Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1881-07-22

Lucy,
"a maid whom there were none to praise,
And very few 10 love"
He fancied he knew how she would look
slight, ndy-complexioned, her light, charac-
terless hair very neat and wholly uninterest-
ing, her dress very upright and uncomprom-
Using about the biases collars and cuffs prim
and spotless-no "sweet neglect" about her
nor even th adulteries Of art" which not
withstanding Ben Jonson, he thought most
bewitching. She was so distant cousin that
kinship had not made the invitation obligato-
ry. But his mother had dearly loved her
mother, and when that gentle widow wrote
that her dear Allis had returned, and that she
longed to have her ever-beloved Candace
know her before she settled down to her pro-
fession, the ever-beloved and ever-obliging
Candace replied at once that the young trav-
eler should be made welcome.
caravan of unexpected guests could not
upset Aunt Larkin's perfect order, nor find
her garrison unprovisioned. But she confd-
ed 10 Thanny that she expected girl I had
lived to Paris would find their way of lvin'
dreadful old-fashioned and common" And
he guessed that she secretly dreaded the in
cursion, as he did. Polite ho would certain
ly be, but he thought he would move his
books out to the stable loft, and live as little
at home as possible while DIR. Allis remained.
He wished women would keep to their own
sphere and let mems work alone. By the
time the two sessions were over, the compo-
stions inspected, all the school "chores"
done, and his face turned homeward, he was
sure that he detested unwomanly women, and
of these sinners he reckoned female doctors
chiefest.
As he opened the kitchen door, Obadiah's
Sarah stood revealed, buxom, red armed
good -natured, carefully straining aromatic
broth into a china bowl "'T vas her no.
tion," she explained. II shouldn't never
have teched the best set-no, nor made the
soup neither-'thout tellin'. took her up
the toast an tea, s you said, an she never
looked at 'em. But she said she must take
suthin an she made it herself. You never
see such a handy little thing. My 1 guess
the full soul could cat that mess. Honey
combs cloyin' alwuz. never see the force
of that tex. An she gave her some sort O.
revivin' medicine I didn't have no taste or
smell, 3 furs / see, an she's a-settin' up
Already, an sez her headaches most gone,
an never knowed her out O. bed before in
less n two days. when t really took hold on
her."
What meaning even so close translator of
difficult tongues as Mr.. Nathan Larkin would
have distilled from this speech may not be
known. For at this pause there appeared in
imaginable fluffy head all blonde curls,
puffs, frizzes, he knew not what pink
cheeks; laughing brown eyes shining teeth
a cambria gown that might have awed him,
had it not been more picturesque than fash
ionable; trim slippered feet beneath its alb
breviated crispness-behold the key to Sa-
rahs whole obscurity
II am Allis Putnam" said the phantom of
delight, coming forward with frank hand out
stretched, land 1 beg your pardon for COM
ing unannounced But we found the late
train did not connect. And mamma said
Aunt Larkin could not be taken at disad-
vantage. Having come, my professional
nose shifted action at once. Sarah was the
best of assistants shedding brilliant smile
on that staring neophyte, which Nathan was
inclined to consider a waste of riches-'and
between us we have really set your mother on
her feet again. Now I'm going TO admins
ter my next remedy, and then you may talk
with her as long as she will listen. think
we can persuade her out on this lovely veran.
da." And the doctor disappeared with her
savory broth.
Don't she beat all ?" inquired the bust
ling Sarah, intent on the impending supper.
''Pooty's that wild rose, an smarter n light
min. 'Tain't strange the old doctors, that
Jest look owlish, an don't do no good, don't
want women inter the business. They'd
steal the trade in no time. There's sour
cream enough, an told her I'd make some
tip-top fapjacks for supper. Don't you take
an extry step for me, Sarah she says. I'm
goin to feast on brown bread an milk while
l stay There amt nothin better N sour
cream flspjacks, but she's 80 'fraid O. givin'
trouble That's what call a real lady"
II Nathan guessed that the name of this ex-
tolled delight was written on DIR. Allis's In
ha yavarthaIauc ofa hio
own share with due satisfaction, and equally
enjoyed the rich preserves, the fruity cake,
the crumbling tarts, and the delicate strong
tea, set forth in the best china to honor the
visitor, who, much TO Sarah's disappoint-
ment, elected brown bread and milk, after
all.
How it was brought about neither Aunt
Larkin nor Nathan could have told, but Oba-
dahs Sarah, whose Declaration of Independ-
ence had always read that she ''wouldn't live
out for nobody" found herself permanently
installed in that cool and spotless kitchen
within three days of Dr. Alliss advent. Aunt
Larkin having repeated for thirty years that
she didn't see the sense of havin' girl clut-
term round to pick up after" and her son
being accustomed TO accept as final whatever
domestic views his mother promulgated, re-
ceived the new dispensation with submission
ON the one part and rejoicing on the other.
The doctors luggage appeared to consist in
great part of Franklin Square" novels, and
the infinite riches, in little room, of the
Half Hour" series" And when Nathan
came home one afternoon to find his mother
comfortably rocking in her large chair on the
veranda, deep in the fortunes of the "Great-
est Heiress in England" instead of stirring
up pancakes or making button-holes, he said
to himself "Allis is witch, bless her !" Yes,
already it had gone so far that the unwoman-
ly doctor was "Allis" TO him. And at tea
this studious young sage, who spent all his
leisure gardening among classic roots, an
nounced that as tomorrow would be Satur-
day, he was sure they could not do better
than to drive over to Bethesda Springs all of
them, and spend an idle day in that great
Vanity Fair.
But tomorrow 1t was Nathans turn. His
head was chained to his pillow with shackles
of pain. 1t was seasickness, he said to him
self, without the palsy of the will. 1t was fe-
yer, without the blessed intervals of uncon-
sciousness. 1t was the rack, the thumb
screw, the iron boot If the faint STRINGS
of desire might be called hope, he hoped his
mother would not prescribe magnesia, or
bring him the dreaded ''cup O. tea"
By-and-by came DIR. Alls, with noiseless
presence, cool hands, low voice, and potent
prescription. As the slow hours dragged on,
Tue ueduhcue ylelueu BtuuBlnBlyi HloSolu'o-
ly with spasms of re-assertng power. Next
day Nathan was free from pain, but tired out
and despondent Sitting in the cool dusk of
the honeysuekles. he said, ''Pd give third
of my life, Allis, to buy of those headaches
from the rest of it. Sometimes think they
will shut me out from any career whatever.
Can't you cure them, little Galen 2"
mo, Herr Professor, not while you invite
them, solicit them, compel them"
81, Allis? 1 don't give them an inch of
vantage. rise early, go to bed early, don't
even smoke, and fight them to the death when
they come
Nathan, should like to talk to you for
your good, though you'll hate me for it,
You've half forgotten that am female doc
tor; but as person am less Objectionable
than you feared. 'Twere pity of my life TO
disturb this state of amity. But at heart I'm
professional above all things and you see
can't advise your mother lest l seem disre-