The Northern Pacific farmer. [volume] (Wadena, Minn.) 1878-1885, 1883-07-12
THE DOCTORS CHOICE.

| the low white gate.
Golden buttercups, snowy-hearted daisies
| and blue-eyed vielets were smiling softly
in the April twilight.
Mable gazed sorrowfully into the purple
cleaning with an aching pain at her heart.
To- day her father had been laid in the
grassy old church yard, leaving her friend
less and homeless. Her fathers long ILL
ness had completely exhausted their re-
sources, and at his death Mable's slender
purse was only sufficient to pay the last sad
| rites for the dead.
The dear little cottage-the scene Of SO
| many pleasures and pains-would pass into
the hands of strangers, and on the morrow
she was going to the great house on the hill
| to apply for situation as goveEnass.
The next day, with beating heart, Mable
assembled the steps and rang the bell at
| Glenwood. pompous servant ushered
her into pretty little morning room where
\ o gentleman and two ladies were sitting.
DR.. Stanley, the owner of Glenwood, was
bachelor Of about thirty, tall, grave, and
| digniied. His aunt, widowed lady, had
| charge of his house. She was hard, am
| bilious woman, whose principal object in
| life was to establish her daughter as the
wife of DR.. Stanley and mistress of beauti-
full Glenwood.
| The doctor rose as Mabel entered, and
walked to the opposite side of the room,
so as not to embarass her with his presence.
veyed the orphan coldly, while Grace, q
pretty but naughty looking girl, stared at
her superciliously.
"You are too young. objected Mrs. STAN
! ley.
! Mabers lips quivered.
But am we'll educated, and will try.
Oh, SO hard, to do as you WISH" she said,
entreatinglg.
DR.. Stanley had been watching the sad
faced, black robed figure, over his paper,
with pity and interest. He called to his
aunt.
She rose and went to where he was stand
ing. After O long conversation with him
she came back with o look of annoyance
on her face.
II am very particular about governess
for my children, she said. II wish one
that understands French and German per-
fectly."
Mable's face frightened triae.
Il understand those branches quite we'll.
My faith. in the faltering tones we always
speak of those we have recently lost was
q very fine scholar, and taught me him
!
She took the book and correctly read and
translated the passages Mrs. Stanley point
ed out.
The lady frowned.
@Music?" she said briefly.
Mable seated herself at the piano, and
played with skill and brilliancy that only
perfect understanding and thorough prac.
tice can acquire.
Mrs. Stanley was in despair; she had
nothing else to object to. But she had nc
inclination to have a pretty, gentle young
girl in the house with DR.. Stanley until
Grace became his wife-if she could only
bring about that occurrence-for she was
fully aware Of Grace's shortcomings. Dr.
Stanley had requested her, however, to
employ Mable, and she always made it a
point to yield to his wishes.
well" she said slowly, ignoring Grace's
disconnected, frowning face. Il suppose
will take you on months trial; if you
prove inefficient at the end of that time,
which have no doubt you will, car
make other arrangements.
Poor Mabel! The words and tone we're
very crushing, but she had no other re-
course, so had to school her heart to en-.
| dure.
II will send servant for your boxes,
said Mrs. Stanley; ..and you will begin YOU
duties at once. I.don't wish the children
to he out of school any longer"
Mable followed servant up the stairs tc
retired, plainly-furnished. but very pleas.
ant room. She threw herself into low
chair by the open window and buried he1
face in her hands, while burning tears
stseamed through hen fingers;
Several months had passed since Mabe
came to .Glenwood as governess. At the
end of the first month Mrs. Stanley tried II
but Mabel had proved faithful and eficien
iii every particular, so much against he1
will she had permitted her to reRlain.
At first Mable found her duties perfoc
torture. The children were rude and un
manageable, and completely exhausted he
strength and patience. At night she would
throw herself across the bed, quivering will
pain, and press her hands tightly to hel
throbbing temples. She was becoming
more accustomed to it now, but it was tell
ing visibly on her delicate constitution
Her fase &as thin and pale, and her large
dark eyes had grown sad and mournfu]
with their weight of uns1,ca . .:,,r,,
! w. W.. stanley was harsh and exacting, ant
| Grace rendered her life unpleasant by {
thousand little words and innuendoes tina
deeply wounded her sensitive nature.
Really, mamma" she would say, "sht
quite startles one at times, looking SO ghost
" with her white face and black Dress"
|, DR.. Stanley was the only friend thai
frightened Mable's eheefless life. .Ha al
ways had pleasant word and smile for her
apd rendered her numberless littla acts Of
kindness that were very grateful to he!
weary heart. Stern and grave with others
he was tendsr and gentle with her, and un.
consciously to herself, her heart had gone
out to the tall. strong man, for whom an.
other WAS 80 intensely striving.
1t was sultry summer evening. Mablt
was seated in the rose arbor, reading, whe1
Mrs. Stanley and her daughters, Grace ant
May, approached.
81 do think you are Just frightful in thai
horrid black, MISS Derring," said May
with the frenkness of twelve years. 81
wonder if can't make you look better"
She had some white and pink roses in
her hand, and going to Mable's side she
twined them in her dark, waving hair, ane
fastened spray at the slender throat"
ooh, Miss Derring," she said, claspine
her hands, you look just lovely:
Grace laughed scornftilly.
"What a paragon of beauty Miss Derrine
is. What q pity some fairy prince don
come along. I dare say he woiild-'
Mrs. Stanley touched her warhlngly OF
the arm, and she checked herself just a
the doctor CAFES q.
A soft rose color sutfused Mable's face
Her eyes deepened and darkened, and sh'
looked, as May expressed it, lust lovely.
DR.. Stanley's eyes fingered on her fac'
with an admiration that did not escape
Grace!
1T is all Mays fault" she thought, will
blind rage; lit is the flowers that make
her look SO pretty"
"What was it you were saying about
fairy prince, GraceP" asked the doctor.
"Oh. nothing" replied Grace. fannin
herself violently. Glow very warm it Is
Don't you think so, Cousin Gux2"
Extremely" said the doctor, seatin,
himself by Mable, and tanning her as wei
az himself with his broad straw hat.
Grace controlled herself with difficulty
May, who had rushed off as the docto
approached, now appeared, with her apron
fall of floral treasures.
Amt they beauties, Cousin Guy?" sh,
said. emptying them into his lap,
The doctor selected some fragrant tube
roses, waxen lilies, and starry jasmine, ani
placed them in Mable's hand.
Mrs. Stanley frowned.
Il want to see you on business matter
Guy; will you come now2"
The doctor rose reluctantly, and followed
her away =
As soon as they disappeared, Grace dart
ed forward and snatching the flowers from
Mable's hand, threw them to the Rrount
and crushed them under her foot.
i "Mable Derrinp" she said. in a lind