Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1885-03-27

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even though her prospects of skating
were gone. She put on her scarlet hood
and cape, shedding few quiet tears as
she did so, and went out for walk in
the white silence of the March woods
Nature may justly be termed the arch
CONSIDER, and Sylvia had been out but a
short time when the sunshine and the
crisp, cold breeZes Gained the fever of
her reb6llious heart as with the touch of
cooling hand. She watched the sun
set redden over the forests; she beheld, !
from her vantage ground on the noun
tain side, the skaters disappear, one by
one, from Duton's pond; she felt, rather
than saw, the hush of the coming twi-
light, through which, here and there,
the silver point of star twinkled out,
and she sang softly to herself as she
came back to the farmhouse.
Mrs. Gerald, very pale, met her at the
door.
ooh, Sylvial" she cried. "Where
have you been2 I thought you would
never come back! Chester is here-my
poor, poor boyp
"What has happened9" cried Sylvia,
"Where is he?"
''On the sofa in the psrlor!" said Mrs.
Gerard, getting her words out incoher-
emily and by jerks. "And Pm afraid
he is dying! He was intending to sur,
prise me, and he rode over from Hart
wick on Mrs. Poyntz's black horse, that
never was fit for Christian to ride, and
the brute SHE'D at stump that
showed black against the white snow,
and threw him. And he could JUST
crawl to the door, with his leg broken,
before he tainted dead away. Oh, Chess
ter-oh, my poor boyW
''But what can l dor" said Sylvia. ''u
know nothing about sickness"
"You can go for the DOCTOR" said
Mrs. Gerard. "And do for my sake, :
make hastel It's four full miles there,
and Chester may die from the pain be-
fore we get his leg set. It's swelling
fast, and he goes from one swoon into
another"
-Four milesl" repeated Sylvia. eyes,
I'll go, Mrs. Gerard; but four miles, IF
l had my skates, could go directly
down the river in quarter of the time
it would take to plod along the deep;
snow of the road"
Mrs. Gerard flushed deeply as she met
Sylvia's frank look. She went to the;
closet, unlocked a drawer, and taking
out the missing skates, placed them on
the floor beside Sylvia.
The girl looked keenly at her. - ~
"You found themY" said she.
81 knew where they were all the
time," said Mrs. Gerard. ell hid!
them. l am very sorryl"
BY this time, Sylvia had looked to the
fastenings. They were all right.
"Good-by" said she, kindly. "Don't
fret, l will assuredly bring the doctor
back with me-"
She rushed down the steep, wooded
bank toward the steely glitter of the
river; and five minutes afterward, Mrs. !
Gerard, looking from her window, saw
the light, straight figure, skimming
swiftly along, more like the arrowy dart
of bird than the motion of human
being, until it was lost in the approach,
ing shadows of dusk. !;
"What would have become of me
now," she thought, eff Sylvia had not
learned to skate?"
| Miss Seton was fortunate enough to-
find the doctor at home, and rode back
with him in his buggy; and he could not.
say enough in praise of her spirit and
courage.
1t was to her that he gave all charges.
and directions regarding the patient.
"My dear madam" he said, in answer
to Mrs. Gerard's piteous pleadings, "this
young lady is born nurse. She has a.
cool head, light hand and plenty of
nerve. She is the proper person to take
care of Mr.. Gerard"
And Sylvia proved herself worthy Of
his words.
Chester Gerard recovered slowly, but
the time did not hang heavily on his
hands.
Sylvia was the brightest and cheeriest
of companions.
At the end of the second month, the
patient was allowed to go out into the
budding April world of trees and bushes,
and bright blue sky; and while he was
taking his first walk. Sylvia came to the
old lady, with varying color.
"Dear Mrs. Gerard" said she, 81
have something to tell YOU"
Mrs. Gerard's eyes sparkled.
HAS he asked you to marry him-al.
ready?" said she. But knew he was
getting to love you. ooh, am so
glad!"
"You approve it, then9" said Sylvia.
rather disappointed.
81 never was so pleased in all nv
life" said the old lady.
"But-but-" hesitated Sylvia, 81
don't think care for him as wife
should care for her husband--I am sure
/ don'tr'
''Mrs. Gerard's face visibly length
ened
"Sylvia, Sylvia, don't say that, she
cried. "Do you try to like him-for my
sake And he loves you so much, my
darlingl"
"For your sake, Mrs. Gerard9 Why
are you so much Interested Is Doctor
Midway"
"Who is talking about Doctor Mild
may?" exclaimed Mrs. Gerard.
"Why, you, aren't you9" retorted Syl
via.
"No. I'm talking about my son
r Chester" said the old lady.
Sylvia's face had turned a soft, ROSY
r pink; her bright eyes fell to the ground
, "Does-Chester love met" she muir
INJURED.
He was going to tell you so to-day,
/ said Mrs. Gerard.
'Then l am glad refused Docto
| Midway" said Sylvia.
So both these ladies broke thei
word.
v Mrs. Gerard not only consented tina
Sylvia should become her daughter-in
e law, but abjectly implored her to do so
q and Sylvia, after declaring that Ssh