Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1898-10-31
PHEMIE.
By Rev. H. r. Halves.

~ . lO uSO IL Ah0, 6C~A0 AANAAAAS'
Mother hates me, and everything [
do is wrong
"Your mother can't help it,
Phemie," said DR.. Jasper. He was
TIE new medical man, in huge favor
with Mrs. Albatross, Phemie's mother.
"Your mother is highly strung
quite a woman of genius, and allow
ances must be made for her tempera-
ment, my dear young lady; tempera-
ment rules everything"
Indeed, Mrs. AlbatrOss tempera-
ment seemed to rule DR.. Jasper, the
parson, the squire, the parish, but 1t
did not rule Phemie.
"Look here said the girl-she
was just past 20 "you and mother
are always croolking about me,
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 halfway. Is not that SOP"
mo, it isn't When I was sixteen
she had a fad of dressing me up in
last-century costume and making
doll Of me-not my style at all,
just to show off her own cleverness
and queerness at my expense. Sh2
said I was ugly, and only dressing
could make me fit to be seem"
'.Well?" said Dr. Jasper, who was
a rising young medlco OF thirty, as
he looked gravely and judicially at
the pretty-much tired girl, who only
half believed in his good will.
"Well," said Phemie, everyone
laughed, and l showed mother I
would not stand it."
And then?"
'|Then she packed me off to school,
The mistress said I was sort Of
dazed for a time, as if I had been i'll
treated-and so had-and quite
neglected. but they were kind to me
there, and l was very happy for mora
than year, except in the holidays,
which were odious. Then you came
along And Phemie paused and
stole a doubtful glance at the doctor.
what them" said the doctor, like
a person coldly inquiring for ordinary
information, yet with 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 this moment Mrs. AlbatrOss en-
tered, and, turning sharply on
Phemie, said with a snap, 81 sup
pose you haven't fed the fowls, or
sorted the linen, or done anything
but idle away your time, as usual?''
"I was called when DR.. Jasper
came, because you could 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? I 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 use
full. We can't allow things to go
on etc.
DR.. Jasper always did agree with
Mrs Albatross. But, somehow, he
moulded her, and she usually came
around to his opinion. He listened
and she talked; he could wait; ana
when he had taken her bearings
without ever interrupting or contra
u1cting-she listened and he talked,
and not then, but next time, she
echoed his opinions and fancied they
were all her own.
cit is such a comfort to- find
sensible man to talk to in stupid
place like this!" said she, laying
her arm confidingly upon the doctor $
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
He was only little past forty, and
very 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 send in his bill, and
the doctors bill was never paid-he
paid himself.
Don't speak to me-" said Phemie
hurriedly as she met the doctor
coming downstairs after a long
confab with her mother; mother
about. She's out all tomorrow after
noon. I've got to paint the doors.
" And Jasper passed out
with a sympathetic smile. She knew
he would call and advise her about
painting the doors. He did call.
what a deal you know about
mixing paints and things! I'm sure
I want good advice a great deal more
than mother does. But, then, I'm
not clever like mother" added
Phemie, with a little aggrieved pout.
$50 it's not worth while talking to
me-"
IT do feel for you" said the doc
tor with an unusual warmth or
manner. "I have done all [ could to