My patient was tall, overgrown girl,
with freckled face and n quantity of
dark red hair hanging in thick plaits
over her shoulders, the mischievous cast
of countenance, with its turned-up nose
and wide mouth, forming a painful con-
trast to the death-ike pallor which now
over-spread it. A short examination
showed me that the case was not serious;
dislocated shoulder and broken collar
bone making up the sum of the girls
injuries. turned to the servant who
had suspended her sobs aud was watch
ing me eagerly.
SIS there no one with her but you?"
I asked.
'No one, sir. I'm sure I did my be Il
to take care of her, but Miss Violet is
one that Will never be gainsaid by any
one. Will she die, sir, do you think?"
'I think not. AS far as / can Judge
at present, her injuries are but triiing.
| She must be taken to my house at once:
l can deal with her better there than
anywhere else.
As soon as had reduced the disloca-
tion and seen my patient comfortably
settled in bed, went in search of the
maid, who had now recovered sufficient
equanimity to be of some use. Telling
her that she might go up and sit with
/ her young mistress, l asked to whom ]
was to send news of the young lady
accident.
81 think you had better write to Miss
Violet's aunt, sir," she said after mo.
ment's consideration. "My master is
i'll at present, and a shock would be bad
for him"
every well" 1 said, "will you kind.
lv tell me the lady's name and address p
'Miss Ferrars, Templearden Rectory,
Carlingham."
81 suppose" I said as 1 penciled the
words in my note book, "that Miss
Violet's name is Ferrars, also."
Yes, sir. Her father is the Rector
of Carlingham; he is a great invalid,
and his sister, Miss Ferrars, manages
everything. He has been worse than
usual this time back, and Miss Ferrars
has been so busy attending to him that
she had no time to spare for Miss Vic.
let, so she sent her on a visit to another
aunt she has, sister of her mothers,
living near London, little thinking wbal
would be the end of it. I'm sure ]
never thought when l saw her putting
that railway key in her pocket, but that
she was taking it back to her cousin
Mr.. Tom, for twas he that forgot il
after him last time he was at the Rec
tory. hope you II say when you write
sir, that the accident was altogether Miss
Violet's own fault"
al shall, at any rate, say that it was
not yours" / answered. "I suppose
that will be sufficient"
wrote to Miss Ferrars by the even.
ing post, making my letter as short anC
simple as l could. Fortunately there
was in so doing no need to suppress o.
soften the truth, as Miss Violet's injurie.
were really only such as would be com
pletely cured by time and care. 1 sale
to Miss Ferrars that if any of the
young lady's friends wished to come t.
her, my sister and would do our ut
most to make them welcome; but shoulC
they not find it convenient to do so, they
might rely upon our taking every care
of the patient.
Next day Miss Violet was much better
and able to give warm thanks, somewha
brusquely expressed, to Mary and In,
for our hospitality. My first idea as Il
the expression of her face proved cor
rect; I never before or since, saw s,
much mischievous fun concentrated il