Sullivan republican. [volume] (Laporte, Pa.) 1883-1896, 1891-05-29
successfully to keep body and soul to-

almshouses, built and endowed by GER
tain smuggling sea captain, whose con-
science had pricked him during his latter
days, raised their gray stone gables to
the sky, and made picturesque back
ground to the landscape.
DIR. Mary Clarimont made something
of sensation at Aldenbury. Up to this
time all the resident M. DIS had been
stuffy old gentlemen with wigs, or pert
young ones with eyeglasses.
A beautiful young lady who wrote pre-
scriptlons and compounded pills and po-
tions was novelty in the town, and by
no means disagreeable one. People
rather liked the idea, once they had con-
vinced themselves that the lady doctor
understood herself and her patients.
And the poor old people at the aim
house grew to love DIR. Mary and listen
with eager ears for the sound of her
carriage wheels over the blue gravel
drive which led up to the portico.
1t was a brilliant December day when
the young physician stood in the neatly
capeted 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-
tons concerning old Ann Mudgett's
rheumatism, when the matron hurried
in.
''Oh, beg your pardon, DIR. Clari-
mont" said she, ''but l clean forgot the
new old woman"
"The new old woman" repeated DR..
Mary, with smile.
"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
SEQ Der before you go. She brought
card of admission from DIR. Merton, the
New York clergyman, who is one of our
directors, you know. And she seems
decent body enough"
So DR.. Mary went cheerfully into the
little brick paved room, with its white
pallet bed, cushioned rocking g-chair, and
neatly draped easement, where sat
poor, little, shriveled, d,up woman, wrapped
in faded shawl.
She looked timidly up, as DR.. Mary
came in, from under the borders of her
cap.
''Pm a poor body, miss" said she,
"and I'm sensible I'm making deal of
trouble in the world. But the Lord
don't always take us, miss, when we'd
like to CO."
"This is the DOCTOR" said Mrs. Cum
ningham.
The little woman would have risen
up to make feeble curtesy, but DIR.
Mary motioned her to keep her seat.
"What is your name?" said she pleas
antly.
Louise Marlow, miss"
"Marlowl That is an unusual name,
isn't lt?" said Mary Clairmont, coloring
in spite of herself.
"We're English, MISS" said the old
woman, struggling bravely with her
asthma. "There amt many of us in
this country. I've son, miss, in the
law business, as any mother might be
proud Of"
ga a." echoed Mrs. Cunningham; !;
''and you in the almshouse2"
''Not that it's his fault, ma am" the
old creature made haste to explain. "My
son is to be married to fine, proud
lady, as is fit for any prince in all the
land, and, of course, he can't he expected
to burden himself with a helpless old
woman like me. He says I'm to write and
let him know how get along, ,and if I'm
sick or anything he'll try to see.
sewed carpets until the asthma got hold
ofme, and supported myself comfortably.
But, of course, couldn't lay up any
thing for rainy day-who coulds And
Henry couldn't help me, for he's getting
ready to be married, poor lad! So l
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 a card to
come here and some money to pay my
travelling expenses-God bless him!--
and here am"
Mary Charimont listened quietly to the
garrulous tale, but the color varied in
her cheek more than once as she stood
there.
t'Is your sons name Harry Marlow?"
she said, slowly and thoughtfully.
'Yes, miss, at your SERVICE" said the
old woman, with duck of her white
capped head, which was meant to do
duty in place of the impossible curtesy.
SIS he like this?" 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 DIR. Mary, COM
posedly, 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 marrya'
"Yes," said DR.. Mary, writing some
thing in her prescription book. 81 have
seen her.
perhaps, miss" faltered the old