The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1886-01-27


Excuse me-" said this apparition
"but belieye have lost my way
Might | ask shelter from the showeri
| am the young man from the hos
pital"
Certainly not, said Miss Lidia
closing the door abruptly in his face
with little shrek. "Good gra-
cious have stood face TO face with
the-small-pox case? 2"
And then she ran for the servant
and the camphor bottle, and went
into mysteries.
Mrs. Printemps lived in the next
house-a picturesque cottage, over
hung with virginia creepers, with a
little plaster cast Of Cupid In the
garden, and a great many bluebells
and carnatlous-a young widow
who read all the newest books and
sometimes wrote gushing poems for
the second rate munthlles.
Mrs. Printemps imagined herself
like the gifted and unfortunate Mary
Queen OF Scots, and dressed up TO
the part, as far as nineteenth century
prejudices would allow her-and
she was seated by the easement. try
ing to find rhyme to suit a most
unaccommodatIng line of poe.ry,
when the tall pale stranger appeared
under her window, ''for all the
world" as Mrs Printemps subse-
quently expressed it, like a troba.
dor, or DAVID Rizzio himself"
Excuse me, madade," he began,
"but | am from the hospital, and"
My goodness mel" calculated
Mrs. Printemp, jumping to her feet /;
''how dare you come here, and tell
me that to my face? Why don't
they isolate you?"
Madame" said the surprised
stranger.
Go away said Mrs. Printemp,
banging down her window and bolt
ing it noisily. "Betsy"-to her girl
run across the meadow to Mrs.
Underlay's and tell her that the
smallpox case is rampaging all over
the country, trying to get people to
let him iu, and she isn't To open the
door on any account. And to stop
at Mr.. Duer's and ask him what sort
of sanitary regulation he calls this
kind of thing?'
''. M afraid Ill meet him, menu
said Betsy, getting behind the side
board land | amt been vaccinated
for seven years, and"
Nonsense" said Mrs. Printemps,
"if you go across the pasture-feld
you'll get there full five minutes be-
fore he does. Make haste now"
Kate Duer was standing in her
doorway watching the storm roll
grandIy over the mountain-tops,
when the weary and bewildered
traveller opened the gate and came
hesitatingly in.
II beg your pardon" said he
meekly, "but / think there must be
som ething singular in my appear
ance. People seem to shut their
doors against me, ard shun me as if
| had the pestilence. And l cannot
find the residence of Mr.. Dibble, the
clergyman Would it be asking too
much if [ were to request permission
to rest in your porch until the storm
is over? | came from the hospital,
and"
"Oh, l understand" said Kate
quickly. "You are the smallpox
patient. But have been vaccinated
and am not afraid of the disease.
There is very comfortable cham
Der in the second story of the barn.
and you shall be carefully nursed
and taken care of there, Of"
"But you are mistaken, cried the
young man: IL am not"
Hush p said Kate gently. do
not he afraid to confide in me. /!
am DR.. Duer's sister, and know the |
whole story. Sit here and rest lit
tie, and | will bring you some bread
and milk until my brother comes"
Il am thousand times obliged to |
you." said the stranger, "and the |
bread and milk will taste delicious
after nv long walk. But / do not
know what leads you to think that
am victim to varioloid. | have |
lost my hat in the wind, to be sure,
and am compelled to wear this
Syrlan-looking drspery on my head, |
but / never had smallpox, and
hope never to encounter its horrors.
Kate Duer turned red first, then |
pale.
Then" said she, "if You are not !
the smallpox case, who are you? ?"
II am Felix Amory," said the
young stranger. "the chaplain of st. |
Lucetta's Hospital in New York. |
am to preach in aid of the home
on Sunday next"
Kate Duer hurst out laughing.
And everyone has been mistak-
ing you for the small pox case p
said she "Oh, Mr.. Amory, do come
in. How could We all have been SO
stupid? Bnt you see the minute
you began to speak of the hospital
Il dare say it was verv awkward /
IF me- said Mr.. Amory. But it's
The way l have always mentioned
myself to strangers. st. Lucetta's |
you Know
"Yes, | know" said Kate. "But
to the good folks here, there is only
one hospital in the world, and that
IS the Pitcherville Institute" !
Mr.. Amory enjoyed his tea. sliced
peaches. and delicate "angel cake"
very much. as he sat tete-a-tete with
Kate Duer, by the soft light of the
shaded lamp, while the rain patter-
I'd without. And when the doctor
came in it was cosier yet.
The smallpox case?" said he.
'Oh, that is safely isolated at Hopes
Quarry since this morning. And
doing very well, too. / am happy to
.ay. Upon my word, Mr.. Amory, l
am sorry that you have had such a
disastrous experience"
"Allis well that ends WE'LL" said
he young clergyman. leaning back
n his snug corner with an expression
IF ineffable content on his face.
Miss Lidia Larkspur was quite in
i I. l1 Nl~