The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1891-09-17

Anne Bissell was in the little parlor,
which, though cheaply and plainly fur
nished, had that harmony Of color and
artistic touch Anne impaired TO every
thing with which she had 10 do Her
girlish brightness and bloom seemed to
perya1e the place and transform il into
a low toned background for her beauty.
She was busy sewing on Il paha blue gown
Of some thin wooden stuff, putting the
big sleeves, and putting in white lace at
the throat Miss Carver in her scant
autumnal russet slipped into the rocking
chair and wiped the pcrspiration from
her thin face, Anne's abundant lowell
ness wounded her as usual, and gave her
the feeling that she would like to stick a
pin into that pink and white conpIacency
and call forth little cry Of pain.
Il s'pose yon know Mary French,
don't you, Anne?' she began, making the
rockers Of her chair creak
No, / can say DO. We used to play
together when we went to school, but
she doesn't remember me now. She
wouldn't call on people in our position :"
Il hate to hear folks talk as II they
were getting sour7ed by being poor Poor
folks can 60 among the best people IN
Littlefieli if they are Of the right stamp
Lam poor, and am nos ashamed to own
II; but never door is shut on lie"
''Oh, we could not pretend to ycar ST.
pe1iOr qualifications for Littiefield socie-
ty,' and Anne gave her pretty head a
slight toss.
The hussyl Miss Carver wanted to
shake her. She hardened her heart
well, Anne, understand that Mary
French knows something rather startling
about your DOCTOR" laying malignant
emphasis Oh the your" He is engaged
to enc of her schooImates at Smith col
lege, and has been for d year"
She waited to see the bomb explode,
but Anne lifted her face from the sleeve
she was putting serene as summer Gay.
ooh, that's an old story" said she, smil-
ing sweetly on Miss Carver The en-
gagement was broken more than six
months ago. The young lady insisted
nfl tl,o dn-a+nr;a so;-,i.,e, ln-- ~l--~I-A.
he declined she broke with him.
"It looks very bad to be making and
Carver with asperity. ''Of with the
old love and on with the new
Yes, it does look bad, +" remarked the
placid Anne, "tO those who have never
been engaged, and are never likely to be,
and do nos know the difficulties of the
situation"
Miss Carver sat back in her chair,
breathing hard, and just then Mrs. Bis
sell came into the room. sat down and
smoothed her apron. There was what
Anne called the "biack rust" in hey
little mothers forehead, and she heaved
sigh.
Gran ther is sick, Anne; something
like a chill, and I've put him to bed and
tucked him in warm, and now I'm wait
ing for the doctor. The roof leaks close
to gran'thers bed, and it has begun te
rain and is so damp. | doa't know but
I shall move gran ther Gown into my
room. had Fraser assistant here day
before Yesterday to mend the roof. He
said he was a stranger in town, and he
has made d miserable job Of it. be
Ieve it leaks worse than ever, and
wonder Fraser would employ such {
hand. I do wish the doctor would
come"
Miss Carver had passed rather try
ing day, and she went to bed early ant
slept lightly, waking every now and theT
from bad dream. Late in the evening
she heard DR.. Tibhes's light step goins
up to his patient IN the attic and hi
pleasant, reassuring voice saying to Mrs
Bissell IN the hall: Now, don't yoI
worry. The old man has got lttl
cold and touch Of fever, but we sbal
bring him round in day or two"
1t was astonishing to Miss Carver tina
Mrs. Bissell, with all the load she had t.
carry. should worry about that old maj
Tor whom she cooked and washed ant
mended when his own well to do daugh
ters had practically cast him off. In tn
middle Of the night she heard the from
door bell ring out in the silent hous
with startling reverberation. She wa
hesitating about getting up to call Mrs.
| BiseeI when Anne came tripping out o
| her room in her striped flannel dressin
| gown, hec hair mass Of fluffy curls
|
| door. The night patients have begul
to pour in," she whispered through tn
| panel, 'and I'm so glad"
= The doctor got up and dressed HUI
riedly, and then drove away in "a wago
that was waiting for him at the doc
/ over the soft, wet road. Miss Carve
| did not hear him come in, bat she foun
| him fresh and bright in the morning 4
| the breakfast table discussing Mrs. BIZ
sells rolls and coffee. Mrs. Bissell Wa
herself seated behind the tray.
Doctor" she asked, "was your ps
tient very i'll last night"
mo, nothing serious; only q hgt
touch Of Group. II the mother Ia
known how to use little sweet oil
would have saved the trouble Of sendin
for me. But those Irish mothers soon g
off their heads when there is anythin
the matter with the baby. The father
name is Doyle and they live IL Cork.
i Doyle" repeated Mrs. Bissell, ''ths
must be the man who mended my rot
the other day, or rather didn't mend
It lets in the water worse than ever"
ST dare say it's the same man." r
turned the doctor. He told me be W;
roofer, and I think he said a plumber
'tAnd a miserably poor workman" r
, turned Mrs. Bissen. eraser will ha7
} to send another man to mend that To-
before I pay him q cent. But, by Il
: way, doctor, hope you got your fee. !"
, "Yes, he paid promptly on the spo
I was rather surprised, because the plas
looked poor and dirty, and thougl
, Doyle's breath smeIled as if he had bet
drinking"
!, ICoDtirued next week.