Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1896-09-03
IN THE CLUTCHES OF A GRIFFIN.

But, perhaps, | diverted my attention
too much from what he was telling mg
by this device or he scared me into tenn
poraIy idiocy by his grim demeanor
AT any rate, | was conscious that as a
nurse had cut poor figure.
1t seemed special pity that poor
papa should have had that illness just
then, when mamma and Isabel were in
Baltimore. Mamma had gone there 10
re under the care of DR.. Baker, and she
could not come home, and Isabel could
not leave her. II we had only had Ou'
good old doctor it would have been bet
ter. but he was in Europe and papa
mad called in this Dr.. Griffin, who. peo-
pie seemed to think, was something
wonderful. 1t was said that his prac-
tice was really something phenomenal
for so young man the was verging on
10; am sure that is not so very young
Cor any amount Of practiceD, and sun
pose he had TO economize his forces. but
1t made him dreadfully disagreeable.
was sitting by papas bed when he
came in that first day. Some people
made such a hero of him that | felt a
little curious to see him. anxious and
troubled as was, and | smiled at him
rs nicely as could as papa said, My
daughter, dOctOr''-though he was lit
tie less than appalling; extraordinarily
tTll and gaunt and awkward, with 4
Inptrnl snrinns fnpn chApl- pf
tawny hair like lions name
| was about to go, but as he did not
glance in my direction he was proba-
bly, not aware Of my intention. He
slightly inclined his head and said:
Miss Macon will please 80 out" Which
Miss Macon did with all due celerty.
That was but the beginning of a Sc
rlcs Of shrinkages that | underwent
during this Illness of papas. am
only . feet to start with, but every
Interview with the doctor made me feel
foot or two shorter.
When | looked out of the window one
day and actually saw mamma and Isa-
bel getting out Of carriage at the door
II was as If ton weight had been lift
ed from me. The doctor was with papa
(whO. however was almost welD. and I
was in my own room keeping out Of his
way. | dashed downstairs like a mad
thing and hung my foot somehow or
caught my dress on a loose screw Il
have never known which,, and fell al
most from the top of the flight to the
bottom. The doctor rushed out Of
papa'S room and was at the foot of the
stairs almost as soon as was. Mamma
and Isabel appeared frantically from
the opposite direction, papa calling
flom upstairs all the time to know
what 1t all meant. | was so ashamed
OF having caused the commotion that |
tried to get up hastily and close the
incident
"Oh, It's nothing, just slipped"
began, struggling to my feet-and then
great, palptating darkness settled |
over all. revived to find myself, as it
were, "in the clutches of IL griffin" Il |
mad long applied his name to him in A
distinctly opprOhrious scnse.)
What do you mean by tearing about
the house in that faShion?" he demand |
ed stopping ut the door as he was
leaving.
But somehow was not so afraid #
nm now, and for reply only laughed
feebly and namely from my station on
the sofa. 1t was well that my terror
or him had lcsSened, for that miserable |
Sprained ankle required his attention
more or less throughout that winter.
a strange thing happened soon after
mamma ana Isabel came home. Isabel
Is very pretty and very bright. We
We're sitting together after tea when
the bell rang, and who should he ush.
cred in but DR.. Griffin. And with his
hair cut-which was not at all an i'm
provement-though had thought that
any change would be. 1t was 80 won.
dertul to see him sitting there laughing
ana talking, like folks" as NANNY
Judy used to say, that | could not d,
but stare at him. And when
red carey came In | was positively
provoked. But then never saw Fred
quite so stupid and unInteresting.
Not very long after that another re-
markaole thing happened. The first
wonderful thing, by the way. began TO
happen pretty frequently after a while
think have n little knack of rhymins,
ana one day Il magazIne-a real maga-
2ine-took one Of my pieces. Such
thing had never happened before ana
has never happened since. 1t was a
sentimental little effusion, which was
not about anything or anybody in par
ocular, but 1t seemed to me to be pret.
~, and 1t sounded as IL 1t meant good
deal.
was standing on the porch when
opened the letter which the postman
had Just handed TO me. I remen,her II