Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1882-01-20
Helen Hyde's Good Deed

Helen Hyde's Good Deed.
"Yes," 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 havel"
Mrs. Dardanel looked perturbed.
" Dear. DEAR" she said, "what pity
And she's quito pet of mine. too. dear
little thing! She is very quick with
her needle. and really Ingenious aud
the way she puts trimmings on a dress
reminds ono Of Madam Antoine her.
self"
"The seaside cottage would be the
place for her." suggested DR.. Midland.
You are one OF the lady patronessess.
I believe, and
Yes, but the cottage is full" said
Mrs. Dardanel. mot an inch of room
unoccupied. I had a note from the
matron yesterday"
"Ah. indeed" said the doctor. fum-
bling with his watch seals. Unfor-
tunate-very."
"But." cried Mrs. Dardanel, an idea
suddenly occurring to her much-be-
pufed and befrizzled head, "there
is Mrs. DAggett's farm, q few miles
further down the shore. She takes
boarders for five dollars week, and I
believe it is q very nice place. If you
think it advisable, l will take months
board for the girl there. really feel
as if the dear little thing belonged to
me-"
"An excellent plan, madam, an excel.
lent plan" said the doctor. oracularly
II have no doubt that q month oi
sea air would make different person
of her."
Helen Hyde could hardly believe hel
own ears when Mrs. Dardasel beaming.
ly announced her intentions.
"The sea-shore," che cried. her pale
face flushing all over. "the real sea-
Oh, Mrs. Dardanel, have dreamed Of
it all my life. And for . whole bright
long summer MONTH Oh, how shall ]
ever thank you?"
"By getting we'll and strong again Of
fast as you csn," said Mrs. Dardsnel,
really touched by the girls innocent
enthusiasm. "And here is ten. dollar
bill for you," she added, with smile
"You may need some little trifie Of
dress, or there may be drive or picnic
or excursion going on, in which you
will want to participate"
The poor girls first impulse was te
return the money.
"No. you shall not give it back-ii
is a present from me, and I choose that
you shall keep it,"
Helen Hyde's heart beat high with
delight when first she saw the Daggett
farmhouse, Q long, low, red building
with an immense stack of chimneys, 9
cluster of outrageous maple trees
garlanding it about with shade, and a
door-yard full of sweet. old-fashioned
flowers, while in full sight Of the win.
dows the Atlantic flung its curling
crests of foam all along tho shingly
shore. Mrs. Daggett welcomed her
warmly; she had been Mrs. Dardanel'e
housekeeper once, and knew the value
of that lsdy's patronage.
"I've just one room left, my dear, u
she said. "Under the caves of the
house. It's rather small, but it's fur.
Hished comfortably, and there's fine
view Of the ocean. Icould have given
you better accommodations if I had
received Mrs. Dardanel's letter a day
earlier. But four young ladies. teach
ers in the Ixwood Institute, came yes
terdsy, and I'm sleeping on sofa in
the parlor myself. But we will 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
little nook, from whose easement she
could see the sparkling plain of the
sea dotted with white sails.
Mrs. Dagget was driving. energetic,
business woman. Farmer Daggett was
q vacant, honest-faced man, who inva.
riably fell asleep of an evening with
his chair tipped back against a wall,
and every available inch of the house
was filled with summer boarders, mostly
ladies. There were only three mascu-
line appendages to the house besides
its master, an old clergyman whose
parishioners clubbed together every
summer to treat him to six weeks
vaoation-a literary man Of large aspi-
rstions and small income, who had