The Osceola times., 1882-02-11
TIE DOCTORS MOTHER.

Edgar ST. Charles will marry Ada
Appleton"
Mrs. Meredith spoke composedly
nodding her head rs she did 50. Her
hostess looked at herin surprise, and her
hostess daughter, Ethel Lee, lost from
her fair face al semblance ofattention to
the conversation of young Mr.. Byren
Meredith.
"You think SO, Mrs. Meredith" in
terrogatively from Mrs. Lee.
81 certainly do. Ada is a beauty and
very captivating; st. Charles is rising
man. The match would please her fam
lily. Then there is the power of propin-
quity, you know"
81 know" returned Mrs. Lee, some
what hesitatinPly. "But this should not
be enough 10 make DR., st. Charles marry
Ada Appleton"
"You will see, affirmed Mrs. Meredith,
as she rose. "Come, Byron, If you are
done saying pretty things to Miss Ethel
we will 60"
Byron Meredith's complimentary re
marks to Miss Ethel were certainly at an
end. il was so evident that the girl was
lost in her own thoughts. lie rose casting
a half reproachiul last glance at the fair
downcast countenance, and in a moment
Mrs. Lees callers, mother and son, had
taken their departure.
In spite of herself Ethel looked pitt
fully Mt her mother
81 do not believe it, dear" said Mrs
Lee.
With throb of gratitude toward her
mother, Ethel's heart ached as though
asword had been through it. She stood
at the window moment, as if watching
Chrome, her canary, but her heavy eyes
did not see the little creature, and she
turned from the window at last and went
up to her own room.
She flung herself face downward across
The bed, and lay shiveting and thinking
bitterly enough in the cold chamber
| Though her mother had the utmost con
fidence of this pure young girls heart
she wanted to be alone awhile with her
meditations.
All the long pleasant autumn Dr. Ed
gar st. Charles, prince like and almost
perfect, the most delightful of compan'
ions, favorite with young and old, had
! frequented Mossmere, as the picturesque
/ old farm house was called, and for weeks
| Ethel had enjoyed the sunshine OF his
socie V, sweet and unconscious as q
| flower.
But one day her father had said, with
half laugh
"Child, do you suppose your hand
some young doctor comes TO see me OF
your mother? No; he comes to see
your"
Ethel's blue eyes opened wide with
surprise.
"Mother~ she said, appealingly, the
rosy color mounting to her temples.
"Certainly, my dear; you are sixteen
years old, good and pretty. Why not ~
responded Mrs Lee quietly.
The color faded slowly from the sof'
cheeks. Ethel grew thoughtful
FROM that moment she was no longer q
child.
And all winter the visits of Edgar
st. Charles at Mossmere continued. Il
was q delightful home, and Ethel Lee sc
widely different from the girls OF Tie pc
riod whom he was constantly in the
habit of meeting, had decided charm
I for him. She was his secret ideal oI
what a girl ought to be, and yet ther,
was Ada Appleton and the influence o
| Elmcroft the most magnificent estate II
/ the country.
Ii was frequented-ye throngcd-by
/ the wealthiest, the gayest, The mos
1 fashionable people. lie saw them con
stantly, daily lived in this artificial at
mosphere. lie fct sometimes that only
the grave responsibility of his calling anc
I the influence Of the sweet girl ut Moss
mere kept him from becoming rs light {
butterfly MS the rest.
For luxury had not been the rule o
Edgar st. Charles life There is NJ
royal road TO learning, and from the alb
stemious life of q student he had be
come an inmate Of this home Of pala
tial ease; and 10 the exquisite ministra
/ tions to his comfort he was not indit
ferent.
Theodore Winthrop says: The man
who does not enjoy lIXury is a brute
. TIE man who cannot live without it is /
weakiing.' And pant of the luxury o
Elmcrolt was Ada Appleton. No pic
tdred creation was ever so bewilderingll
fAr-a hour with nothing 10 employ he
idle white fingers but the counting of th'
rose tinted pearls that formed her favor
ite necklace.
And for Dr. Edgar S. Charles all he
smiles were honey sweet. His voice
manners aud beautiful physique pleased
her fancy, and She knew that he wa
considered talented. She was proud o
his escort on public occasions.
Whatever Ada Appleton might hav'
been to her maid, Ed.a ar st. Charlie
found her exceedingly agreeable. He wa
indebted 10 her for many pleasant nours
for some of the family cordiality whicl
made hi stay at Elmcroft 20 delightful
for Ada was The only daughter, and 20 bt
pleased at any cost.
As Mrs. Meredith had said: 81 he mattel
would be agreeable TO the iamilyl' An,
vaguely he felt it.
For a fortnight before Mrs. Meredith
call upon Mrs. lee he had not been a
Mossmerc. The cause OF his rnusus
absence was simply the demands Of hi
profession.
There was much sickness at High
bridge and through the adjacent coun
try; he was necessarily busy-somewhs
overworked. He did not even see mucl
Of Ada.
But in the long winter evening, whei
his merry laugh and bright presenc
was absent from the htartbside at Moss