Middletown transcript., 1897-09-25
The Doctors
Daughter

/ WlEM) )A night. and in a
./N4g@S my thirty g v
s\A years of practic,
I've never been in the midst of sue
heart-rending scenes before.
Helen Oakly laid the book she ha
closed on his entrance on The table an,
came over to the fireplace. She lai
her arm over his shoulder with prett
caressing gesture. "Poor fatherl" sh
whispered softly, sbat | know you wer
tower of srength to the poor Great
ure through II all. l'Ve been SO al
xious since you left. You ought t
have let me gone with you"
Hsr father slipped his arm aroun,
her waist, saying: ''It was like You tt
offer, but it was no sight for woman.
She did not question him as t. de
tails, as many women would have done
She stood silently by him until bis brow
cleared. She waited ON him herself a
his late dinner and she ent ertained hin
with all the bright thoughts she bat
culled from the reviews that day.
They were very like each other as
they sat opposite, but his face vas soft
ened and refined in her. Her eyes wert
blue and her hair was that rare shade
with the golden gleam, and contrastet
we'll with his dark brown.
DR.. Oakly considered himself very
fortunate man in still retaining in his
house his only child. When the be-
reayement that darkened his life, left
the child doubly dear, he had poured
out all the treasures of his gifted
mind, to make her such a woman as be
felt her mother would have had her be.
He never knew that he had rival in
her affections. She covered up the
traces Of her young hearts romance
from all The world and tried to drown
her grief in Work for others. She was
her fathers right hand in every case Of
charity or needed help.
Tonight, when. they were once more
before the library fire. she breathed the
wish, that he might have no more calls
that night at least; and asked for the
first time, the particulars Of the rail-
way accident, that had called him from
her side.
He told her minutely and part ticular-
ly as he would have told brother ply
sician-sure of her sympathy and un-
derstanding Of the terrible fate, that
had overtaken fifty Of their fellow be-
ings that night.
"It was just his side of the Insane
Asylum and we took to the hospital
ward there, those too badly injured to
to be moved further"
"Were there any children, papap"
"Only one seriously hurt. A girl Of
ten. Some injury of the spine, fear.
The poor child has lost both her par
ents, but she was too badly injured to
realize"
Miss Oak1y drew her breath with a
little quiveriRg sigh.
II will go over with you in the
morning. Perhaps We can bring the
child hereP"
Not at preseI t, fear, but she will
not know where he is in that ward.
Aren't your hands full enough with
your boys reading room and industrial
class and half the church burden be-
sides, that.you are looking out for fur
ther care?'
"I'm only fol owing my fathers ex-
ample, if l am," Helen answered,
so that point is settled"
He took her with him the next morn
ing, he had too much faith in her
strength of character and ability of
service to spare her anything, save the
irst horrors of the accident, and her
leart went out most of all, iowa rd the
title sufferers.
The child had found out her loss aud
he matron had been powerless to COM
'ort her;but when Helen Oakly put her
lrms around her and held her close, her
words brought hear the heavenly Com
'orter, and through her sympathy she
ed the child to the comprehension of
he perfect love that would so gladly
lelp US to bear all sorrows.
After that, not day, passed without
ringing Miss Oakly's visit. In spite
f all, the child encountered again and |
gain the afflicted inmates. Some ma.
ernal instinct sent them seeking when
hey heard of child in their midst.
Tee girl was ten years old. She said
er father and mother had left England
My month before She did not know
heir destination, evidently there was
fs mily secret somewhere in the case.
he knew she had English relatives,
Vho were great people, she said, but
i'd not know even their names.
The doctor advertised the child's
ame Amy Rodan;," in the New
yolk and Lon don papers; with full
articHlars of the accident, but moth
1g came Of it. All baggage had
cen destroyed.
o ie IL morning Helen Oakly left the
Sylum with very sober face, and all
ay she was very quiet and thoughifal.
t was lale before the d ctor came in,
Ieiens bad ready, rs usual, his cup of
OF coffee. but this might she did not
ave him with ths stand of medical
,urnals 1T his elbow, for the midnight
Judy that he loved. Instead she brought
er low chair to his side. "You can
OF read tonight, papa; for / have
serious to talk over with