Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1881-10-21


Ellice, they called her-a pretty name.
She was about the age Mary would have
been If she had lived; and then the young
man sent tender thought toward his
daughterless widowed mother IN her tiny
frugal home in the North Country.
The bird music ceased and Colin strobe
on. But he Suddenly stopped, startled, as,
on the other side of high stile, he saw a
figure seated on the grass.
us anything the matter? Can I help
you ?" and then, as he recognized the
white face in the twilight, in quite another
tone he said, "What is the matter, Miss
Holt p;
Poor little ElIice had been very brave
till then. but the sudden friendly voice
and helpful presence overcame her, and
she burst into tears, and said brokenly.
How stupid / am but thought no.
body would ever come, and my foot hurts
so badly -
Before the words were said, the doctor
was down on his knees beside her, feeling
what was amiSS.
home, DR.. Cameron, that some one may
come and help me. Our house is only
few fields down there to the right
II had better help you myself, think"
said Colin. ''Cnn you manage to walk 2"
He helped her to rise, and they went
few steps, but he felt the culver of pain
that went through her as the hurt foot
touched the ground, and stopped.
''You must let me carry you, please.
You won't mind can, quite easily"
There was as much command as request
in his words, and in moment Ellce was
lifted in his strong arms.
Through two fields they went. Then
through the dim silence the gate ahead
swung to with bang and Ellice said
quickly:
oh please set me down, DR.. Cameron.
That is my father, expect, come to look
for me, and be will be SO frightened
So Colin placed her quietly down, and
in minute up came Mr.. Hollis stalwart
figure.
Elhce had been afraid of her father be-
ing alarmed, but can't say his alarm was
removed when he saw his Ellice standing
in the field ahead with a young fellow be-
size her he did not know from Adam.
She cried out as he approached
Don't be frightened, papa: have only
hurt my foot, and DR. Cameron has been
so good as to bring me home"
"And who the deuce is DIR. Cameron %
was Mr.. Hollis first thought, and it was
with some stiffness that he made his ac-
acknowledgements, and remarked that he
would now relieve him of his charge.
Il fear Miss Hollis foot is rather badly
dam ged, sir, and ought to have immediate
attention. said Collins honest kindly
voice II am u doctor, and shall be glad
to give my assistance, if you will allow
me'
So there was nothing for it but to say
''yes,' and between her two helpers Ellice
at last got home. The foot was found to
be badly sprained; the doctor bandaged 1t
carefully, and then strobe off to Middle
ham.
He had thought about Ellice Holt at the
beginning of his evening walk, and now
after this small adventure, what wonder
that he thought more? His profession
made him keen III reading character, and
this little glimpse of the girl had shown
him much. Courageous she must be, and
thoughtful for others, and what good
sort of home she seemed to have! What
sweet motherly face Mrs. Holt had, and
how fond of each other all the girls SEEM
ed When the young man got back to his
lodgings and found everybody gone to bed,
and his prim ugly room in darkness, the
place looked very dreary in contrast with
that flower scented lamp-lit parlor at Dor
ley Grange and Its gentle home presences.
He would certainly respond to the bidding
Mrs. Holt had given him, and 60 again.
How gratefully Ellce had said "Thank
you," as she babe him ''Good-night," and
how pretty she looked as she said it
PART II.
After.this, though DIR. Main looked after
the sprained foot, Colin walked over to
the Grange not unfrequently. He played
lawn tennis with grace and Belle and
cricket with the school-boy brothers. while
Jack and Sybil were especially devoted to
him.
One afternoon, while Ellice was still
obliged to lie on the sofa, the children
were hanging about him, oybil on his knee
and Jack examining a wonderful knife
with all sorts of tools combined with it,
Uban Svhil said su6danlV.
"Ellie can't walk bit. How did she
get home that night she was hurt?"
Colin laughed as he looked across to Ell J
lice and said, 81 carried her,"
"Was she heavy?" inquired SYbil.
'Did you like carrying herr" said Jack.
There was little pause, and then the
Doctor said in quiet tone
Eyes, jack
When he glanced toward the sofa next
there was rosy glow on the face lying |
there, more rosy than could be accounted
for by the sunset light that was streaming |
in through the open window
There came sick time that autumn in
Middleham, and DR.. Cameron was very I
busy for weeks and weeks fighting disease
among the children down in the squalid.
summer-heated streets and back yards;
and when, at last, the worst was over and
he could feel few evening hours his owl
for walk over to Dorley, he found the
place empty of the presence that had made
it dear to him. Quite casually, as if it
were news of no Importance, he was told
that My daughter and my niece are gone
to Paris with Miss Furnival. They will
probably stay till the spring. That was
the beginning of an ill-time for poor Co.
lin. He was overworked and that helped
to make him anxious and disturbed at the
thought of his ENGLISH rosebud among the