Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1895-10-10
Lefty Leigh.
Continued.

Mr. Il eedham had been a friend of
old Mr. Lenrard's when Paul was a
dark-eyed, curly-headed boy, who
thought 1t must be the grandest thing
in life to be doctor, if only to have
a chance of tasting all the sweet
syrups that went out from his fathers
little room, that was study and surg
cry and cons ulting-rOom, all in one.
This friendship descended to Paul
as soon as he became of a fit age to
inherit, and today Mr.. Needham and
he We're as firm friends as ever that
gentleman and his father had been.
With Mrs. Needham, too, he was
favorite; and as for the three Misses
Needham, they fairly worshiped the
ground he trod on. Today they We're
decked out in honor of his coming, ac-
cidental as it was. The elder sisters
wore their best pale-blue glace silks,
with the newest and most elegant lace
berthas, and the youngest, being of a
sentimental turn, and holding as a
firm tenet or faith that men of the
Doctors age were most attracted by
simplicity, wore a plain white muslin
dress, and hair la Greque.
Three prettier, SWeeter maidens it
would be hard to find in all England;
and when the doctor sat talking to
their father in the dinng-roOm, in
stead Of going into the drawing-roOm
after them, his great want of taste
was evident, not their lack of beauty
When he did come up. he only stayed
to drink one cup Of coffee, which he
did SO hastily that it scalded, and
went very near choking him; and
then, with few polite words, he left
and the pale blue robes gave a little
angry rustic, and the white one a half
timid sweep as he passed, each and
all expressive Of reprOach, if he could
have known it; but he did not, because
he was not needing. There was a
soft, glad song in his heart that
drowned, with it's low monotone, all
outer sounds-a bright and tender
light shining about him, mat blinded
his eyes to all outer sights
Going out. he met Mr. GrimShaw,
the young medical man who was at
tending the most Of his old patients
and living a bachelor life in his Old
house on the hill
The doctor took the path to the
shore, and Mr.. Grimshaw went into
the house and up to Mr. Needham's
dra wing-rOOm. He had not been long
there before he found a seat on the
low couch by the window, over which
Miss Amy's muslin skirts were spread
the poor white skirts that she had
hoped would have fluttered into DR..
Iennard'S heart. But they were not
quite useless. after all, for Mr. Grim
shaw evidently admired her in white.
he was so unusually attentive. She
had thought it was her sister Laura
he admired. and Laura had thought
so too, and still sat by her mother.
feeling not a little aggrieved. while
Amy. highly pleased. talked and
smiled. and flushed and wondered as
the young doctor did his best to be
gallant.
DR.. Lennard did not go on to the
shore. though he went toward it; he
turned into the lane that led to Lefty
Leigh's cottage. and walked slowly up
1t. thoughtfully smoothing his thick
beard. and switching the hedges with
his stick as he Stalked by them. AS
he walked his head was bent, and his
face. at first calm and bright, grew
more and more troubled with every
step he took.
There was bodng calm all about
a stiffness as of something yet to
come-that struck chill to DR.. Len
nard's heart, strong man though he
was, and little given to dreaming. 1t
seemed as if the still evening. with its
drowsy sounds ana half-veiled, hazy
lights. was picture of his own life,
dim. and misty. and underlined. going
on in darkness and the pitiless sky
over all. 1t was with an effort of
will that he cast such fancies from
him and. opening the gate of the cot
tage, walked boldly up to the door and
knocked.
Miss Leigh have gone out, sir, as
she often do of an evening, but she
will be in for certain; she seldom stays
out SO late as this ere" said the serv-
ant.
she olltu SOCS OUT, bbtS SHE It.
peated Dr. Lennard. under his breath,
as it were, and pulling away at that
thick black beard of his more fiercely
than ever. as though, in some way, it
had angered him.
YES. sir. Since master died She
have been lonesome and restleSs-like;
and she often goes on to the shore,
happen, or up the land toward the
church. Mercy on us, miss, how you
fright one!' cried out the girl, in the
same breath, f1inging the door wide
open with a jerk as she spoke.
The doctor turned quickly. and saw
Lefty standing within a yard of him,
her face deathly white as it showed
In the light of the lamp. her eyes
bright as if with fever, and one IN
gloved hand resting on the porch for
support. Instinctively he put out his
hand to help her, but she would have
none Of his help. She drew herself
up to her full height. and fronted him
calm again: the Lefty he had parted
from in the morning. to all appear
anceS. but that she could not at will
Danish that deathly pallor from her
face. But for the servant-girl, stand
ing open mouthed in the hall behind
them, he would have gathered that
white face to his heart. and warmed