Waterbury evening Democrat., 1891-06-23
THE RUSSIAN DOCTOR.
H.. Eertaar; cItti lRTcolnniitic Story
from Real Lifo.
tADApTED FROM TIKI GERMAS OF NINE
ELIsE PoRVK1


sisters, Desiree was very skillful with
her needle. She was also industrious
and showed great taste in ali matters
of dress. Marianne utilized this taste
and skill in many ways. She was
learning to speak French so elegantly
that she concluded not to send Desiree
away before spring.
Arnim proved a model teacher. He
found delight in this daily concern
with intellectual things, with truth,
science and beauty. His pupils ardor
and ready comprehension animated
him. and she in turn looked up to him
with gratitude and admiration. She
hungered and thirsted for knowledge,
and the lesson hour became to both the
happiest of the day.
"When spring comes we will pursue
our studies in the open air." said the
doctor. 81 shall not let you go until
you are thoroughly grounded in all you
need to learn"
Desiree was silent, but her beaming
eyes expressed her delight in the pros
pect of a longer stay.
MAY 1 not call you uncleP" she
asked one day with many bushes. "My
mother was dear to you and you are the
best friend have in the world"
~ shall always remain your true
friend my child" said the doctor, press
ing her hand. Hortense's daughter
must not address me as a stranger.
Certainly you may call me uncle
"But 1 need not call Marianne
aunt?" she said, anxiously, ~ fear 1
can not"
30, Marianne would be the last one
to wish it," he answered, laughing.
Marianne was surprised at the new
mode of address, yet she thought it
quite proper. "Desiree is child"
she said, land must be treated as
such. am willing to have her remain
here through the winter. She cheers
you up. cousin, and is sort of play
thing for you. You men need to be
amused"
He had become remarkably cheerful,
this grave Russian doctor-he was in
fact almost jovial. He passed much
less time in his study, he took long
walks with Desiree while Marianne in
dulged in her favorite social dissipation
an afternoon coffee. In spite of the
wintry weather, they walked mostly in
the forest. Marianne, when invited by
her cousin to accompany him any
where, drove him to desperation by
her slow and elaborate preparations,
but Dcsirec, quickly equipped as sol
dicr on the march, would be ready in a
moment.
Evenings the doctor often read aloud.
finding in Dcsiree the most interested
of listeners. While Marianne was al
ways interrupting with irrelevant ques-
tions and remarks, Desiree would now
and then let her work fall and gaze silent
and intent into his face. To Arnim the
glance of those eyes was more eloquent
than words. Still, when he closed the
book, it was delight to listen to the
young girls lively remarks and com
monts, to answer her questions. The
more charming the conversation, tho
moro sure it was to be speedily ended
by Marianne's peevish, authoritativ,
announcement that it was time for bed
While serious reading of the elias
sizes formed part of the course OF
study, there was also time for mucl
fugitive poetry and romance. 1t seemed
to the doctor as if, in taking into his
hands the guidance and development o
this youthful mind, he had found hi
life-work.
, The winter passed like dream
Gradually Desiree mastered those littl,
household tasks which concerne,
Arnim's personal comfort, and whicl
Marianne, in her many cares, eithe
forgot or performed irregularly. Sh
prepared his morning and evenin,
coffee, arranged his study table, hunte
up the gloves which Ivan mislaid, think
ing them entirely useless. Mariana
t. had never taken into account he
g cousins little peculiarities and bachelo
1t ways. Desiree found them out an
hundred them.
Marianne's care for him was Xix
every thing else she did, in accordanc
= with fixed system, changeless as tn
laws of the Modes and Persians. Sh
wanted him to regard her as q mode
housekeeper-to set her very high an
y at last find her indispensable. Her r.
=, ward would come upon that day whe
IA he asked her to be his housekeeper fl
fs life. His hour must strike sooner (
It. later. His heart would demand i
e. right. That school-boy love of whiC
st. he had told her when Desiree came
live with them-this paternal liking f
the child of Hortense-were triH,
which gave her no uneasiness.
For the first time since leaving Il
paternal roof, Arnim had kept t
Christmas feast. Desiree, who had
long weeks been full of secrets, pr
- pared the Christmas tree, laden wi
inexpensive gifts, most of them Z
- work of her skillful fingers.
vi When the doctor, with warm prt
sure of the hand, and in a vol
choked with emotion, tried to expire
that gratitude for which words we
J. too poor, she said: