San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1889-02-07
NUMBER 6.

Both Of tho doctor and tho housekeeper.
In tho meantime tho doctor went ON
waxing wealthy and renowned. He was
famous for his skill In managing cases
not laid down In tho books. He had
cured several old women and young girls
Of witchcraft; terrible complaint,
nearly as prevalent In the province In
those days "a hydrophobia Is at present.
Ho had even restored ono styapping
country girl to perfect health who had
gone 20 far as TO vomit crooked pins and
needles; which is considered q desperate
stage OF tho malady. II was whispered,
also. that hc was possessed Of tho art OF
plications had ho In consequence from
love sick patients Of both sexes. But all
these cases formed tho mysterious part
Of his practice, In which, according to
tho cant phrase, "socrecy and honor
might be depended on" Dolph, there-
forp, was obliged to turn out Of tho
study whenever such consultations oc-
CURED. though 1t Is said ho learned moro
of the secrets Of tho art at tho koyhoIo
than by all tho rest Of his studies put to-
gether.
AS tho doctor increased In wealth no
began TO extond his possessions and to
look forward, like other great men, TO
tho time when ho should retire to the re-
pose Of o country seat. For this purpose
he had purchased farm. or, rs the
Dutch settlers called II, O bowerie, few
miles from town. II had been the resi-
dence of wealthy family, that had re-
turned somo time since to Holland. A
large mansion house stood In the center
Of Il, very much out Of repair, and which,
IN consequence OF certain reports, had re.
ceived tho appellation Of the Haunted
House. Either from these reports, or
from its actual dreariness, the doctor had
found It impossible to get o tenanti and,
that the place might not fall to ruin bo-
fore he could reside In 1t himself, he
aad placed q country boor, with his
family, in ono wing, with tho privilege
Of cultlvating tho farm on shares.
The doctor now felt oil the dignity OF
landholder rising within him. He had
little Of the German pride OF territory
In his composition, and almost looked
upon himself ns owner OF principauty:
Ho began to complain OF the fatigue OF
business, and was fond Of riding out ITO
look ut his estate" His little expeditions
and parade that created sensation
throughout the neighborhood. Ills wall
eyed horse stood, stamping and whisking
Off the dies, for full hour before tho
house. Then the doctors saddle bags
would DO brought out and adjusted;
then, after little while, his cloak would
be rolled up and strapped to tho Baddlei
then his umbrella would DO buckled TO
tho GOAT, while, In tho meantime, group
Of ragged boys, that observant class OF
beings, would gather before tho door.
At length the doctor would Issue forth,
In q pair Of jack boots that reached above
his knees, and cooked hat tapped down
In front. AS ho was short, fat man ho
took some time to mount into the saddles
and when there, he took some time to
have tho saddle and stirrups properly /,
adjusted, enjoying the wonder and ad-
miration Of the urchin crowd. Even af-
ter he had set off, he would pause In the
middle OF the street, or trot back two or
three times to give some parting orders,
which were answered by the housekeepcr
from the door, or Dolph from the study,
or the black cook from tho cellar, or tho
chambermaid from the garret window,
and there were generally some last words
bawled after him just as he was turning
the corner.
The whole neighborhood would be
aroused by this pOrnp and circumstance.
Tho cobbler would leave his last, tho
barber would thrust out his frizzed heads
with comb sticking In 1t, knot would
would be buzzed from one end OF the
street to the other, "Tho Doctors riding
out TO his country seatT'
These were golden moments for Dolph.
No sooner was the doctor out Of sight
than pestle and mortar were abandoned,
tho laboratory was left to tako care OF
itself, and tho student was oil on some
madcap frolic.
Indeed, 1t must bo confessed, tho
youngster, as he grew up, seemed In
fair way to fulfill the prediction Of the old
claret colorcd gentleman. He was tho
ringleader Of oil holiday sports and mid
night gambols, ready for all kinds Of
mischievous pranks and harebrained ad-
ventures,
There Is nothing 30 troublesome as
hero on q small scale, or, rather, o hero
In a email town. Dolph soon became tho
abhorrcnce Of all drowsy, housekeeping
old citizens, who hated noise and had no
relish for waggery. Tho good danes,
too, considered him as little better than
rcprobate, gathered their daughters
under their wings whenever he ap-
preached, and pointed him out rs warn
Ing TO their soma No ono seemed TO hold
him In much regard, excepting tho Wild
striplings Of the place, who were captt-
vated by his open hearted, daring man
ners, and the negroes, who always look
upon every idle, do-nothing youngster as
q kind Of gentleman. Even the good
Peter do droodt, who had considered
himself kind Of patron OF the lad, be-
gan 70 despair OF him and would shake
BIS head dubiously as he listened 10 o
long complaint from tho housekeeper,
and slipped glass Of her raspberry
brandy.
Still his mother was not 10 DO wcaried
out Of her affection by all tho wayward-
noes Of her boy, nor disheartened by tho
stories Of his miBdoeds with which her
good friends weTe continually regaling
| her. She had, Il II true, very little OF
the pleasure which rich people enjoy. In
alw1ys hearing their children praised;
but sho considered all this III viii o. q
Mind Of persecution which he suffered.
and she liked him the better on that nc
count. She saw hun growing up fine.
toll, good looking yOungstcT. and she
] looked OF him with tho secret pride OF
mothcrs heart Il was her great desire
that Dolph should appear Ike gentle
man, and al tho money ehc could save
went towards helping out bis pocket and
his wardrobe. sbo would look out Of the
window after him o. he sailed forth In
hls bot array. and her heart would yeATn
| with DELIGHT. and onoe. when Petcr de
Groodt, struck with the youngsters gal
lant appearaDoe on a hrlght Sunday
| 1oruihs. otaervcli. well, after all.
Dolph docs grOW a conely feIO~T the
ts-lr of pride started into The mothers
Icve. stAh. ncighbori neighborf- ex-
l claiued shc. ''thcy may say What they
rlras.: PR Dolrh vii yet hold Up he