Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1883-03-14
The Country Doctor,


The Country Doctor,
DR.. Brinsley belongs to the noble
army of martyrs and heroes known as
country doctors lie was the sort
of man you could love if you loved
him; otherwise you would probably
dislike him, for he was very peculiar;
everybody said so. Now there are
several ways Of being peculiar, and the
doctors ways were not always pleasant
ways unless You loved him. His
wife had loved him, Gld to her he had
seemed the most perfect of men, lie
suited her an! she suited him, and
they had been very happy. 1t must
not be supposed that her love hal
been Of the cooling kini. Perhaps the
doctor would not have enjoyed that.
Darling Becky reioiced in making
bright, spicy impudcnt remarks to her
husband. Remarks which male lis
big brown eyes sparkle with delight;
then he would meet her half way, and
they would fight the most interesting
little ducls, followed by the most affec-
tionate roconciliati0ns. But it was
now three long years since poor Becky
had been resting in her quiet grave
and the doctors friends had decided
that he needed some one to keep house
OR him.
After much persuasion he had been
particularly introduced to Miss Della
Swan. "What name" thought the
doctor, but as he looked at her lie saw
that she was fair gentle, healthy and
twenty-siX. "a good, sensible age;
must be neat and orderly" was his
verdict. In a moment Of enthusiastic
selfshness he had proposed to her, and
in moment Of enthusiastic devotion
she had accepted him.
They were married. She lived in
MS house, she poured out his tea and
coffee, she entertained his friends, and
everybody said: "Oh, how much nicer
she was than that other woman She
was very popular with everybody, but
she was not at all popular with the
doctor.
To him "that other woman" WIS
still all the world and the brightness
thereof. So homeless did he feel in
the presence Of this much nicer woman
that his visits to Backy's grave We're
the only happy hours Of his new life.
After awhile he became more accus.
toned to Della, and then he began TO
give her free and frequent lectures on
Becky. "'5he' used to say so and so,
she used to do this and that, and as
SIZE had been right then, she must be
right now and forever, and in every
thing.
Della had married from a sense of
duty" and deserved to be punished,
but it seemed to her that her punish
ment was greater than she deserved
She would not have wished that her
husband should forget the wife of his
youth, but she had expected that he
would have some regard for the
woman whom he had invited to pre-
side over his household, and she had
hoped to make him comfortable; to "do
her duty by him." as she expressed it.
Part of that duty she had performed
In the most admirable manner; never
had the doctors house been 50 clean;
never had his shirt bosoms shone with
such luster; but the heart which beat
behind them she had been unable to
conquer.
Was it her fault? Had she not tried
to be kind, to be patient, to be meek?
Yes, hpt it was the trying that had
spoiled it all and she lacked the sweet
boldness which love alone can give.
She was almost afraid of that I'M
gracious man, and she was jealous
OF Becky much loved, happy Becky.
At the end Of six months of such a
life the doctor noticed that Della
looked pale and thin. "You need a
little more fresh air." he prescribed,
"and l shall take you out as often
% I can" Not without some in
ward fear, but attired in her very
best, Della sat in the buggy by the
side OF her lord. 1t was balmy
spring afternoon, nature looked so
fresh, 80 bright, so happy, that a
little Oh this happiness breathed
itself into Delia's sad heart. The
docyo7 must also have been touched
by these benign influences, for never
before had he been so kind. SO at
tentiva to her, so talkative. She
smiled several times; twice she abso-
lutelJ laughed. She sat little
nearer to him, her cheeks bloomed
and she was beginning to feel quite
comfortable, when, as luck would
bow s. tbey happepsd to ride past Q