The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1891-06-26


by outrageous naples, 'west END, :
where people who had made their foI
tunes lived comfortably in roomy OLE
houses, surrounded by velvet lawns an,
terraced gardens, and an least end,
where people fought desperately and no
always successfully to keep body anC
soul together on the merest pittance.
And little way out of the village thj
almshouse, built and endowed by Ger
tain smuggling sea captain, whose con
science had pricked him during his lat
ter days, raised its gray stone gables to
the skies and made picturesque back
ground to the landscape.
DIR. Mary Clairmont made something
of sensation in Aldenbury. Up to this
time all the resident NJ. D. had beer
stutfy old gentlemen with wigs, or pert
young ones with eyeglasses.
A beautiful young lady who wrote pre-.
scriptions and compounded pills and po.
tions was novelty in the town, and by
no means a disagreeable one. People
rather liked thd idea, once they had con-
WINGED themselves that the lady doctor
understood herself.
And the poor old people at the aims
house. grew to love DR.. Mary and to lis
ten with eager ears for the sound of her
carriage wheels over the blue gravel
walk which led up to the perticO of their
home.
1t was a brilliant December day when
the young physician stood in the neatly
carpeted reception room, drawing on her
fur gloves previous to entering her neat
phaetOn once again, while she reiterated
to the white-capped maid some direc-
tions concerning old Ann Mudgett's
rheumatism, when the matron hurriedly
entered.
"Oh, l beg your pardon, DR.. Clair
mont, ~ said she, 'but clean forgot the
little old woman"
''The new old wOman,' repeated the
doctor.
THAT is" exclaimed Mrs. Cunning
ham, "she only came last night-a quiet
old soul, half blind, and quite bad with
the asthma. Perhaps you'd better just
see her before you go. She brought
card of admission from Dr. Merton, the
New York clergyman, who is one of our
directors, you know. And she seems
decent body enough"
So DIR. Clairmont went cheerfully into
the little room with its white pallet bed,
cushioned rocking chair and neatly
draped easement, where sat poor, little
shrlVeled-up woman, wrapped in faded
shawl.
She looked timidly up as DR.. Mary
came in, from under the borders of her
cap.
''rm poor body" said she, land I'm
sensible Pm making deal of trouble in
the world. But the Lord don't always
take us miss when we'd like to 60"
This is the DOCTOR" said Mrs. Gun
ningham.
V'ho l;ttIa ,yop,on MOULD b,,,o ,;,o,, 10
make a feeble courtesy, but DR.. Mary
motioned her to keep seated.
"What is your name?" she said pleas |
antly.
Louise NARROW"
"Marlow? That is an unusual name," |
said Mary Clairmont, colOring in spite of |
herself
"We're English, miss" said the old |
woman, struggling bravoly with her
asthma. There amt many of us in !
this country. I've son, miss, in the I
law business, as any mother might be
proud of"
"a sOnl" echoed Mrs. Cunningham,
land you in the aims house?'
mot that it's his fault, ma am" the
creature made haste to explain. "My
son is to be married to a fine, proud
young lady, as is fit for any prince in all
the land, and of course he can't be ex-
pected to burden himself with helpless
old woman like me. He says I'm to let
him know how get along, and if | am
sick or anything he'll try to see me.
sewed carpets until the asthma got hold
of me and supported myself cOmfOrta-
bly,. But, of course, couldn't lay up
anything for rainy day. Who could?
And Henry couldn't help me, for he is
getting ready to be married, poor lad
So | went to DR.. Merton and asked him
did he know any decent place where an
old woman like me could end her days
in peace. And he gave me card to
come here and some money to pay my
travelling expenses-GOd bless him-and
here | am
Mary Clairmont listened quietly to the
garrulOus tale, but the color varied in
her cheek more than once as she stood
there.
SIS your sons name Harry MarlowP"
she said slowly.
"Yes, miss, at your service" said the
old women, with duck in her white
capped head, which was meant to do
duty in place of the impossible courtesy.
SIS he like this?n said DR.. Mary tax
ing photograph from her pocket.
The old woman, with trembling hands
fitted on her iron-bOwed spectacles and
looked at the picture, uttering little
cry of recognition.
Sure, miss, it is his own self" she
cried. "YOu are acquainted with him,
then?"
Somewhat" said DR.. Mary, compOs-
edly, as she returned the photograph to
its place. "And now will leave YOU
something to relieve this difficulty in
breathing"
But the old crone eyed her wistfully.
Perhaps you know the young lady
my son is to marry?"
''Yes," said DIR. Mary, writing some
thing in her prescription book, 81 have
seen her."
perhaps, miss" faltered the old wo-
man, 'yOu will give her my humble
duty, and tell her / would Just like to
look at her for once and see how she
looks. There's no fear of my troubling
her, miss, for | mean to end my days in
this place. But would like to see her
just once. And if it wouldn't be asking
too much, miss, would you please write
to my son and tell him where l am!-for
I'm no scholar myself, and I'm his own
mother after all"
81 will write TO him." said Dr. Mary,
uultLll, anu 50 Sic WbUJ away.
81 never saw lady doctor before"
said old Mrs. NARROW, with long sigh. 4
But she's pretty cTeetur, and it does
seem good to have her around. | hone
she'll come again"
"Ycu may be sure of that" said the
matron brusquely. 'Dr. Clairmont amt
one to neglect poor people because they
are poOr.h
That evening Aunt JO, frying crullers
over the kitchen fire, was surprised by a
visit from her niece, who came in all
wrapped in furs, with her cheeks Grim
soned with the frosty air.
"Bless me! this amt never you" said
Aunt 10, peering over the rims of her
spectacles.
Il drove over to see you, Aunt Jo,"
said Mary, ito tell you that you were
right. The metal was counterfeit"
'Eh?" said Aunt Jo, mechanically lad
ling out the brown, curly crullers, al
though she did not look at what she was
doing.
81 have written TO Harry NARROW can
ceiling our engagement" said DIR. Mary,
calmly, albeit her voice faltered a little
"The man who will heartlessly let his
old mother go to the almshouse, sooner
than to take the trouble to maintain her.
can be no fit husband for any woman,i
And then she sat down by the fire and
told Aunt Jo everything; for grabbed,
crusty old Aunt 10 had been like good
mother to her, and tire girls heart was
full to OverilOwing.
When she had ceased speaking Aunt
10 nodded her head.
"You have done well and wisely, "said
she.
Old Mrs. Marlow died that winter In