The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1894-12-26
moved the offending boot.

moved the offending boot
Nora grew indignant and red.
"You need not trouble yourself"
she began.
"Be quiet, please. I am a doctor.
young lady, and know what sprains
mean," he calmly replied, moving the
foot very gently, though her lips CULVER
ed with pain.
"a doctor!" Nora looked full at him
in astonishment. "Not the new doctor,
surely!"
"You are going to spoil two engage
ments for me with this foot of yours,
young lady, SO that you must repay me
with obedience. At one house kind
friends are waiting to welcome me to
my new home-at another. a poor, tired
mother and her sick little girl wait
for the aid I might possibly render, and
to thank me for looking up the poor
directly take possession of my prac-
tice."
His frank eyes met the conscious
brown ones looking so eagerly at him.
"You speak of my home and my poor
friends!" Nora cried gladly. 2"Oh. I
am SO rejoiced you are good for some
thing!"
lie laughed heartily.
(Which you doubted? And you were
going to see the poor woman and sick
child when this happened? Then you
are"
*Nora Naybrook, said the girl quiet
ly.
Doctor Owen Onwill, at your SER
vice" retorted the CHEEKY voice, as its
owner doffed his hat. II know all
about you now, Miss Nora, for Mrs.
Dillon is garrulous. and as you are used
to obedience, expect you to obey me
now. My buggy is just beyond the
bend of the road. Remain here while I
fetch it."
Nora started. Would he drive her
home?
"Oh, but you must not!" she protest
Every well; then I'll leave you sit
ting in the mud. waiting for deliverer
more to your taste," said the Doctor,
rising.
Nora felt her eyes droop with sudden
pain.
Thank you, she said. gently, with q
at her. Il will accept your. help, since
I must.
"Only because you must?"
II am accustomed to helping myself.
but at last am useless"
''Then ! rejoice to be the first to offer
you help" said the Doctor, kindly; and
away he sped across the field.
In a short time he reappeared, drew up
his light buggy beside the waiting
maiden. sprang down beside her, and
before she knew what next would hap
pen, she was caught in pair of strong
arms and lifted high above the mud into
the carriage.
"There!" said the merry voice, as the
self-reliant young man took up the
reins. "Your foot is all right, Miss Nora.
1t is only strained little and by the
day after tomorrow you may try an
other jump"
Nora listened shyly; silence seemed to
protect her from herself, and through
out the drive home she could only listen
and rejoice at the fine nature of the new
Doctor.
Once only she spoke; then it was to
ask him to drive in by the back way,
through the barnyard, SO that her en-
trance might not be seen from the house.
Then, as he left her at the kitchen porch,
having given her small bottle, with
orders to apply its contents to her foot
till the pain ceased, she raised her eyes
and said:
Il am glad you have come here, DR..
Onwill. So many sad hearts need
YOU"
"But not brave ones like yours?" he
asked almost sharply.
Sho 0n1v bJ,chaI o~l o~wo~
Little Nora grew more happy as the
months went by, for her earnest help
full nature rejoiced that there was an
other more competent than she to care
for the poor and needy of their little
town.
She smiled and rejoiced in her own
heart as she heard her cousins condemn
the new Doctor as too selfish and hard
working to suit their idle tastes, and
her eyes grew brighter each day as
some new tale of his kindness reached
her ears.
They seldom met, and then only few
words were uttered; but even these few
did the gentle girl much good, she fell
that she had need of them.
One bright wintry day, when he met
her and asked her to share his life
work, she was not greatly surprised; il
seemed only natural that his nature
should claim hers when the time came,
and she was proud and happy in his
choice.
'Not so worthless after ALL" said the
girl, as she told her aunt and cousins
what had happened, and in the great
light that beamed from her earnest
brown eyes they felt their selfish natures
shrink and grow pitiably small.
"True!" said Flora, turning away
with flush and a bitter smile, as she
thought of what might have BEEN
Million.