St. Landry democrat., 1886-08-21

pets, Mrs. -" 3d.
"Sphinx," after brief pause, sup
piled the lady, slightly edging away
from the dazzling sunshine as it streamed
in upon them.
"Do you know / have become pos
sessed with the idea that all good house
| keepers abhor the sun on account of its
fading propensities? But [ am afraid L
| should be rather obstinate in my re-
| quirements of light and air. Sunshine
is a glorious benefactor. 1t has cured
many an ill, and is oftentimes more eff
fective than doctors prescription. y
This latter with a genial smile, as,
glancing at his watch, he added: ''Well,
then, Mrs. Sphinx, if you think we
could agree as to plenty of air and sun
=. Oh! by-the-by, l am forgetting
one of the most important items. The
recompense | could offer would not be
large-perhaps two dollars and a half,
payable monthly-would not be salts
factory to you?
"Oh, yesr' was the somewhat eager
reply. Il should be quite satisfied with
that; but / must tell you that-that /
can not give you reference. Yours
would be my first situation, and | am a
stranger (this last tritie flattering)
''in the city,
"Reference"' he repeated, with a
comical look. ITO tell you the truth, |
never thought of them. - Then courte-
ously he added: 81 feel sure that in
your case they are quite unnecessary.
So shall we say this day week for you
to enter upon your duties?'
How kind you areH' came impulsive-
ly from the little woman's lips.
"Not at all; not at all, | assure you;
madam" answered the doctor, his col
or rising slightly.
Then, as he cordially shook his flu
| ture housekeeper by the hand, his quick
eyes noted her shabby little cotton
gloves, so carefully darned at the end
of each shabby finger, and once again
he remarked pleasantly, as he escorted
| her to the door:
so this day week may expect you'
Mrs. Sphinx?'
A moment later he, too, left the
house, thinking as he walked briskly
along:
81 believe she will suit me to dot.
Trim and neat with quiet voice. Poor
little woman, | expect she has seen
good deal of trouble and then other
thoughts chased DR.. Reed housekeeper
from his mind.
Doctor Nathaniel Reed had been
brought up by an old maid aunt. A
woman composed on the sharp corner
and angular system. Yet, withal,
not unkind to her charge, but he being
of bright, affectionate disposition
missed sorely mothers loving ways;
albeit always grateful to the woman
who had taught him to be so strictly
upright and just, and placed him in the
way to earn an independent living.
About two years previous to his aunt's
death she had bought the old-fashioned
house standing in its own grounds,
where the doctor at the opening of my
story resided, for at her decease she
bequeathed it to him, with an income of
two hundred pounds per annum.
Steadily the doctors practice had in
creased, his reputation as a physician
gaining every day. Perhaps he would
have made money faster if he had been
less attentive to those patients whose
only pay consisted of their grateful
thanks. Jane, who thought no one
equal to her master, waxed fairly elo-
quent when relating how he had tended
her mother and helped along her smaller
brothers and sisters. And if the many
s.God bless yous'' called forth by the
doctors kind acts were registered
above, their record must have been a
glorious one.
A year had passed since Mrs. Sphinx
entered upon her duties as housekeeper
to DR.. Reed, and no fairy wand could
have worked greater changes than that
lady's clever hands had done. The old
fashioned furniture had taken on pol
ish upon which no fly dare risk foot
ing. Pretty lace curtains graced the
windows which looked out, not upon
weeds any more, but fragrant flower
beds and velvety grass and rustic seat
meath the o'erhanging branches of an
ancient oak. Jane, no longer slip-shod,
but in neat gown and dainty cap, waited
upon ssthe Mistress" as she always per-
sisted in calling Mrs. Sphinx, to whom
she had become almost as much at
tor himself? Probably he would have
thought no worse fate could befall him
than the loss of Mrs. Sphinx. What of
that lady HERSELF From the first day
when the doctor gave her so kindly
welcome and babe her make herself
quite at home, and if anything was
wanting to her comfort to let him know,
she had grown to love her duties and
the quiet old house, and hoped that she
might always stay, although, of course,
tn AT would not he nOSsihla when the