Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1881-09-15
HELEN HYDEs GOOD DEED.

eyes," said the doctor, solemnly
she shows every indication of going
into decline. Rest, relaxation, change
of air and scene-that's what she ought
to have!"
Mrs. Dardanel looked perturbed
"Dear, dear, she said, "what pity.
And she's quite.a pet of mine, too, deal
little thing. She is very quick with hel
needle, and really ingenious -and the
way she puts trimmings on dress posi-
lively reminds one of Madam Antoine
herself
"The Seaside cottage would be the
place for her," suggested DIR. Midland.
You are one of the lady patronesses,
I believe, and"
eyes, but the Seaside cottage is full, u
said Mrs. Dardanel. "Not an inch Of
room unoccupied. ] had note from
the matron yesterday '
" All. indeed p said the doctor, fum-
bling with his watch-seals. "Unfor.
tunate-very."
"But." cried Mrs. Dardanel, an idea
suddenly occurring to her much be-
pulled and befrizzed head, "there is
Mrs. Daggett's farm, few miles further
down the shore. She takes boarders
for five dollars week, and I believe il
is very nice place. If you think it ad-
visable will take months board for
the girl there. really feel as If the
dear little thing belonged to me-
Gan excellent plan, madam, an excel
lent plan" said the doctor, oracularly.
81 have no doubt but that month OF
sea air would make quite different
person of her"
Helen Hyde could scarcely believe
her own ears when Mrs. Dardanel beam
ingly announced her intentions.
"The seashore |" she cried, her pale
face flushing all over, 'sthe real sea
Oh, Mrs. Dardanel, I have dreamed of
it all my life. And for whole bright,
long summer month Oh, how shall 1
ever thank you !"
"By getting well and strong as fas
as you can," said Mrs. Dardanel, really
touched by the girls innocent enthusi-
asm. And here is ten dollar bill for
you," she added, with smile. You
may need some little trifie of dress, or
there may be a drive or a picnic or an
excursion going ON, in which you will
want to participate. No, you shall not
give it back-it is a present from me,
and choose that you shall keep it.
Helen Hyde's heart beat high with
delight when first she saw the Daggett
farmhouse, long, low, red building,
with an immense stack of chimneys, a
cluster of outrageous maple trees gar
landing it about with shade, and door
yard full of sweet, old-fashioned flowers,
while in full sight of the windows the
Atlantic flung its curling crests of foam
along the shingly shore. Mrs. Daggett
welcomed her warmly; she had been
Mrs. DardanePs housekeeper once, and
knew the value of that lady patronage.
I've just one room left, my dear, !"
said she. "Under the caves of the
house. It's rather small, but it's fur
nished comfortably, and there's fine
view of the ocean. I could have given
you better accommodations if had re-
ceived Mrs. Dardanels letter day
earlier. But four young ladies. teachers
in the Ixwood institute, came yesterday,
and I'm sleeping on sofa myself in the
parlor. But we'll make you as snug as
possible, and the very first good sized
room that is vacated you shall have"
And Helen was very happy in her lit
tie nook, from whose easement she
could see the sparkling plain of the sea,
all dotted with white sails.
Mrs. Daggett was a driving, ener-
getlc business woman. Farmer Daggett
vas vacant. honest-faced man, who
Invariably fell asleep of an evening,
with his chair tipped back against the
FaH-and every available inch of the
house was filed with summer boarders,
mostly ladies. There were only three
masculine appendages to the house be-
sides its master "a superannuated
clergyman, whose parishioners dubbed
together every summer to treat him to
SIX weeks vacation-a literary man of
large aspirations and small income.
who had come thither for rest and op-
portunity to study up the skeleton /"
for his next novel, and old Mr.. Mifiin /!
It Yas-some time before Helen Hyde
fairly cemprehended who old Mr.. Mif-
fin was. A bowed, bent over little man,
with silver hair curling over the collar
of his coat, a ruffied shirt like the pic
lures Of our Revolutionary forefathers.
and dim blue eyes which glistened from
behind silver spectacles, he shuffied In
and out to his meals after an apologetic
fashion, and sat all the long bright af-
ternoons under the naples, staring at
the sea.
Who is that old gentleman p she
at last ventured to ask Mrs. Daggett.
That lady frowned, impatiently.
It's old Daddy Mif1in," said she.
"And I wish it was anybody elsep'
Is he boarder ?" asked Helen.
Well, he is and he isn't r. rather
obscurely answered Mrs. Daggett, who
was picking over currants for q pud-
ding while Helen sat by and watched
her. But he won't be here long. You
see, my dear, he hasn't any friends.
When me and Daggett came down from
Vermont and bought this place we goi
it cheap because Of old Mr.. Miff1in,
We was to give him the northeast cham
Der, and they were to allow us SO much
month for his keep It amt every
body, you see, as would be willing te
have an old man like that around tht
place. But he's harmless and innc CEN
enough, and / won't deny that the two
dollars week helped along. But nov
have gone up. and Breezy Poini
ITO be fashionable locality il
time, and things are altered
is worse, bis folks have leftoi