The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1897-09-03
PHEMIE.

"It's no use trying" said Phemie.
Smother hates me, and everything I do
Il wrong"
Your mother can't help it, Phe-
mie." said DR.. Jasper. He was the new
medical man, in huge favor with Mrs.
Albatross, Phemie's mother
your mother is highly strung quite
woman Of genius, and allowances
must be made for her temperament, my
dear young lady. Temperament rules
everything"
Indeed, Mrs. Albatross' temperament
seemed to rule DR.. Jasper, the parson,
the squire, the parish, but it did not
rule Phemie.
"Look here" said the girl-she was
just past 20-"you and mother are al
ways croaking about me, know, but
you do nothing to help me. At least !
think you would. but you're afraid
"Your mother used to take an inter
est in you, but you did not meet her
half way. Is not that SOP
"No, it isn't. When / was 16, she
had fad of dressing me up in last GEN.
tury costume and making doll Of me
mot myestyle at adjust to show of
her own cleverness and queerness at my
expense. She said was ugly and only
dressing could make me fit to be seen. /"
'.Well?" said DR.. Jasper, who was
rising young medioo of 80, 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 would
not stand 1t.
"And thenY
''Then she packed me Off to school.
The mistress said was sort Of dazed
for a time, as if had been i'll treated
and so I had-and quite neglected, but
they were kind to me there, and was
very happy for more than year, except
in the holidays, which were always obi
GUS. Then you came along And
Phemie paused and stole doubtful
glance at the doctor.
"What then?" said the doctor, like q
person coldly inquiring for ordinary in
formation, yet with certain little
twinkle in his eye which did not escape
the aggrieved Phemie.
"Then," said the girl, IT thought
you were my friend at first, but don't
now. At least
At this moment Mrs. AIbatross en-
tered, and, turning sharply on Picnic,
said with snap, II suppose you
haven't fed the fowls or sorted the lin
en- or done anything but idle away your
time, as usual?" ~.
"I was called when DR.. Jasper came
because you could not be found"
'sI'm sick Of your excuses. DR.. JAS
per does not want to see you. (" Then,
in quite an altered tone, as Picnic
shrunk away out Of the room: "Do
you mind coming up to my sitting
room? want to have talk with you
about those changes at the infirmary. I
am sure you will agree with me and
you will be most useful We can't al
low things to go on" etc. ~
DR.. Jasper always did agree with
Mrs. Albatross, but somehow he mold
ed her, and she usually came round to
his opinion. He listened and she talked.
He could wait, and when he had taken
her Neutrality-suspicious. ever interrupt
ing or oontradicting-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 q comfort to find q sensi-
BILE man to talk to in stupid place like
this" said she, laying her arm con-
,fidingly upon the Doctors as he sat
smiling and agreeing with her.
Mrs. Albatross had worried one hus-
band 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 10. and very well pre-
served, and she meant to marry DR..
Jasper.
Whether It was hypnotism or will
power the doctor came again and again
and would not send in his bill, and the
doctors bill never was paid. He paid
himself.
"Don't speak to me-" said Phemie
.hurriedly as she met the doctor coming
down stairs after long confab with
her mother. Mothers about. She's
out all tomorrow afternoon. I've got to
paint the doors''-- And Jasper passed
out with q sympathetic smile. She
knew he would cali and advia, hez
,about uaintino tho ioora Ho. di1kcall