Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1896-02-20
DIR. FREKE PRACTICE

| II don't see," said Miss Mather, In her
mildest tone-and mildness was her pre-
dominant trait-"why We should take I'D
DR.. F'rekes cause so vehemently."
She was clipping the rose tree at the
| front gate, which young DR.. McLaren had
| Just passed, with glance, and lifted his hat
! in the direction of the two figures. Miss
Mather had bowed in her courteous, kindly
| fashion, the smile she could never refuse
| to any neighbor dimpling her round face,
which neither spectacles nor white hair
could make anything but childlike; her
neice had apparently not seen the salute.
| for she did not return it. Yet the swift
glance had been bent upon her 1.-the figure
| and small, proud head, turned away in dis
dain or indifference.
Dear, DR.. Mclean bowed" demonstrated
! the old lady.
"Auntie, 1 am quite aware of it," Miss
Phiilpotts had replied saucily, and then
came the mild rejoinder quoted above.
He had no business to come 10 Silcott
and set up against dear old Dr. Freke,"
Miss Phillpotts said, breaking off a rose
with energy. 1T was most unprofessional."
! But if he had no money to buy a prac-
tice? And he is very skillful, quite beyond
our dear old friend in modern ways and
knowledge, they say
! mo use, auntie. I'm in the opposite
camp. DR.. Freke has been good enough for
me all my life, and I'm not going to con-
done any injury done him by younger men,
who fancy they know everything The idea t!
= AS if experience counted for nothingr'
! 1t was very pretty quarrel, and had
abated little of its violence In the twelve
months which had elapsed since the young
Scotchman had opened his surgery-an ad-
ditional offense to Miss Phillpotts-in the
house next door to Castle Vale, her own
residence. Castle Vale nestled, as it's name
implied, under the shadow of the old Nor
! q
was residence fallen upon evil days high
or up IN eminence, with its front door
| opening fupon flight Of steps leading to
the village street. Here the young aspirant
boldly challenging success, had taken lodg-
ings and put up his brass plate. At first
nobody dared to face Dr. Frekes indignant
| denunciation, and call him in but grad
ually convenience, dissatisfaction with the
! old doctors methods, curiosity or a friendly
desire to help the newcomer, had moved
one and another to give him a chance. and
! so, on this pleasant summer morning. Dr.
McLaren was in fair way to conquer that
difficult enemy-country conservatism.
There were others, however not so OBJ
durate, and five minutes after the CONVEX
sation recorded, Miss Phillpotts had a
shock. Just as the old woman who had
! buttonholed her pet aversion" as she
called DR.. McLaren. had been satisfied and
was moving on, two of DR.. Freke's daugh-
| tiers crossed the square, smiles on their
| lips and recognition in their eyes. Miss
Phillpotts, who had wandered to the gate
not, of course, to look after the doctor,
but to sec whether old Betsy Martin, her
protege, had actually dared to consult him
! in full view of Castle Vale-could hardly
believe her own. DR.. Freke rejoiced in the
possession Of five daughters, none of whom
had as yet been torn from the parental
nest-though the youngest was of mature
and sensible age. Mamie Phillpotts had
been a baby when this young lady left
school, but of late years the differences
between them had been bridged over and
| the ''Freke girls they were called,