The Somerset reporter., 1885-10-14
SELECTED.
HELEN'S GOOD DEED.

HElEh'S GOOD DEED.
"Yes," said the doctor, solemnly, sht
shows every Indication OF going into dc
cline. Rest, relaxation, change Of air ant
scenc-that's what she ought to have"
Mrs. Dardanel looked perturbed. dear
dear" she said, what pity! And shes
| quite pet OF mine to-, dear little thing
She is very quick with h needle. ant
r ally ingen ous-and the way she put,
trimmings on dress positively reminds
one Of Madame Antoine herself"
The seaside cottage would be the
place for her." suggested DIR. Midland.
You are one of the lady patroncsses,
believe, and
Yes, but the seaside cottage is full,
said Mrs. Dardanel Not an inch Of
room unoccupicd. | had note from the
matron Yesterdays
"Ah, indeed" said the doctor, fumb-
ling with his watch-scals. unfortunate
very
But cried Mrs. Dardanel, an idea
suddenly occurring to her much bepulrcd
and bcfrizzlcd head, there is Mrs. Dag
gett's farm, a few miles further down the
shore. She takes boarders for 1--WE dol
lars week, and believe it is very nice
take months board for the girl there.
| really feel as if the dear little girl be-
longcd to me-"
IAN excellent plan" said the doctor or
acularly. IL have no doubt but that a
month of sea air would make quite diff
ferent person of her.
Helen Hyde could hardly believe her
own ears when Mrs. Dardancl bcamingly
announced her intentions.
The scashore.' She cried, her pale
face flushing all Owe, "thc real sea. Oh,
Mrs Dardancl have dreamed OF it all
my life. And for Il whole bright, long
summer month. oh, how shall | ever
thank you?"
by getting well and strong as fast a
you can" said Mrs. Dardancl, really
touched by the girls enthusiasm. "And
here is a ten dollar bill for you" she add
cd, with smile You may need some
little trinc OF dress, or there may be a
drive or picnic or an excursion going In
which you will want to participate"
The poor girls first impulse was to re-
turn the money.
mo, you shall not give 1t back-it is 4
present from me and choose that you
keep it."
Helen llyde's heart beat high with de
light when first she saw the Daggcti
farmhouse, long low, red building
with an immense stack of chimncys, &
cluster of outrageous maple trees guard
ed it about with shade, and a door-yard
full OF sweet, old-fashioncd flowers, whilt
in full sight OF the windows the Atlanti,
flung its curling crests OF foam all along
the shining shore. Mrs. Daggett wei
coined her warmly: she had been Mrs
Dardancls housekeeper once, and knew
the value OF that lady's patronage.
"I've just one room left, my dear" she
said "Undcr the caves of the house. IL,
rather small, but It's furnished comfort
ably and there's view of the ocean.
could have given you better accommodate
tons II had received Mrs. Dardancls
letter day earlier. But four young la
dies teachers in the IXwood institute
came yesterday, and I'm sleeping on q
sofa In the parlor. But we will make you
as snug as possible, and the very FIRST
good-szed room that is vacant you shall
have"
And Helen was very happy In her littl,
nook, from whose easement she could sec
the sparkling plain OF the sea all dotted
with white sails.
Mrs. Daggctt was driving, energetic
business woman. Farmer Daggett was {
vacant, honest faced man who invariably
| fell asleep OF an evening with his chaii
tipped back against the wall, and every
available inch Of the house was filled Will
summer boardcrs, mostly ladies'. There
were only three masculine appcndaseS t.
the house besides Its master, an old clergy
man whose pnrishionerS dubbed togcthc
every summer to treat him to six weeks
vacation, a literary man OF large aspira
tions and small income, who had COM
thther for rest and opportunity to stud.
up the skeleton for his next novel, ant
old MIR. Mifilin.
1t was some time before Helen llyd
fairly comprchended who old Mitilin was
A bowed, bent over little man. with silye
hair curling over the collar OF his coat,
rutiied shirt like pictures Of our revolu
tionary forefathers, and blue eyes whic
glistcncd from behind a pair OF silyc
specifics, he shutllcd in and out to hi
meals after an apologize fashion, and "a
all the bright afternoons under the ms
pies, staring at the sea.
"Who is that old gentleman" she Il
last ventured to ask Mrs. Daggctt. Ths
lady frowncd impaticntly.
Its old Daddy Miilin,' said She. An
wish it was anybody else"
lis he n boarder?" asked Helen.
well, he is and he isn't" rather ol
securely answered Mrs. Daggctt who wa
picking over currants for pudding
while Helen sat by and watched hcl
but he won't be here long. You Sc,
my dear he hasn't any friends. Whc
he and Daggett came down from Vel
mont and bought this place we got
cheap because OF old Mr.. Mitflin. W
were to give him the northeast chambc
and they were to allow US so much
, month for his keeping. 1t amt ever,
body, YOU see, as would be willing to hay
an old man like that about the place. b,
he's harmless and innoccm enough, and
won't deny that the two dollars wee
helped along. But now prices have gor
up, and Breezy Point has got to be fasl
ionabc locality in summer time, ar
things are altered. And what's wors
his folks have left Oft sending the none
II wonder why?" said Helen with h
large dreamy eyes fixed pityingly upt
the old man, who sat In his usual pla
under the naples wistfully watching Il
sea.
They're dead, p'r'aps," said Mrs Da
/. gctt. Or pr'aps they've got tired
3 him. Anyhow, it's three months sin
we've heard word. and me and Dagg,
have made up our minds that we eau II
I stand Il any longer. So we're going
put him ON the town. Lawyer nOx