Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1885-08-21
.'Oh. Harry, what are o aboute:''

she said. ''Why, Bertha, how could
you let him get at my work-basket? 1t
took me nearly two hours yesterday to
and haste those cuffs-they require
such careful measuring-and now he
has torn them all apart"
"He's a mischievous little fellow"
was Bertha's only remark as she pro-
ceeded to eat her breakfast, and then
resumed her book and her place on the
sofa, while her mother, in the inter-
walls of amusing Harry, tried to do a
little work on the sewing-machine.
just as Bertha had made up her mind
that the noise was too much for her
ana that she must find q uuieter place,
Ruth opened the door and announced:
"Mrs. Dr.. Grove"
A ch~eery-faced wholesome looking
person followed the name one of those
who impress n as happily combining
the character of lady with business
woman. Mrs. March introduced her.
self and her daughter, and then car
rled the breakfast tray from the room,
while the visitor occupied herself with
a friendly. but keen and comprehen-
slve glance at the young girl, under
which Bertha's embarrassedTc conscious
ness of d%ishevelled hair and dress I'M
tidy to an extent not excusable even
under plea of a headache, increased
every moment.
When Mrs. March returned to the
room the visitor engaged in a half
hour chat with the two on Indifferent
topics, contriving in that shot inter
val to draw some shrewd conclusions
with regard to both mother and. daugh-
ter.
81 had business which called me to
this place." at length she sad, $50 I
thought / would reply to your letter in
person. You are. of course, the in
valld?" she asked, addressing Mrs.
March.
No" was the answer, sit is my
daughter"
But the clear. kindly yes still re-
named fixed upon the mothers face as
a few questions were asked, and the
answers listened to with an expression
which grew a little more, sober. Then,
at Mrs. March's evident anxiety to
direct attention to her daughter, the
visitor drew her chair closer to the
young girl, and had soon drawn from
her a full description of her physical
difficulties. With the best account she
could give of them, Bertha could not
help feeling that they made but a poor
showing.
"My dear child" said the lady, when
the end of the small list was reached,
81 saw a young girl some time ago
who,was in much the condition inwhich
1 find you, and what do you think
recommended for herp"
"A course Of treatment, / suppose"
sad Bertha.
"Not the course you are thinking of.
l advised her mother to send away her
girl, and allow her daughter to do the
homework for awhile"
A flush of anger and disappointment
arose to Bertha's face as her mother
asked:
"Did she try 1t|
"Well, no, more s the pity. But she
had the good sense to go to work, al
though in a less radical way than that
would have been, and give her poor,
tlabbly muscles a little chance to gel
out of Their half paralyzed condition
and become more like what the good
Lord intended they should be. Now,
my DEAR" she turned again to Bertha,
IL have no doubt that a few weeks
spent under my care would do you a
great deal of good, but that would
take you away from Your mother,
which would be a great pity, for she
surely needs all you can do for her
here"
With a few words of advice in the
matter of fresh air, food at regular in.
tervals, and a suggestion or two as to
the care of the person which gave an
added t'nge to the color on Bertha's
cheek, Mrs. Dr.. Grove took her leave.
II do believe that woman meant to
insult me-" sad Bertha, springing
from her sofa with eyes ablaze with in
%dignation as Don as the door had
closed upon her.
ooh no, my DEAR" said her mother,
soothingly.. 81 am sure she meant to
be kind. And how thankful / am to
find there is nothing serious the mat
ter with YOU"
Il don't believe she knows anything
about IT," cried Bertha, escaping to hel
room to hide her tears of vexation and
modification. She was angry with
Mrs. Grove. and angry with her mother
for being so ready TO believe all she
said. If her dear friend in the city had
been i'll, her polite physician would
have made it his concern to find out
whether she preferred the seaside or tht
mountains, and ordered her there a
once.
She lay down for awhile, but found
her own thoughts such unsatisfactor1
companions that she got up and hur
riedly dressed herself. Helen Maynt
lived next door. the gardens of the two
houses adjoining. She did not care
much for Helen Wayne, but she wa
better than nobody, so she went to
vine-covered piazza in which she foune
her sitting with a lap full of gayly-col
ored silks.
"Oh, is that you, Bertha" she said
''Sit down. have a new book l wan
to show you. Just wait till [ gathe:
up m silks, and I'll get it. Can 20,
read to ME a little?e You are such
good reader l always like tohear you
Bertha knew she read well and liket
to be told Of it, so she asscnted yer,
willingly.
Mother has company, so We'll &c
!, out into the arbor, where we shall dis
turb nobody and nobody will disturb
[ u.s." went on Helen.