The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1897-09-01
PHEMIE.

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"It's no use trying" said Phemie
"Mother hates me, and everything 1
do is wrong"
"Your mother can't help it, Phemie,"
said DIR. Jasper. He was the new
medical man, in huge favor with Mrs.
Albatross, Phemie's mother. "Your
mother is highly strung-quite q
woman of genius, and allowances must
be made for her temperament, my dear
young lady; temperament rules every
thing"
Indeed, Mrs. Albatross's tempera-
ment seemed to rule DIR. Jasper, the
the parson, the squire, the parish, but
it did not rule phemie.
'fLook here" said the girl-she was
just twenty-''you and mother are al
ways croaking about me, 1 know but
you do nothing to help meat least, /
think you would, but you're afraid
''Your mother used to take an in
terest in you, but you did not meet
her half way. Is not that sop
''No, it isn't. When l was sixteen
she had fad of dressing me up in
last-century costume and making a
doll of me-not my style at all, just to
show off her own cleverness and
queerness at my expense. She said I
was ugly, and only dressing could
make me fit to be seen.'
"Well?" said DR.. Jasper, who was a
rising young medico of thirty, as he
looked gravely and judicially at the
pretty-much tried girl, who only half
believed in his good will.
"Well," said Phemie, "every one
laughed, and showed mother l would
not stand it,"
"And then?"
"Then she packed me off to school.
The mistress said 1 was sort of dazed
for time, rs if had been ill-treated
-and so had-and quite neglected /;
but they were kind to me there, and L
was very happy for more than year,
except in the holidays, which were
always odious. Then you came along
-" And Phemie paused and stole
a doubtful glance at the doctor.
"What them" said the doctor, like
q person coldly ipquiring for ordinary
information, yet with n certain little
| twinkle in his eye which did not
escape the aggrieved Phemie.
'Then," said the girl, 81 thought
you were my friend at first, but don't
now; at least"
At that moment Mrs. Albatross en-
tered, and, turning sharply on Phemie,
said with snap, ~ suppose you
haven't fed the fowls, or sorted the
linen, or done anything but idle away
your time, as usual?"
81 was called when DIR. Jasper came,
because you cbuld not be found"
'I'm sick of your excuses. DR..
Jasper does not want to see YOU"
Then, in quite an altered tone, as
Phemie shrunk away out of the room,
"Do you mind coming up to my sit
ting room? want to have talk with
you about those changes at the Infirm-
ary. I am sure you will agree with
me, and you will be most useful. We
can't allow things to go on" etc.
DIR. Jasper always did agree with
Mrs. Albatross. But, somehow, he
nodded her, and she usually came
round to his opinion. He listened and
she talked he could wait, and when
he had taken her bearings without
ever interrupting or contradicting-
she listened and he talked, and not
then, but next time, she echoed his
opinions and fancied they were all her
own.
''It is such n comfort to find SEN
sible man to talk to in stupid place
like this!' said she, laying her arm
confidingly upon the doctors as he sat
smiling and agreeing with her.
Mrs. Albatross had worried one
husband into the grave-she was too
clever for him-but her intellectual
vivacity, imagination and enterprise
made her an interesting companion.
She was only little past forty, and
we'll preserved, and she meant to
marry DR.. Jasper.
Whether it was hypnotism or will
power, the doctor came again and
again and would not send his bill, aud
the DOCTORS bill never was paid-he
paid himself.
Don't speak to me-" said Phemie
hurriedly as she met the doctor COM
ing down stairs after long confab
with her mother, 'mother's about.
She's out all tomorrow afternoon. I've
got to paint the doors. :" And
Jasper passed out with sympathetic
smile. She knew he would call and
advise her about painting the doors.
He did call.
"What deal You know about mix
ing paints and thingsl I'm sure want
good advice . great deal more