The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1892-10-26
HELEN's GOOD DEED.

"Yes," said the doctor, solemnly,
"she shows every indication of going
into a decline. Rest, relaxation.
change of air and scene-that's what
she ought to have"
Mrs. Dardnanel looked perturbed.
"Dear, DEAR" she said; "what q
pity! And she's quite a pet of mine,
too, dear little thing. She is very
quick with her needle and really in
genious-and the way she puts trim
mings on a dress positively reminds
one of Nine. Antoine herself"
"The seaside cottage would be the
place for her," suggested DR.. Midland,
"You are one of the lady patronesses.
/ believe, and"
Eyes, but the seaside cottage is full"
said Mrs. Dardanel "Not an inch of
room unoccupied. had a note from
the matron yesterday"
"Ah, indeed!" said the doctor, fun
bling with his watch-seals. "Unfor-
tunate-very."
But" cried Mrs. Dardanel, an idea
suddenly occurring to her much be-
puffed and befrizzled head, "there is
Mrs. Daggett's farm a few miles far
ther down the share. She takes board
ers for $5 week and believe it is
very nice place. If you think it ad-
visable will take months board for
the girl there. l really feel as if the
dear little thing belongs to me-"
can excellent plan," said the doctor,
oracularly. 81 have no doubt but that
month of sea air would make diff
ferent person of her"
Helen could hardly believe her own
ears when Mrs. Dardanel beamingly
announced her intentions.
"The seashore!" she cried, her pale
face flushing all over; "the real sea!
| Oh, Mrs Dardanel, l have dreamed of
it all my life! And for long bright
summer month. Oh, how shall l ever
thank you?"
"By getting we'll and strong as fast
as you can," said Mrs. Dardanel,
touched by the girls enthusiasm.
"And here is SO bill for you," she
added wirh a smile. you may need
some trifle of dress, or there may be a
drive or picnic or an excursion go
ing in which you will want to partici-
pate"
The poor girls first impulse was to
return the money.
No, you shall not give it back-it
| is present from me and choose that
you keep it."
Helen Hyde's heart beat high with
delight when first she saw the Daggett
| farmhouse, a long, low, red building,
with an immense stack of chimneys, a
| cluster of outrageous maple trees
| guarding it about with shade and a
dooryard full of sweet, oldfashioned
flowers, while in sight of the windows
the Atlantic flung it's curling crests OF
foam all along the shining shore. Mrs.
Daggett welcomed her warmly; she
had been Mrs. DardaneIs housekeeper
once and knew the value of that lady's
patronage.
"I've Just one room left, my dear, -
she said, "under the caves of the
house. It's small, but it's furnished
comfortably and there's view of the
ocean. l could have given you better
accommodations if had received Mrs
Dardanel's letter day earlier. But
four young ladies, teachers in the TX,
wood institute came yesterday and
I'm sleeping in the parlor. But we
will make you as snug as possible anc
the very first good-sized room that IL
vacant you shall have"
Helen was very happy in her little
nook, from whose easement she coulc
see the ocean, dotted with white sails
Mrs. Daggett was driving, ener
getic woman. Farmer Daggett wa
an honest, vacant-faced man who in
voriably fell asleep of an evening will
his chair tipped back against the wal
and every available inch of the hous
was filled with summer boarders
mostly ladies. There were but thre
masculine appendages to the house be
sides it's master-and an old clergy
man whose Pensioners dubbed to
gether every summer to treat him t
six weeks vacation, literary man
large aspirations and small lncom
who had come hither for rest and op
. portunity to study up the skeleton
for his next novel. and old Mr.. Mif1lr
It was some time before Helen Hyd
fairly comprehended who old MI
Miff1in was. A bent and bowed llttl
man, with silver hair curling over tn
cellar of his coat, a ruffled shirt hk
tho pictures of our revolutionary fort
fathers, and blue eyes that glistene
from behind a pair of silver spectacle
he shuffled in and out to his mea
after an apologetic fashion and sat a
Gl6 Dr1PHb dIU0IuOOuS uhNOL IAS AAA'
pies staring at the sea.
"Who is that old gentleman?" ST
at last ventured to ask Mrs. Daggett
That lady frowned.
4 "It's old Daddy Mif1in," said sh
u sand l wish it was any body else"
as he boarder?"
"Well, he is and he isn't" obscure
answered Mrs. Daggett, who was pic
fC
Helen sat bv and watched her. "Bl
he won't be here long. You see, II
dear, he hasn't any friends. When
and Daggett came from Vermont ar
bought this place we got it cheap b
cause of old Mif1in. We were to gi
him the northeast chamber and th'
were to allow us so much month f
= his keep. 1t amt every one tn
would be willing to have an old mi
like him about. But he's harmle
and quiet and the 50 week helped
But now Breezy point has grown
be fashionable resort and things a
\ changed. And what's worse his fol-
have left off sending the money"
\ 81 wonder why?" said Helen, h
i large, dreamy eyes fixed sadly on Il
old man, who sat under the mapl
wistfully watching the sea.
"They'er dead, p'raps," said M
Daggett. "Or p'raps they've got tir
of him. Anyhow, it's three mont
since we've heard word, and me a
Daggett have made up our minds tn
we can't stand it any longer, SO we
going to put him on the town. La
Yer Boxa1 says it's legal and right a
they can't expect anything else OF